| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 83.12 |
| Liaison | Richard Manton |
| Submission Date | Sept. 12, 2024 |
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway
PRE-2: Points of Distinction
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
N/A |
Richard
Manton Director of Sustainability Sustainability Office |
Name of the institution’s featured sustainability program, initiative, or accomplishment:
A brief description of the institution’s featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
University of Galway is ranked #47 in the world for sustainability (out of 2,000 universities) by the Times Higher Education Impact rankings. This ranking scheme recognises our progress in responding to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We achieved a world ranking of number 10 for Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and top 100 status for 6 of the 17 SDGs. As the top ranked university in Ireland for the third year in a row and top 5 in the EU, we have cemented our position as a leading university for sustainability.
Since the last STARS submission, University of Galway has won several other awards including:
- Excellence in Sustainability at the Education Awards 2024
- Energy in Buildings Award at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Awards 2023
- An Taisce Green Flag Award 2022
These awards reflect the collective efforts of our campus community and our belief in sharing and celebrating our successes. For further information on our awards, please see: https://www.universityofgalway.ie/sustainability/aboutus/awards/
Which of the following impact areas does the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Optional Fields
STARS credit in which the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the featured program, initiative, or accomplishment:
Second Point of Distinction
A brief description of the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
University of Galway is designated a national SDG Champion for 2023-24, the first university in Ireland to hold this honour. The role of an SDG Champion is to raise public awareness of the SDGs and act as a good practice example of how an organisation can contribute to and integrate the SDGs into their work and activities. We use the designation to highlight the role that the SDGs play in our teaching, research, operations and engagement – sharing our knowledge as widely as we can.
As an SDG Champion, we developed and launched an SDG Trail through the campus to showcase, share and promote our efforts at developing the campus as a living lab for best practice in embedding the SDGs. Walking the trail, participants learn about the 17 SDGs and gain insights into the scale and breadth of projects and initiatives taking place across the University that are progressing the SDGs.
As our year as an SDG Champion has come to an end, we have recently been appointed a National SDG Ambassador to continue to advocate and report on the SDGs and to mentor current and future SDG Champions.
Which impact areas does the second program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Public Engagement
Website URL where more information about the second program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the second program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the second program/initiative/accomplishment:
Third Point of Distinction
A brief description of the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
University of Galway has achieved significant, verifiable and reported reductions in energy consumption and GHG emissions.
Since 2006, we have improved our energy efficiency by almost 50%, on the cusp of achieving the 2030 public sector target. Meanwhile, we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 47% since 2006 (or by 35% compared to our 2016-2018 baseline). These figures are all the more impressive considering the expansion in our student population and facilities in recent years.
These achievements would not be possible without the dedication and expertise of our green team and community engagement. Our award-winning energy team has demonstrated our capacity to deliver innovative, sustainable projects and we look forward to continuing to act as a pathfinder for sustainability among universities and public sector bodies.
Which impact areas does the third program/initiative/accomplishment most closely relate to?:
Buildings
Energy
Website URL where more information about the third program/initiative/accomplishment may be found:
STARS credit in which the third program/initiative/accomplishment is reported (if applicable):
A photograph or document associated with the third program/initiative/accomplishment:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.