Student-Led Initiatives

Current information on UZH units and initiatives committed to sustainable development can also be found in the Sustainability Report.
Sustainability Report

The University of Zurich Student Association's Sustainability Commission works toward promoting sustainability both at the University and in the private lives of UZH students. The commission's wide-ranging activities include launching and organizing the University's annual Sustainability Week.
University of Zurich Student Association Comissions

Swiss student organizations that work towards sustainability are members in the umbrella organization VSN|FDD|FSS. The group's main goal is strengthening sustainable development in teaching, research, and university infrastructure, as well as in the daily life of a university's community.
VSN|FDD|FSS

Sustainability Week Zurich is an initiative of students from five Zurich universities who organize events on the topic of sustainability for one week a year. The concept was expanded into Sustainability Week Switzerland, which took place at over 20 universities in 12 cities for the first time in 2018.
Sustainability Week Zurich

RespecTomorrow is a student association at UZH that advocates for more sustainability in education. The association is dedicated to fostering a positive societal shift through instructive initiatives which spark curiosity and wonder about the natural world, reshaping the way we relate to our environment. The students from various disciplines, from natural sciences to humanities to engineering, offer their broad range of expertise and organisational assistance for the successful implementation of impactful initiatives or innovative educational programs.
RespecTomorrow (German)

The IPU Switzerland is an interdisciplinary network of students, professionals and researchers who are committed to psychology in environmental protection and sustainability. 
Initiative Psychologie im Umweltschutz (IPU) Schweiz (German)

Rethinking Economics Zurich wants to change economics education at the UZH. The aim is to give more space to the pluralism of economic theories, to prioritize solving real problems, and to promote self-criticism, reflection, and openness in economics. Rethinking Economics Zurich deliberately goes beyond an internal discourse within economics and is therefore aimed at civil society, politics, and the media.
Rethinking Economics Zurich

The Sustainable Business Club (SBC) offers students a platform to actively engage with sustainable business practices. The aim is to raise awareness of sustainability in business and to provide members with long-term support on their academic and professional path. The SBC is always looking for new members who share the values ​​and want to work together to make the future more sustainable.
Sustainable Business Club

In the network Pluralism in Economics, economics, political and environmental science students organise a lecture at UZH AND ETH Zurich covering various economic theories. The aim is to encourage economics students to critically analyze complex issues against the background of several schools of economic thought.
Network Pluralism in Economics
Plurale Ökonomik an der UZH – Rückblick und Ausblick (German)

Arbor Mundi is an initiative launched by four students to contribute to regional biodiversity and climate protection. As of 2024, the association is supported by a team of twelve students from UZH and HSG. Arbor Mundi initiates, among other things, volunteer activities at UZH. For example, on March 14th 2024, together with a team from the UZH Gardening Department, they planted four native trees and 113 native wild shrubs to promote biodiversity on the UZH campus.
Arbor Mundi (German)

In the allotment garden «Strebergärtli» students can garden, build something, eat or spend time together by the fire. Everyone is welcome – with or without having a green thumb. The project «Strebergärtli» was initiated in the context of the «Make Irchel more Sustainable» contest.
Strebergärtli

The Zurich University Group organizes panel discussions, film evenings, fundraisers and protests to draw attention to human rights violations. The aim of the group is to raise awareness and encourage students to get involved in human rights in Switzerland and worldwide.
Amnesty International University Group Zurich (German)

The organization aims to raise public awareness of the importance of blood stem cell donation and to expand the international donor register.
Marrow (German)

The association «Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières Zürich» offers students a forum for in-depth exchange on global health issues. This includes the organization of events and dialogue between students and staff of Médecins Sans Frontières.
Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières Zürich (German)

Giving What We Can is an international society dedicated to eliminating extreme poverty in the developing world. Its mission is to inspire donations to the world's most effective charities. Giving What We Can uses evidence to identify those organizations and shares its findings. Members pledge to give at least 10% of their income to the organizations which do the most good with their donations.
Giving What We Can

sneep is a network that offers students a forum for critical reflection on traditional forms of economy and promotes public discourse on economic and corporate ethics. The activities of the Zurich section generally take place during the semester and include the organization of podium discussions, symposiums, lunch-hour presentations, film evenings with discussions, and other activities.
sneep - student network for ethics in economics and practice (German)