UCC Climate Action Week starts on Monday 13 October. Our annual event is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action on climate change. Read on for more information about what's happening at UCC. 

The NEB|LAB Eco²Schools Conference is taking place on 22 November in University College Cork. The university is one of the project's innovative pilot sites & will be hosting this event.

It's co-organised by University College Cork, An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland, Ellinogermaniki Agogi and Alliance Sens & Economie in the framework of the New European Bauhaus, ECO²-SCHOOLS as New European Bauhaus Labs project.

Over the past year, the Buildings & Estates team has been upgrading the existing EV charging stations, improving charging speeds where possible, and installing new stations across the campus to support the growing number of EV users. 

We are delighted to announce that 17 EV charging points are now available across the University estate. (EV charging locations). 

The All-Island Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Ireland, in partnership with the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE), convened a pivotal in-person network meeting on 27 June 2025 at DCEE Headquarters, Beggar’s Bush, Dublin. The gathering brought together policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives to strengthen cross-sector collaboration in support of the UN 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The President of UCC has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

University College Cork (UCC) is pleased to announce that its President, Professor John O’Halloran, MRIA, has been awarded an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters by the University of Massachusetts Lowell in recognition of his outstanding leadership in advancing sustainability in higher education.

Dr Maria Kirrane received €63,000 in funding to lead a project "A Brush With Climate" working with the Research Ireland MaREI Centre at ERI/UCC under the Research Ireland Discover Programme. This programme aims to inspire broader public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

The project, 'A Brush with Climate', will utilise UCC’s expertise in climate change and communications and The Environmental Forum’s experience of local community climate action. Workshops with hairdressers will co-develop role-play methodologies to assist in conversations on local climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including the top six most impactful personal climate actions.

As part of Biodiversity Week 2025, University College Cork hosted a series of events celebrating the rich ecological diversity of its campus. A highlight was a guided tour of the UCC Biodiversity Trail, led by Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, UCC Green Campus Greenshoots Coordinator.

Participants were introduced to the wide variety of birds, bats, invertebrates, and plant species that thrive within UCC’s distinctive green-blue environment. The tour provided insight into the University’s ongoing efforts to promote and protect biodiversity, all within the setting of a gentle walk along the River Lee corridor, through the wildflower meadow, and into the mature arboretum—a living symbol of UCC’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

On April 9th there will be an awareness campaign with information sessions and practical workshops throughout the day, enabling individuals to learn about how to reach "Inbox Zero" (that satisfying state of having no unread emails!) and a guide to undertaking a Digital Declutter.  On the day we will also be encouraging every school and function to pledge a day between April and June to dedicate to their collective digital decluttering effort.  By doing so, we aim to reduce unnecessary digital storage and its associated environmental impact. 

Green Week 2025 is running from 31 March 2025 to 4 April bringing together students, staff, and the wider UCC community for a collaborative week of environmental action and sustainability education on campus.

Highlights of the Week:

• COP29 Reflection Event – A chance to reflect on UCC’s participation at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, and discuss key takeaways from the UCC delegation.

• Bike Doctor on Campus – Get your bike checked and tuned up for free by expert mechanics.

• Vegan & Vegetarian Food Vendors – Enjoy a variety of delicious and sustainable plant-based food options across campus.

For details of the full schedule click here - Green Week 2025 Schedule