5 minute read
Transitioning towards a Climate Action University
Next Article
Working towards a Climate Action University
Last November, the CUA Climate Action Workshop Series was the first jointly organised event since our official TU designation approval. These workshops were funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as part of their VITAL week.
The first workshop held on November 9th, entitled “Transitioning towards a Climate University,” included an engaging panel discussion with contributions from Dr Orla Flynn (GMIT President), Dr Brendan McCormack (IT Sligo President), Paul Hannigan (Letterkenny IT President), Professor John O’Halloran (University College Cork President), Jennifer Boyer (Vice President of Sustainability in Technological University Dublin), David Minton (Director at Northern and Western Regional Assembly), and Tomás Ó Síocháin (CEO of Western Development Commission). A recording of this workshop is available to view here.
Working towards a Climate Action University (contd.)
The subsequent workshops on the 11th and 16th of November explored CUA staff and student opinions on what a Climate Action University may look like in 2030. The workshops proved to be very successful. The feedback from staff and students will significantly assist in becoming a Climate Action University.
Celebrating CUA’s Sustainability Successes in 2021
Launch of IT Sligo’s Sustainability Strategy and Charter
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, launched IT Sligo’s Sustainability Strategy and Charter on Friday the 15th of October.
The charter states the institute’s commitment to meet, or exceed, environmental compliance obligations, de-carbonize its activities and include sustainability in all decision making. The institute has also committed to sustainable management of materials and resources, including energy, water, waste, hazardous substances, chemicals, and the elimination of single-use plastics, where feasible. Click here to read more about the charter and here to read about the sustainability strategy.
Staff and Students at the Launch of IT Sligo’s Sustainability Strategy and Charter
Minister Martin said: “It is commendable to see the institute launch their sustainability strategy and publicly commit to ambitious sustainability targets. The higher education sector has a huge role to play in catalysing change – right across our society – to more sustainable practices. This is essential if we are to meet our commitments to Europe and the World by 2030. I am particularly encouraged to see such a collaborative approach – we understand that our climate crisis affects everyone. It is wonderful to see such an inclusive strategy that reflects the importance of collaboration and partnership. I look forward to following how it progresses over the coming months and years.”
Fiona Britton,
IT Sligo’s Sustainability Officer
It is a proud day for the institute and our Green Campus student committee, who have worked so hard to build a culture that supports and integrates sustainability right across our campus. Two years ago, we started this process with a workshop, asking all our stakeholders to share their vision for a sustainable campus at IT Sligo, and here we are today, putting that vision into a solid plan – a plan that is supported by our students, staff and management. We know it’s just the beginning and it isn’t going to be easy, but it feels positive to have a common commitment and vision for change.
Launch of GMIT’s Centre for Sustainability
The Centre for Sustainability was launched in GMIT in September 2021. It aims to embed sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core guiding principles across all activities in the institute, with a particular focus on curriculum, campus management and operations, community engagement, collaborative research, and culture.
In April 2021, GMIT won the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) Honorary Member Award for an ongoing project entitled ‘Sustainability Literacy to Leadership,’ which aims to support staff in becoming recognized sustainability champions and leaders.
In December 2021, we successfully applied for funding from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education to develop a national Digital Badge on ‘Introducing Education for Sustainability. This will be a collaborative effort with GMIT leading a team from IT Sligo, DCU, UCC and TU Dublin.
Dr Mark Kelly,
Head of Centre for Sustainability, GMIT
LYIT races ahead in EV charging rollout
Did you know?
GMIT Mayo was the first Institute of Technology campus in the world to achieve the Green Flag designation.
LYIT becomes one of the first third-level campuses to showcase renewablepowered, onsite, EV charging infrastructure.
Donegal County Council has approved planning for two renewable, solar-powered, electric vehicle charging stations with additional energy storage capacity at the LYIT’s Letterkenny campus car park. The pioneering project, funded under the EU Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme, project SMARTrenew, aims to showcase renewable energy in the community and tackle Ireland’s lagging performance in the move to the transition electrification of transport. The pilot will see LYIT become one of the first third-level campuses to showcase Ireland’s renewablepowered, onsite EV charging infrastructure. Click here to find out more about project SMARTrenew.
Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Funding
LYIT has secured HEA funding under the first EEDPP Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) funding call in 2020 for a deep retrofit of a 1,200m2 rooftop extension and has been shortlisted for funding in the second call in 2021 for a medium fabric retrofit of a 450m2 research building and a Biomass district heat project. Design is progressing to complete the construction works on both projects in 2022. The wood harvested from LYIT’s 23-acre willow plantation, established on LYIT lands in 2014, will help offset carbon emissions.
LYIT Estates has been a leader in reducing energy consumption over many years. The institute’s annual energy performance data is reported to the SEAI via the Public Service Monitoring & Reporting process. Monitoring, control and energy-saving projects have culminated in a reduction of 52.4% in energy use for the period 2008-2020, i.e., almost 20% more than the 33% by 2020 savings target for public bodies.
Mary Daly, Estates Manager, LYIT
