University College Cork (UCC) has been ranked as one of the most sustainable universities in the world, making it into the top ten ‘greenest universities’ in an international ranking. It is currently ranked at ninth and holds the position as the only Irish university making it to the top 10 of best in the world for sustainability.
The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking was set up in 2010 and examines sustainability practices in universities across the world and their work towards reducing their carbon footprint and to help combat climate change.
The student community in UCC spearheaded the move towards a more sustainable campus over a decade ago with the launch of the Green Campus programme, a seven-step programme and a cycle of continual improvement. It aims to make every student aware of sustainable development through both formal and informal learning. According the Director of Buildings and Estates at UCC, Mark Poland, “our Green Campus Forum continues to work on all aspects of sustainability under our ‘Student-led, Research-informed and Practice-focused’ principles. We are delighted to consistently lead on these metrics.”
The University is home to Ireland’s first plastic-free café and has prevented more than 20,000 disposable items going to waste since it opened at the University’s Biosciences Institute in 2018, according to the UCC website.
For more information visit:
www.ucc.ie/en/news/ucc-ranked-as-one-of-the-most-sustainable-universities-in-the-world-.html
