Erlangen is committed: Students show creative solutions for sustainability!

Erlangen is committed: Students show creative solutions for sustainability!

Things were lively at Hugenottenplatz in Erlangen when the second ESD future workshop took place on July 2, 2025. Here, seven schools and the youth farm environmental station showed how important sustainable education is. The event began with a warm welcome from environmental officer Sabine Bock, who called on those present to work for a better future. The students really worked hard and presented a variety of projects that made the topic of sustainability very tangible.

Among the topics covered were exciting offerings such as school gardens with potato cultivation, school bees and a school farm. These projects impressively illustrate how you can actively contribute to sustainability. Through their own productions such as upcycling products and fair chocolate, the students not only learned something about ecological and social action, but also took action in a practical way.

Wishes for the future

A special highlight was the so-called wish globe sculpture, where creative ideas for the future were brought together. The students wanted more excursions, barrier-free ramps and a stronger focus on environmental protection as well as free local transport. Such suggestions are not only smart, they also show that our youth have a knack for fighting for a better environment.

The event is part of a broader initiative focused on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs emphasizes that ESD is guided by the principles of sustainable development and aims to meet the needs of current generations without endangering future generations. The 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) play an important role, especially Goal 4, which deals with access to education.

Commitment and responsibility

ESD is not just a topic for schools, but an essential part of our society. Fairtrade is another important example that emphasizes the need for responsible consumption. By purchasing Fairtrade products, consumers help to improve the living conditions of farming families in the global south and thereby support the principles of economic, ecological and social sustainability. Fairtrade promotes awareness of the effects of one's own consumption and calls for more conscious action.

The city of Erlangen is also actively encouraging people to take part on July 8th. On this day, Erlangen celebrates Flag DayMayors for Peacea sign against nuclear armament and shows how complex the commitment to a more peaceful world is.

The future remains exciting, not least because of the upcoming events in the city museum on July 6th for the special exhibition “THINGS ARE AVAILABLE” and the senior cartel on July 8th. Meanwhile, it is also important to keep an eye on the current challenges - such as the increased risk of forest fires, which calls on citizens to report smoke and observe fire regulations in the forest.