Provost and Mary McAleese launch Green Week: ‘2030: Time for a Game Change’
Posted on: 22 February 2021
Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast and Chancellor Mary McAleese will launch Trinity’s annual Green Week today. Titled ‘2030: Time for a Game Change’ the week-long series of events will focus on climate and biodiversity awareness, education and the action which is needed to address our growing climate and biodiversity crises.
Former President Mary Robinson and activist and social media influencer Angel Arutura, recently named by Irish Times as one of the 50 young people to watch in 2021 will be speaking at Trinity’s Environmental society’s Climate & Inequalities event tonight (7-10pm). Other events include a virtual swap shop with clothing donated by fashion influencers and a sustainable careers session with environmental consultants and professionals. The full list of events during Green Week can be found here: https://www.tcd.ie/provost/sustainability/calendar/
Chancellor Mary McAleese said:
“Green Week in Trinity College is about today’s young community in Ireland’s oldest university taking responsibility for the health, safety and sustainability of our ancient, creaking planet. We can make it well again but only by acting.”
Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast said:
“UN scientists have warned that we have 9 years left to avert irreversible climate catastrophe. We’re already in a biodiversity and climate crisis. It is now really critical that universities play a leadership role in promoting the radical changes needed to live sustainably and in harmony with the planet. Trinity’s Green Week is our opportunity to launch new and radical actions. The construction of a new E3 (Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies) Institute will focus on educating for ‘Balanced Solutions for a Better World’. As a university we have a responsibility to help solve the most challenging issues of our time.”
This is the 19th Green Week, making it the longest running Green Week of any higher education institution in Ireland, and the first time the entire week of events will be hosted online; promoting environmental stewardship to all of Trinity’s stakeholders annually in February with an exciting and diverse range of events and activities.