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UNESCO Chair

Austrian Sustainability Award 2026: Daniel Fischer on the Jury

Austrian Sustainability Award 2026: Daniel Fischer on the Jury
Austrian Sustainability Award 2026 © BMLUK-Hemerka

On 9 June 2026, the Austrian Sustainability Award 2026 was presented in the Marble Hall in Vienna. The joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (BMLUK) has, since 2008, honoured outstanding projects at Austrian universities and higher education institutions that contribute to the transformation towards sustainable development. Daniel Fischer served as a jury member, taking part in the assessment of the submitted projects.

Jury of the Sustainability Award 2026 with Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig and Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner
The jury of the Sustainability Award 2026 (from left) — Daniel Fischer (UNESCO Chair, Leuphana University Lüneburg), Eric Veulliet (Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences), Sithara Pathirana (Climate Biennale Vienna), Hildegard Aichberger (Environment Agency Austria), Klaus Taschwer (Der Standard), and Jakob Mohl (UNESCO ESD Youth Delegate Austria) — together with Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig (BMLUK, centre left) and Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (BMFWF, centre right) in the Marble Hall, Vienna. © BMLUK-Hemerka

From a total of 133 submissions by Austrian universities and higher education institutions, the independent jury selected twelve projects: one gold and two silver awards in each category. The prize is endowed with a total of 20,000 euros and is presented in the categories Learning, Researching, Cooperating, and Embedding.

Reflecting on his experience as a jury member, Daniel Fischer writes:

"Since 2008, Austria has been celebrating outstanding initiatives that engage with questions of sustainability in research, teaching, cooperation, and institutionalisation through the Sustainability Award. Especially in difficult times — when loud opinions, perceived truths, and at times outright hostility towards science gain ground in public discourse — the value of initiatives stands out all the more clearly that work for understanding, solution-orientation, and the commitment to a liveable and just future, despite all resistance, and often in places where one would not have expected it. Engaging with the people behind these initiatives was a real highlight and a source of motivation for me. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to take part as a jury member."

The Award Winners 2026

Gold was awarded to four projects that exemplify how higher education institutions translate sustainability into teaching, research, cooperation, and institutional embedding:

  • Learning — Gold: Master's programme "Architektur – Fit für die BAUwende" (Carinthia University of Applied Sciences). Silver: "Future Water 2025" (Graz University of Technology with the University of Arizona) and "Multinational Corporations and Circular Economy" (Vienna University of Economics and Business).
  • Researching — Gold: "TealHelix" (BOKU University) — a scientifically grounded approach to transparent sustainability labelling for food products. Silver: "Klagenfurt wird klimaneutral – Teilhabe und Gerechtigkeit in der Stadt der Zukunft" (University of Klagenfurt) and "Arbeitsgruppe Nachhaltigkeitsforschung" (BOKU University).
  • Cooperating — Gold: "BeEcoVie I and II" (BOKU University and Vienna University of Technology) — a cooperative approach to bee-ecological spatial planning using the AI-supported tool hive.city. Silver: "New Horizon" (University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagogy) and "smartIBK – mein Leben in der Smart City Innsbruck" (University of Innsbruck).
  • Embedding — Gold: "greenCCR – Krebs nachhaltig bekämpfen" (Medical University of Vienna) — a project that anchors sustainable practices in medical research. Silver: "Nachhaltige Labore: Bewusstsein in Aktion" (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) and "True costs: Pflanzliche Ernährungspräferenzen fördern in der Betriebsgastronomie" (University of Salzburg).

Trophy and Anniversary

The four gold trophies of the Sustainability Award 2026
The gold trophies of the Sustainability Award 2026 — a floating Möbius strip made of vegetable-tanned natural leather, designed by the artist Paul Mittnik in collaboration with students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. © BMLUK-Hemerka

The Sustainability Award is being presented for the tenth time in 2026. To mark the anniversary, a new trophy was developed: a floating Möbius strip made of vegetable-tanned natural leather, designed by Paul Mittnik in collaboration with students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Its endless form symbolises cycles, interconnectedness, and the complexity of sustainable development.

Award winners, jury and representatives of the ministries at the Sustainability Award 2026
Award winners, jury and representatives of BMLUK and BMFWF at the networking and award ceremony in the Marble Hall, Vienna. © BMLUK-Hemerka

The ceremony was also a networking event that brought together outstanding projects from across Austria. As in previous years, the organisational implementation was carried out by the Forum Umweltbildung. A detailed presentation of all submitted projects appears in the digital publication accompanying the award.

Further information on the Sustainability Award 2026 and all award winners: umweltbildung.at.