Healthy Environment

Our economic prosperity and well-being are underpinned by the quality of our environment and natural capital including biodiverse ecosystems that provide essential services such as pollination, fertile soil, productive land and seas, good quality fresh water, and clean air. Healthy Environment is a core research challenge for the Sustainability Institute. 

Research at the Institute is focused on the sustainable use of natural resources, enhancing and valuing ecosystems, managing and protecting water and air quality, environmental remediation, monitoring and responding to the environmental health threats to humans. 

For a full list of Healthy Environment Research Projects at Sustainability Institute visit our Research Projects Page and select Healthy Environment under the Challenges tab. 

Explore how our research supports the development of a healthy environment »

Climate Action

Our response to climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity in the 21st century and presents huge social, environmental and economic risks and opportunities. Climate action is a core research challenge for the Sustainability Institute focused on developing the transformative solutions needed to avoid major disruptions to social-ecological systems in the coming decades.   

Our research activity is focused on 

• improving our understanding improving our understanding of the climate system and the impact of climate change 
• developing solutions, technologies, and finance for rapidly decarbonising our economy 
• responding to climate change risks to become resilient to impacts and (iv) catalysing changes in human, political and governance systems for a rapid societal transition to a zero carbon society. 

For a full list of Climate Action Research Projects at Sustainability Institute visit our Research Projects Page and select Climate Action under the Challenges tab. 

Explore how our research is helping to deliver action on climate change »

Circular Economy

Our global consumption exceeds the planet’s regenerative capacity by more than 50%. A shift from a “take-make-waste” to a closed-loop economy to enable an absolute decoupling of consumption from resource use and environmental impact in now an imperative for our society.  Circular Economy is a core research challenge for the Sustainability Institute. 

Research at the Institute is focused on producing sustainable materials, sustainable food and sustainable energy in a closed loop approach with minimal or no waste providing a framework to reduce environmental impact, improve competitiveness, increase security of supply and produce new business opportunities. 

For a full list of Circular Economy research projects at Sustainability Institute, see our research projects and select Circular Economy under the Challenges tab.  

Explore how our research facilitates the sustainable development of circular economies »

Environment

The earth’s natural resources and the man-made environment are under intense pressure from a growing population, urbanisation and transport, continuous expansion of the agriculture, fisheries and energy sectors, along with climatic variability at a local, regional and global scale. These natural resources (such as food, soil, water, air, biomass and ecosystems but also fuels, minerals and metals) underpin the functioning of the global economy and our quality of life. Humanity is however approaching a number of planetary boundaries for biodiversity loss, global freshwater use, change in land use, ocean acidification and interference with the global phosphorous cycle. 

The Sustainability Institute has substantial expertise and resources for broad environmental research including ecological systems, biodiversity, atmospheric chemistry, water quality, environmental health, environmental governance and law, society and sustainability, geosciences, environmental genomics, resource management, and environmental economics. 

Energy

Central to the challenge of climate change is our reliance on damaging and finite sources of energy such as fossil fuels. The energy transition from a fossils fuel based to a zero carbon economy is an international imperative in the coming decades order to avoid dangerous levels of global warming and to meet demanding international decarbonisation targets under the 2016 Paris Agreement. A rapid energy transition will require multiple approaches in parallel focused on phasing out fossils fuels, introduction of diverse renewable energy generation technologies, energy efficiency and conservation measures, new modes of heating and transport, along major policy and behavioural changes.  

The Sustainability Institute has substantial expertise and resources in the areas of energy engineering, wind, tidal and ocean energy, biofuels and biogas, energy policy and modelling, climate finance, and the human aspect of the energy systems. The Institute hosts MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, which conducts fundamental scientific research relating to marine and renewable energy applications and enables the development and testing of technology. The Beaufort Building houses Ireland’s National Ocean Test Facility (Lir NOTF) which is a custom designed facility for small to medium scale laboratory testing of ocean and maritime systems. 

