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UCC ranks fourth worldwide for sustainability among over 1,700 universities
University College Cork has been placed fourth internationally in one of the world's most prestigious rankings on the sustainability of over 1,700 universities.
The latest UI GreenMetric World University Rankings were announced this week at a ceremony in Azerbaijan, where UCC’s fourth place was revealed – confirming that UCC has now ranked in the top ten in every year for the last decade.
The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking was established in 2010 and examines universities around the world and their work towards reducing their carbon footprint, embedding sustainability in student learning, and helping combat climate change. UCC has consistently been Ireland's leading university for sustainability under this annual assessment since inception and has been inside the Top 10 in the world for the past ten years in a row.
The educational, research and operational activities of institutions across the world are assessed, and the results positively reflect UCC’s whole-of-university approach to the advancement of sustainability.
UCC President Professor John O’Halloran said the university was honoured to yet again place in the top ten in the world.
“To be in the top ten for ten consecutive years speaks volumes to our unwavering commitment to sustainability. We will not rest in our ambition to be world leaders in this field. In the past year alone, we have seen the launch of our Sustainability Institute, and we became the first university in Europe to achieve a prestigious Platinum STARS rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education”.
“Only this month our Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which is Ireland’s first all-island network dedicated to delivering on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, host a major EU Presidency associated event looking at increasingly complex connections between climate change and migration,” he said.
A whole of university approach to sustainability
Professor Brian O'Gallachoir, UCC Associate Vice-President of Sustainability said that key to UCC’s success is a "whole of university" approach to sustainability.
“Our national and international sustainability leadership encompasses three key areas: sustainability research, practicing sustainability, and teaching sustainability. In our sustainability research, we have a dual focus on achieving both scientific excellence and significant societal impact,” he said.
Dr Maria Kirrane, UCC Head of Sustainability and Climate Action, said UCC adopts a ground-up approach to sustainability.
“Our approach is student-led, research-informed and practice-focused. We rely on the determination, lived experience, and expertise of our staff and students to drive our sustainability agenda. To consistently be in the top ten for a decade shows how we constantly engage with all voices in our university to shape our sustainability journey,” she said.