Trinity Green Week 2019 to focus on UN Sustainable Development Goals

Posted on: 18 February 2019

Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin and former president of Ireland Dr Mary Robinson launched Trinity’s annual Green Week at an event in Front Square today, Monday, February 18^th, 2019.

Trinity has the longest running College Green Week in Ireland; promoting environmental stewardship to all of Trinity’s stakeholders annually in February with an exciting and diverse range of events and activities.

Green Week runs from February 18^th – 22^nd this year and will focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), which provide a common framework for necessary global action. Events and activities for 2019 will include:

• • A walking exploration of stunning sea life at the UN Biosphere Reserve in Dublin Bay, during a super low spring tide.
  • Clean Coasts Ireland screening of the documentary ‘Plastic Ocean’, which exposes the hazards of marine plastics and what is happening on our coasts.
  • A presentation on how to recycle correctly at home by Voice Ireland.
  • ‘Zero Waste Adventures as a Trinity student’: a presentation on small change steps.
  • Trinity Bird Walk to explore native birds on campus.

The UN SDGs were chosen as this year’s theme for Green Week because they represent an important focus for action toward a world that is more sustainable.  They were agreed upon by all countries across the planet in 2015, and each country is actively working to incorporate these goals into their national strategy. SDGs effectively provide a good management plan for creating the kind of world that everyone can live in, peacefully, equally and fairly.  It is important that we all become more familiar with the UN SDGs as they provide a common language for us all to work together globally.

Trinity is already working toward the SDGs with more than 40 directly related research projects and many members of the Trinity community, students and staff, working toward solving societal and environmental challenges in different ways.   At the heart of Trinity’s Strategic Plan is the mission to “fearlessly engage in actions that advance the cause of a pluralistic, just, and sustainable society”. Choosing the SDGs as the theme for Green Week helps to remind us of the need for action toward our common mission.

There is a long tradition of tackling environmental issues on the Trinity campus through the Green Campus Committee and student activism. A Provost’s Advisory Committee has more recently further enabled co-operation and raised awareness toward improving sustainability on the campus and among the community. A concerted, communal effort in 2018 achieved an impressive list of advances including more sustainable behaviours and reduced consumption. You can read a full list of Trinity’s sustainable achievements for 2018 here.

Acknowledging Trinity’s work in sustainability at the launch of Green Week, Chancellor of Trinity College, Dr Mary Robinson said:“It is impressive to see the progress Trinity has been making toward a more sustainable campus and community. This is exactly the leadership universities must give if we are to achieve a sustainable future for all.”

Prior to the launch and as a central part of Green Week 2019, Dr Robinson joined students for an engaging conversation on the true and very current effects of climate change, In Conversation with Mary Robinson – Climate Justice: the Challenge of a Generation, organised by Trinity Students’ Union.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s Green Week 2019 and encouraging participation, the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast said:“Trinity Green week is a time to celebrate all the changes we in Trinity are making to benefit the environment, and to educate ourselves about what more we can do. Human beings need to become more aware of how to live sustainably and ethically. I hope you will avail of the 20+ events throughout Green Week which will serve to educate, entertain and enlighten out community”.

Trinity is committed to developing a fully sustainable campus in line with best international practice. Outlining key initiatives in this regard, Michele Hallahan, Trinity’s Sustainability Advisor said: “Trinity has made great gains in the field of sustainability in recent years, including a 45% reduction in water consumption and a 26% improvement in our energy efficiency.  We have also halved the amount of paper that we consume, and we have an active Disposable Plastic Plan to reduce single use plastics on campus.  In addition, we have introduced training in basic sustainability habits to all new staff and students, and our Green Campus Committee serves as a dynamic group to spread this information”.

“The university’s decision to join the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) almost one year ago served to further drive our commitment to sustainable goals, and we invite all staff and students across Trinity sites to join in the changes we are making in order to create a more just and verdant world,” she added.

The launch of Green Week included a display of icons representing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the presentation of a cheque to Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin generated through the University’s print cartridge recycling scheme.

The full programme of Green Week events is available at: https://www.tcd.ie/provost/sustainability/calendar/