Materials

Current world economies are very material and energy intensive. To ensure the sustainable development of our planet, we need to consider the implications of the materials we use on the ecosystem and society. The way that we currently produce goods and services contributes significantly towards many of today’s environmental problems and to the crossing of key planetary boundaries generating potential abrupt or irreversible environmental changes. Economic development in the coming decades will become increasingly constrained by resource availability and cost. What is needed is a decoupling of material use from economic growth; this will in many cases require a complete rethink of industrial processes and in the type and amount of resources used and in products which are manufactured. Sustainable materials can be used and produced in required amounts without depleting non-renewable resources and without disrupting the already established equilibrium of the environment and key natural resource systems. 

The Materials platform within the Sustainability Institute encompasses research on materials that can be recycled, recovered, reused or remanufactured; have high durability and low resource or energy intensity; come from renewable resources; replace non-renewables from waste streams replacing virgin raw materials; and materials that have low toxicity and are readily biodegradable. The platform has substantial expertise in the areas of material science, sustainable bio-materials, biotechnology, geological resources, material engineering, urban mining, material reuse, and life cycle analysis. 

Food

Sustainable food production presents a challenge for our growing planetary population. Over the coming decades, agriculture and food systems will face unprecedented pressures, including a 30 percent increase in the global population, intensifying competition for scarce land, water and energy resources, along with the numerous impacts of climate change.  Food production will need to increase by 60% by 2050 to provide for increased population against a backdrop where almost 1 billion people are currently hungry and where four of the nine planetary boundaries that have been exceeded relate to food systems (climate change; loss of biosphere integrity; land system change; altered biochemical cycles). We need to find new ways of growing crops, raising animals, providing adequate nutrition to those most in need, reducing food waste, and protecting farm livelihoods, all whilst reducing environmental impact. 

The Sustainability Institute has substantial expertise and resources in the areas of sustainable crop production, plant genomics, aquaculture and fisheries, agri-food economics, consumer behaviour, nutrient recycling, life cycle analysis, food provisioning platforms, supply chain optimisation and ecosystems services. 

Marine

The marine environment constitutes two-thirds of our planet, contains 90% of the biosphere and is essential to life on earth. Along with being an important factor in social well being it plays a key role in economic prosperity. Ireland’s marine area is ten times that of the land area of the country; the country’s location and extensive marine resources represent a unique asset. However human activities are exerting increasing environmental pressure on the oceans; in particular, the growing demand for maritime transport, offshore energy, coastal development, fisheries and aquaculture pose a major threat to this environment. 

The Sustainability Institute has substantial expertise and resources in marine research including marine renewable, aquaculture, fisheries, coastal and marine systems, geomatics, earth observations, marine governance, and marine ecology. 

Centre for research into atmospheric chemistry (CRAC)

CRAC is a leading national centre for atmospheric chemistry research carrying out laboratory, field and modelling studies to support clean air quality.

The research activity of CRAC is wide-ranging and encompasses laboratory, field and modelling studies. Three main areas of investigation are undertaken as follows:

1. Laboratory simulations of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemistry relevant to the atmosphere.
2. Linking urban field measurements of particulate matter (PM) and bioaerosols to their chemical analysis and effects on health and climate change.
3. Development of new instrumental approaches for atmospheric analysis.

Many sources of funding have been secured by CRAC since its inception including SFI, EPA, IRCSET, EU Marie Curie Programme, Cork City Council and local industry. The research performed is described in more detail on other web-pages on this site. We also have a commitment to undergraduate and outreach activities.

Our Laboratories

CRAC labs are sited in the both Basement (B1) of the Kane Building UCC and also on the top-floor of the Ellen Hutchins Building.

Centre Directors

• Prof John Sodeau  j.sodeau@ucc.ie
• Prof John Wenger j.wenger@ucc.ie
• Prof Andy Ruth a.ruth@ucc.ie
• Dr Dean Venables d.venables@ucc.ie 

Find out more about CRAC »

MaREI, the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine

MaREI is a key research centre within the Sustainability Institute which is an internationally recognised Institute for environmental research dedicated to the understanding and protection of our natural environment and to developing innovative technologies, tools and services to facilitate a transformation to a zero carbon and resource-efficient society.     

