Policy for sustainable development for KTH

KTH shall therefore

• Integrate ecological, economic and social sustainability at all levels of strategic and oper ational activities.
• Have an identity and brand associated with sustainable development.
• Be characterized by openness, democracy and respect for equality and equal living conditions.
• Provide education of the highest quality that prepares future professionals with knowledge, commitment, critical thinking and practical tools that will enable them to contribute to a sustainable society.
• Produce research of the highest quality that contributes to sustainable and innovative solutions to societal challenges.
• Create value by disseminating and supporting the implementation of technology, methods and approaches as well as actively participate in public debate in order to contribute to sustainable development.
• Systematically work for the continual improvement of KTH:s environmental and sustainability performance.
• Take preventative measures with the intention to protect the environment and prevent environmental impacts from KTH:s operations.
• Comply with applicable legal requirements and other requirements that the organisation is subject to.
• Encourage, educate and create conditions for staff and students to contribute to sustainable development within and outside KTH.
• Work with partners that contribute to a sustainable development and promote sustainable development in collaboration with local and global actors.

Purpose of the policy

Policy for sustainable development for KTH aims to support and improve the sustainability work conducted at KTH. Like other policies for KTH (policy for ethics, policy for quality, policy for investments of donations, policy for staff and policy for security) this policy will be annually revised. 

Definition of sustainable development

Based on the Brundtland Report (1987), the concept of "sustainable development" is defined as:
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

_{University Board Decision 2015-02-19. Valid as of February 19, 2015. Revised 16 June 2017. Revised May 2018.}