University College Cork (UCC) has become the first and only university in Europe to achieve one of the world’s most prestigious sustainability ratings.

The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS), is the world's leading framework for measuring and publicly reporting sustainability performance in higher education, and UCC has obtained a Platinum rating, placing it alongside leading global institutions including Cornell University, Stanford University and the University of California.

University College Cork is committed to achieving Net Zero on Campus through leadership in education, research, innovation and operations.  The following commitment letter reaffirms UCC’s ambition to transform its campuses into a living laboratory for climate action, supporting a just transition, and contributing to global sustainability and decarbonisation goals.  This work is also part of the University Cooperation for Net Zero on Campus (UNICO) project funded by the ERASMUS+ programme.

We are delighted to announce an open call for UCC Green Campus Living Laboratory funding.   This iteration of the fund will support demonstration projects up to the value of €5,000.  Funding will also be available for projects that include meaningful engagement with UNIC partners.

It's a pleasure to invite you to celebrate the launch of Chasing the Curlew's Call / Ar Lorg Ghlao an Chrotaigh, a graphic novel exploring new approaches to climate communication through storytelling. The work brings together climate science, ecological research, visual storytelling, and participatory design to develop new ways of conveying climate change and its real-world ripple effects.

Call for Case Study Submission for Sustainability in Teaching and Learning Showcase 2026

You are all welcome to submit case studies for the Sustainability in Teaching Showcase 2026. That is any case study featuring teaching sustainability or engaging with sustainability in teaching is welcome for the showcase.

Today we welcomed hairstylists from across Cork to the Aula Maxima for a wonderful showcase of A Brush with Climate, an innovative project that places climate conversations at the heart of everyday life. Funded by Research Ireland, this project supports salons to become climate leaders in their own communities using the setting of the salon chair to inspire meaningful conversations and positive behaviour change. Participating stylists were formally presented with certificates of completion by the President.

You are warmly welcome to the ‘A Brush With Climate’ project showcase.

In 2025 we began our project looking to find ways to support hair salons and stylists to talk about climate action with their clients, helping salons become climate influencers in their own communities. We co-created a set of resources to meet their needs, which are freely available on our website, and created a bespoke climate crash course with the UCC Sustainability Academy.

Join us on Earth Day, April 22nd, for a university-wide event dedicated to highlighting and celebrating innovative approaches to embedding sustainability in teaching and learning.

Building on our own and UCC’s commitment to sustainability, this showcase will provide a platform for us to share how we are integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and broader sustainability principles and practices into modules, programmes, and other learning experiences

University College Cork will host its second annual Digital Clean Up this Spring, expanding the one-day event held last year into a full Digital Clean Up Week, running from 9-13 March 2026. The initiative forms part of UCC’s wider efforts to reduce the University’s environmental impact while supporting the well‑being and productivity of staff and students. Click here to pledge some time. 

UCC Green Week 2026 brings together a series of events, workshops, and activities focused on sustainability, climate action, and environmental awareness. Starting on Monday, 23 March and taking place throughout the week, the programme offers staff, students, and the wider community opportunities to learn, share ideas, and get involved in practical initiatives that support a more sustainable future. From expert talks and interactive workshops to campus activities and community engagement, Green Week highlights the collective efforts being made to promote environmental responsibility and inspire positive change.

For more details on what’s happening and to discover ways you can get involved, read on.