MaREI, the Research Ireland Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine comprises of 220+ internationally recognised experts in energy, climate and marine from 13 Institutional Partners (University College Cork, Dublin city University, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Economic & Social Research Institute, Munster Technological University, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Technological University Dublin, Tyndall National Institute, University of Galway, University of Limerick) and 109 industry partners with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the climate, energy and marine spaces.  

MaREI’s strengths lie in the multi-disciplinary nature of its research teams, allowing it to combine insights across areas such as MRE Technologies, Materials & Structures, Observations & Operations, Coastal & Marine Systems, Bioenergy, Energy Policy & Modelling and Renewable Energy Management and the Centre has a key focus on capacity building, training the leaders of tomorrow through our PhD and post-doctoral training programmes. 

Centre for law and the environment (CLE)

The Centre for Law and the Environment at University College Cork (UCC) draws together our research, teaching and policy work relating to law and the environment. Based in the School of Law, the Centre supports and promotes a wide range of high-impact research activity in Environmental, Marine, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources Law. While the Centre is rooted firmly in the discipline of Law, it is engaged in significant interdisciplinary research collaborations and extensive outreach and advocacy activity.

Contemporary developments in the field of environmental human rights law, and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, inform the Centre’s activities.  Identifying, developing and promoting innovative legal and policy responses to the climate challenge is a significant focus for the Centre.

The Centre for Law and Environment carries out high-impact research within the field of environmental, marine, climate, energy and natural resources law providing a platform for broad legal and interdisciplinary collaboration within and beyond UCC.

Centre Directors

Prof Owen McIntyre o.mcintyre@ucc.ie and Prof Aine Ryall a.ryall@ucc.ie

Find out more about CLE »

Cleaner production promotion unit (CPPU)

Established in 1992, the Cleaner Production Promotion Unit is a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research group based in UCC’s School of Engineering and an affiliate centre of the university’s Sustainability Institute. The group conducts engaged research focused on the theme of society, sustainability and energy. 

The inter-disciplinarity of its research is greatly facilitated by the diverse academic background of its staff and research associates, which includes sociology, human geography, psychology, political science, architecture, environmental science and engineering.

Centre Director

Dr Niall Dunphy n.dunphy@ucc.ie

Find out more about CPPU »

Lir national ocean test facility

Lir is Ireland’s National Ocean Test Facility (“NOTF”) which is an internationally renowned centre for excellence. 

Lir NOTF houses Ireland’s only infrastructure for small to medium scale laboratory testing of ocean and maritime systems, and has expert support personnel and a track record stretching back to 1977.

Lir NOTF engages with industry and researchers to support the development of these emerging technologies.

Reputed for contributions to wave, tidal and offshore wind energy development. Lir is also known for work with floating structures, offshore structures, coastal engineering including breakwaters and harbours, hydrodynamics, scour, vessels and offshore logistics.

Centre Director

Dr. Jimmy Murphy jimmy.murphy@ucc.ie

Bioenergy and Biofuels laboratory

The Bioenergy and Biofuels research group operates a reactor lab for anaerobic digestion experiments and a chemical lab for analyses of biomass feedstock characteristics and process parameters. The group focus on renewable gaseous biofuel production (biohydrogen and biomethane) from 2nd generation biofuel substrates such as wastes, agricultural residues and lignocellulosic energy crops, and 3rd generation biofuel substrates such as macro-algae (seaweed) and micro-algae.

Research covers biological and thermochemical bioenergy pathways. The group investigates a range of digestion applications at lab scale including for innovative technologies such as Power to Gas, demand driven biogas and novel biogas upgrading technologies.

Our buildings

Our researchers and facilities are located in state-of-art buildings and locations across University College Cork campuses. Select a building to find out more about each: 

• UCC main campus, College Road, Cork
• Ellen Hutchins Building, Lee Road, Cork
• Beaufort Building, Ringaskiddy

Explore our locations »