October University of Galway earns Green Campus status for third time

University of Galway has been awarded Green Campus status for the third time by An Taisce, for its ongoing commitment to embed sustainability.

The accreditation was celebrated at a special ceremony on campus with the raising of the Green Flag, a symbol of the quality of the campus and a focus on environmental and sustainability issues.

Professor Becky Whay, Deputy President and Registrar of University of Galway, said: “Sustainability is a core value of our University, reinforced in our new Strategic Plan 2025-2030. We are very proud to have the most biodiverse university campus in Ireland, a Stars Gold Rating, an Excellence in Sustainability Award, and to be the first university in Ireland to become an SDG Ambassador.

“The Green Campus programme is very important to us. Having first raised the flag in 2019, it is a hugely important recognition of the quality of our campus and our commitment to the environment and sustainability. A huge credit goes to all of our students and staff who make a difference on a daily basis, to our Community University Sustainability Partnership members which helps to drive our ambitions, and our community partners who contributed to this fantastic achievement.”

The award coincided with SDG Week which ran from the 20^th–27^th September, with University of Galway hosting a week-long series of events as a national SDG Ambassador - dedicated to increasing awareness, engagement and action to help achieve the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Highlight activities included a Sustainability-themed Parkrun with over 200 runners, a Community Climate Assembly, the raising of the third Green Flag and a guided walk along the University’s Biodiversity Trail.

The Green Flag is awarded by An Taisce and the International Foundation of Environmental Education and it recognises the promotion of best practice in sustainability across six themes which include energy, waste, travel, biodiversity, water and green laboratories.

Through learning and research activities, and as a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Accord, University of Galway is committed to a transition towards a more sustainable future.

The University is ranked number one in Ireland and third in the EU in the THE Impact rankings which measure achievements based around the UN SDGs.

Valentina Stampa, Green-Campus programme officer at An Tasice, said: “The green flag for University of Galway is renewed by An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland on behalf of the international Foundation for Environmental Education. University of Galway has proudly renewed its Green Flag for the third time, marking a milestone in their sustainability journey and leadership in embedding the Sustainable Development Goals across the campus. Their commitment to sustainability is contagious and they are setting a powerful example for institutions nationwide.”

An Taisce’s Green-Campus Programme is an international environmental education and award scheme that promotes long-term, whole college action for the environment that empowers both students and staff to create a more balanced campus community and to reduce environmental impacts and associated costs.

Ends