Our Centre’s teaching is concentrated in the MSc Governance of Sustainability, which is a transdisciplinary master program hosted in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Sciences. We aim to educate future change makers who have the knowledge and the skills to develop governance solutions…

How do you study complex disasters like a nuclear explosion or a natural disaster? Who can help unravel the legal knot that Brexit has become? The important societal themes of the present day call for interdisciplinary collaboration. Leiden scientists pitched their research at a symposium at Leiden…

The Bachelor Honours Programme Sustainability is open for enrollment to motivated second- and third-year bachelor's students of Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasumus University. Additional requirements can be found below.

LUGO is launching Green Teams throughout the University, starting with the Law Faculty.

Sustainablity en the law lectures guest speakers legal social aspects

To be eligible for Governance and Sustainability at Leiden University, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Your time at Leiden and Delft is about more than just studying. Some of your best experiences will stem from being a part of our lively and diverse student community, as well as from life in these beautiful cities.

The first year cohort of Leiden University College The Hague recently under took a local lesson which saw them collect 10200 pieces of plastic from their local communities. Of the total collected, 52% was plastic.

How can we maximize human wellbeing while keeping resource use and emissions of the economic system within planetary limits? The institute of Environmental Sciences aspires to be a global leader in this field. Our staff wants to create impact. We work on future solutions and educate change-makers.

The chemical industry must continue to innovate for a more sustainable, healthier society. The reseachers from the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) contribute by applying their knowledge to themes such as sustainability, energy and health.

Governance of Sustainability is a two-year programme, worth 120 European Credit Transfer System points (ECTS).

Since the start of the Green Office, several projects has been initiated to increase awareness amongst staff & students and to make the university more sustainable. Read here all about our past and current projects.

Academic collaborations

Find our team and positions below. To contact a specific member, send an email to greenoffice@leidenuniv.nl with their name in the heading.

How can we ensure a more resilient and sustainable supply of Rare Earths in the EU in the future?

A sustainable resource management is an essential aspect to satisfy the current human needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

The aim of this project is to get a clear overview of sustainability efforts being made within the faculties, as well as making lasting connections with and between university staff and students involved in these efforts. The Leiden University Green Office (LUGO) aims to play a connecting role in this…

“A partnership based on water” summarised Gerhard van den Top the relationship between the Netherlands and the Philippines in the 4th Louwes Lecture. He emphasised the significant role of international and intercultural cooperation in managing the complex challenges brought forward by climate change.…

What is my contribution to the world? This is what students and researchers at Leiden University College The Hague (LUC) ask themselves every day. They want to make a difference with their teaching and research in the four global challenges of ‘Peace and Justice,’ ‘Sustainability,’ ‘Diversity’ and ‘…

Sustainably produced food reduces CO2 emissions during production and promotes the region’s economy. The University is working to increase the number of organic, fair trade, vegetarian and vegan products in its restaurants.

Join us for Liveable Planet lunch meetings: Liveable communities. We will organise a monthly lunch meeting to inspire and build a sustainability community at the University Leiden.

Become involved with LUGO! Become part of the team, join forces with fellow committee members in our voluntary committee or take part in our project-based internships! Check this page regularly for open positions.

The master's programme Industrial Ecology (joint degree Leiden University and Delft University of Technology) is unique in the Netherlands and one of the few programmes in the world combining natural science, engineering, and social science for science-based solutions for sustainability problems.

The present market regulations make it extremely risky to invest in green energy, and this is impeding the fight against climate change. This is what Oscar Kraan writes in his dissertation. PhD defence on 25 April.

Research within COI@Leiden is clustered around two themes: sustainable justice and the courtroom as a social arena. Find out more about each of these projects by clicking on the links below.

Leiden University is realising a new and sustainable building with state of the art research and educational facilities for the Faculty of Science: the Gorlaeus Building. The new sustainable building will stimulate academic cooperation and knowledge sharing.

LUGO is launching Green Teams throughout the University, starting with the Law and Archeology faculties.

The Biodiversity and Sustainability consists of 120 European Credit Transfer System (EC) points and includes a theoretical part (30-60 EC) and and one or more research projects (60-90 EC).

For Leiden University’s operations, sustainability is an important topic, especially looking at the CO2-footprint, renewable energy and the greening of buildings.

Hetterscheid

Everything you need to know about the minor Frugal Innovation for Sustainable Global Development.

Do you have a question about studying at Leiden University or student life in Leiden? Do you want more information about the Biodiversity and Sustainability master's specialisation? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!

Do you have a question about studying at leiden University or student life in Leiden? Do you want more information about the Governance of Sustainability programme? Chat with a current student for answers to your questions!

Examining the sustainability aspects of biotechnology, especially those related to the production of ethanol from biomass.

Education & outreach

Although there is considerable evidence that nature in the city is beneficial to both people and animals, we still do not have an overall picture of those benefits. To rectify that, a Leiden PhD candidate and a student – armed with a cargo bike – are using The Hague as a life-size laboratory.

It’s better to cut our nitrogen emissions now than to solve the consequences later at great expense. That’s the lesson we can learn from the Dutch nitrogen crisis, according to nitrogen expert Jan Willem Erisman. In Science, he shares this lesson with other countries. According to Erisman, we should…

If you have a question about this honours programme, please contact us.

Would you like to invite Sustainable City Lab for a chat to discuss a sustainability issue, or to explore how we can work together? Or would you like to visit us on campus?

Find out how to apply for Governance of Sustainability at Leiden University by following our step-by-step guide.

Find out how to apply for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Leiden University by following our step-by-step guide.

A large proportion of the University’s total carbon footprint under normal circumstances is caused by home-to-work commuting, home-to-study commuting, visitor traffic, business travel and goods transport to and between University locations.

The Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) is the basis for research and collaborations of the Leiden chemistry groups. Chemistry is the central science enabling a healthy future in a sustainable society. Chemistry researchers at Leiden University take a fundamental approach in finding tailored solutions…

Accumulation of metals in economy and environment and its associated risks, within the Netherlands and the EU.

To be eligible for Industrial Ecology at Leiden University and Delft University of Technology, you must meet the following admission requirements.

Everyone knows smoking is unhealthy, but did you also know that smoking is not good for the environment? In parternship with UFB, we are organising a number of action days to pick up cigarette butts, hand out sustainable ashtrays and inform people about how they can smoke more sustainably!

Mission: The Environmental Biology department aims to increase the scientific understanding of how current and emerging anthropogenic threats affect biodiversity and ecosystem services. Through this understanding they facilitate strategic management of natural resources by addressing urgent challenges…

Industrialised countries extract natural resources in the territories of indigenous peoples, and appropriate the knowledge and culture of these peoples. Leiden anthropologists work to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. Their knowledge and advice enable governments to source sustainable produc…