Trinity formally endorses Fossil Fuel Treaty

Posted on: 11 February 2026

Students and staff showed support for signing the treaty through online petitions and advocacy with the Climate Justice Universities Union. Trinity’s support for the treaty is in line with its Sustainability Strategy, Energy Policy, Research Strategy as well as its commitments to the Irish government under the Climate Action Plan, which include a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, phasing out fossil fuel heating, and showing leadership in climate action.

What is it?

The Fossil Fuel Treaty or Treaty Initiative is an international civil society organisation formed in 2020 with the goal of persuading national governments to convene and negotiate the treaty’s principles. The three principles are: non-proliferation, or enabling governments to end the expansion of coal, oil and gas production; just transition, meaning the shift to a low-carbon, climate-neutral economy is fair, equitable, and inclusive, and fair phase-out, which will ensure an equitable, managed, and fast global transition away from coal, oil, and gas, prioritizing climate justice by requiring wealthier nations with greater historical emissions to transition fastest.

Taking action

Trinity has acted directly by both divesting from fossil fuels and reducing our use of fossil fuels. For example, Trinity’s investment strategy now explicitly excludes companies directly involved in the fossil fuel industry and the fossil fuel value chain, while also increasing allocation to greener investments and companies involved in the transition to a low-carbon economy.  Approximately two-thirds (66%) of the Trinity Endowment Fund is invested in two sustainability-focused funds: the Trinity Climate Focused Fund and the Trinity Low Carbon Equity Income Fund, whilst the balance is  invested in other funds focusing on a diverse range of assets including infrastructure.

In 2025, Trinity reduced both heating and electricity emissions by 10%, hitting targets set by Our 51% Challenge, an energy reduction campaign focused on meeting the government’s target of reducing energy-based emissions by 51% by 2030. This amounts to a reduction of 821 tonnes of carbon emissions.

It is our hope that by showing support for this initiative, we are supporting the international community, and that additional institutions, organisations and nations will follow suit. The World Health Organisation, European Parliament, all four Dublin city councils and University College Cork have given an official endorsement. Irish government officials have held meetings with representatives from the treaty initiative; however, as of this date there is no formal commitment.

What is next?

Following the 2025 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP30) ‘Belém Declaration’, there will be a first international conference in Santa Marta, Colombia in April to discuss the transition away from fossil fuels. Ireland and eight other EU Countries signed the declaration that underpins the upcoming conference, which will be jointly hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, with several European states having confirmed their attendance, such as Spain and Belgium.

A possible outcome of this conference is the mandate to start negotiating a Fossil Fuel Treaty. This would be a multilateral treaty following the non-proliferation model which has been successfully applied to nuclear weapons and to ozone depleting substances.

Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action Prof Jane Stout adds “Endorsing this treaty is an important show of solidarity with the initiative, and it is also important that we stress our commitment to climate action.  We are working toward our own target of Net Zero emissions by 2040, while embedding climate action in our education, research and communities. By actively joining international initiatives like this, doing world-leading research, and participating in the annual climate COPs, we are going beyond our own campus, and trying to make a difference on a global scale”

Find out more: https://fossilfueltreaty.org/

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