The Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability (CEN) is a central research center at Universität Hamburg and part of the local network KlimaCampus Hamburg.

Members include oceanographers, meteorologists, marine biologists, geophysicists, geologists, soil scientists, geographers, biogeochemists, economists, social scientists, historians, as well as peace and security researchers, all of whom are actively engaged in climate, environmental, and earth system research. CEN therefore links the natural and social sciences—in research, research-driven education and support for young researchers. The goal is to work together to address overarching scientific issues.

CEN promotes the development and implementation of research projects and supports its members in the acquisition of external funding. The Center provides a forum aimed at educating both academia and the public about the challenges and findings of earth system research.

In addition, CEN is currently coordinating the application for climate research in Hamburg as part of the federal and state excellence strategy.

CEN, founded as a research center of the MIN Faculty in 2011, has been a central research center at Universität Hamburg since April 2016, performing tasks of particular importance in research and education in accordance with Section 92a subsection 2 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (Hamburgisches Hochschulgesetz, HmbHG). The Center’s bylaws were adopted by the Presidium on 21 March 2016.