Welcome from the Vice-President for Biodiversity and Climate Action
Trinity is committed to addressing the challenge of achieving a sustainable and healthy planet, both for people, and for the natural systems we are part of, and rely upon. Since the Sustainability Strategy was published, we have been working to realise Trinity’s potential to make a difference and act as an engine for the cultural, technological, and societal changes that are needed. Check out our annual report for highlights from 2025.
I wanted to fill you in on some highlights as we implement our plan and build our team.
Education
Trinity is a Responsible Futures accredited organisation, recognised since 2025 for embedding sustainability in learning. In 2026, we were awarded the SATLE Impact Award by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for supporting the integration of Education for Sustainable Development into teaching, learning and curriculum design across the University.
For the third year, all 500+ first year Trinity Business School students will be taking an interdisciplinary sustainability module called Enacting Sustainable Development. It was originally co-designed by Trinity students and Trinity’s Fellows in ESD, and was then tailored for the Business School students. Other students can engage cross-disciplinary modules in sustainability through the Trinity Electives programme, and encounter sustainability through the lens of their own discipline through modules within their own programmes.
The ESD Fellows work with Academic Practice to support staff as they embed sustainability throughout Trinity. They produced helpful training and resources that you can find on the ESD hub here.
Research
Our Green Labs Officer is working with colleagues across college to enable research to be conducted in a way that reduces resource use and generates less waste, contributing to Trinity’s Circular Campus strategy. Many of our labs are now Green Lab certified, including the obvious “wet labs” but also now other facilities, offices and digital research labs. Check out the Green Labs website for more.
A huge number of Trinity researchers across all disciplines study topics relevant to sustainability and sustainable development. Those that address climate came together in 2025 under the umbrella of the Trinity Climate Gateway, where they aim to do research and share knowledge that can underpin Ireland’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon future; to address the climate crisis at scale and build shared accountability by linking research, education, policy, and community action; and to link into and support both national and global climate solutions.
Operations
Several energy efficiency projects have been undertaken, which will contribute to significant energy savings across campus, and a campus decarbonisation plan is starting to be implemented. However, we need everyone to get involved in our 51% challenge to meet our targets. Other plans are in development, such as the circular campus plan to reduce resource use and waste. Reverse Vending Machines for waste bottles and cans are operational on campus in the Arts Building and the Hamilton and drinking water can be freely accessed from a number of taps on campus.
Our Sustainable Travel Officer has led the development of a Campus Travel Plan. Our Healthy Campus Manager and Healthy Trinity Colleagues have developed a Campus Food Plan. Our Biodiversity Officer leads on a Biodiversity Plan and Trinity has made substantial changes to encourage wildlife across campus, including installing a wildlife pond, changing mowing regimes to allow wildflowers to flourish, and planting trees, but our biodiversity impacts and dependencies go way beyond our own campus.
Community
The Climate Action Mandate requires Trinity to provide training for all staff in Climate Leadership. We have taken staff feedback on board and developed bespoke training to more than 600 staff members. In addition, we have developed an introduction to Biodiversity Leadership. Trinity continues to work with international partners, for example through LERU, Coimbra Group (see Durham Declaration), and Nature Positive Universities Network.
Trinity Sustainability is developing the next Action Plan for 2027-2030 and we invite you all to get involved. In Semester 1, Climate and Biodiversity Action week is a great opportunity to do so, as is Green Week in Semester 2, and you can find all of our events here. Stay up to date by signing up for the quarterly Sustainability Newsletter or find us on LinkedIn or Instagram.
We hope this is a great year for everyone and we look forward to working with you!
Jane Stout, Vice-President for Biodiversity and Climate Action