Organisation
Leiden University raises Climate Stripes flag on Education Sustainability Day
On Thursday 8 October, it is Education Sustainability Day, a day when educational institutions make an extra effort to raise awareness among pupils, students and teachers of their role in creating a sustainable future.
At Leiden University, sustainability plays an important role in both our education and research. To mark the occasion, we will raise the Climate Stripes flag on 8 October. The Climate Stripes, also known as warming stripes, were designed by Professor Ed Hawkins of the University of Reading. They provide a simple yet powerful visual representation of the rise in average global temperatures over the past 150 years. As such, they remind us of the urgent need for action. The flag also symbolises the major sustainability challenges that students, lecturers and researchers from a wide range of disciplines are working to address.
To celebrate 8 October, the University is also launching the Sustainable Study Guide 2026/2027, a practical guide that enables students to easily explore sustainability-related courses from all seven faculties and find those that best match their degree programme and interests.
What are your next sustainability steps?
At Leiden University we take our responsibility to create a sustainable future very seriously. Whether you are a student, member of staff or researcher, there are many ways you can get involved and make a difference:
- Join a sustainability initiative within the university, such as the Leiden University Green Office (LUGO) or the Leiden University Sustainability Network
- If you are a student, take a look at the 2026/2027 Sustainable Study Guide and choose the sustainable subject, research or programme that best matches your interests.
- Share inspiring examples or projects from your work, research or studies.
- Take part in activities and events related to sustainability.
- Contribute ideas about how education, research or operational management can be made more sustainable.
- Have you just graduated and written a master’s thesis about sustainability? If so, submit your thesis before 1 November and you could win the 2026/2027 Sustainable Master’s Thesis Award.