In 2007, UCC students instigated a pilot Green Campus programme, with the help of An Taisce, which would see the university become the first in the world to be awarded a Green Flag from the Foundation for Environmental Education. UCC renewed its Green Flag in 2013 and 2016, and in July 2016 published its UCC Sustainability Strategy. Our programme is student-led, research-informed and practice-focused and our success demonstrates the strong commitment across all levels and divisions in the university. In 2018, UCC became the first university in Europe to be awarded a Gold Star from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education