| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 65.04 |
| Liaison | Thomas Adams |
| Submission Date | July 30, 2021 |
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe - University of Galway
PA-2: Sustainability Planning
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Michelle
O'Dowd Community and Sustainability Officer Office of Deputy President and Registrar |
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in curriculum and/or research?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to academics and the plan(s) in which they are published:
RL1: Integration of sustainability across all education programmes of the university - By 2023
RL2: Availability of co-curricular sustainability experiences for all NUI Galway students - By 2023
RL3: Provision of opportunities for all to learn about sustainability and to be part of the change process in the transition to a sustainable campus - By 2025
RL4: Increase research activity aligned to the SDGs across all colleges and research institutions. Establish a baseline of funded research projects aligned to the SDGs with the ambition to achieve alignment of over 60% - 60% alignment by 2025
RL5: Leadership in sustainability innovation and entrepreneurship. Establish a baseline of and increase sustainability innovation and entrepreneurship programmes - By 2025
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address student, employee, or community engagement for sustainability?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to engagement and the plan(s) in which they are published:
HW1: Achieve the Keep Well Mark - Achieve by 2021
HW2: Achieve Healthy Campus Status - Achieve by 2022
HW3: Tobacco Free Campus - Achieve by 2021
HW4: Level of harmful drinking among students - Reduce year on year
NE1: Biodiversity Action Plan implemented and monitored for future updates -Ongoing
NE2: Demonstrated linkages between sustainable management of campus and research on campus biodiversity. Applied for funding for actions to showcase sustainable biodiversity management for wider community - Start in 2021 and continue year on year
NE3: Signatory to Leave No Trace and principles - implemented By 2022
NE4: Co-developed community projects in city and county with key partners - By 2025
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address sustainability in operations?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to operations and the plan(s) in which they are published:
EN1: Improve energy efficiency by 45% from 2005 baseline year - By 2025
EN2: *Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% based on 2021 baseline - Publication of baseline & methodology By 2025
EN3: 20% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025 - By 2025
BE1: From a 2019 baseline, reduce total water consumption by 10% - Achieve by 2025
BE2: Ban specific single-use plastic convenience items including polystyrene food containers, cups and drinks containers - Achieve by 2021. Reduce food wastage (kitchen and plate waste) by 50% - Achieve by 2025.
BE3: Establish baseline transport carbon footprint by 2021 and reduce year on year - 2025
*EN2 - Target will be reviewed after 2021
Does the institution have a published plan or plans that include measurable sustainability objectives that address diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainable investment/finance; or wellbeing?:
A list or sample of the measurable sustainability objectives related to administration and the plan(s) in which they are published:
GL1: Show year-on-year progress on the achievement of the SDGs Annual improvement in Times Higher Societal Impact Ranking.
GL2: Impactful partnerships established with community groups to achieve the SDGs
Continuous growth each year
GL3 All labs green lab certified - By 2025
GL4: Achieve inaugural STARS ranking and improve award rating - Initial STARS ranking by 2022 with improved award rating by 2025. Maintain An Taisce Green Flag status.
GL5: All contracts/tenders incorporate green purchasing criteria By 2021.
GL6: Develop a roadmap to move ambitiously towards carbon neutrality. Measure and report carbon footprint by 2021. Develop a framework by 2023 for the university to move ambitiously towards carbon neutrality by 2030.
Does the institution have a published strategic plan or equivalent guiding document that includes sustainability at a high level? :
The institution’s highest guiding document (upload):
Website URL where the institution’s highest guiding document is publicly available:
Which of the following best describes the inclusion of sustainability in the highest guiding document?:
The institution's sustainability plan (upload):
Website URL where the institution's sustainability plan is publicly available:
Does the institution have a formal statement in support of sustainability endorsed by its governing body?:
The formal statement in support of sustainability:
Shared-Vision-Shaped-by-Values - one of the four core values, take from this.
Our value of sustainability comes most strongly from our students, the generation that faces climate change most vividly. Our students demand that we leave the world in a better place than they found it, a responsibility of us all. In our research, teaching and engagement, and in our actions, we are committed to being an exemplar of climate action, for and with our sector and other organisations in our region. Acutely aware of our place in the world at this time and in this place, we are committed to the sustainability of our climate and determined to make a difference. We also cherish our role as a university, as an educational institution, sustaining our communities and the next generation of citizens and of knowledge, for our students and for our society.
The institution’s definition of sustainability:
Overview from President - sustainability section.
We cherish our role as a university sustaining our communities and the next generation of citizens and of knowledge for our students and for our society.
Is the institution an endorser or signatory of the following?:
| Yes or No | |
| The Earth Charter | --- |
| The Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) | --- |
| ISCN-GULF Sustainable Campus Charter | --- |
| Pan-Canadian Protocol for Sustainability | --- |
| SDG Accord | Yes |
| Second Nature’s Carbon Commitment (formerly known as the ACUPCC), Resilience Commitment, and/or integrated Climate Commitment | --- |
| The Talloires Declaration (TD) | --- |
| UN Global Compact | --- |
| Other multi-dimensional sustainability commitments (please specify below) | Yes |
A brief description of the institution’s formal sustainability commitments, including the specific initiatives selected above:
The Times Higher Education (THE) launched a new ranking in 2018/19 known as the, THE Impact Rankings. The aim of this new ranking is to capture universities' impact on society based on the institution's success in delivering the United Nations seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN has outlined these 17 SDGs with the aim of achieving a better and a more sustainable future for all by 2030. The goals address the global changes we face including poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. Per the Times Higher Education (THE) the purpose of this new ranking is to “provide a showcase for the work being delivered by universities in our communities, and it is an opportunity to shine a light on institutional activities and efforts not covered in other rankings. It allows THE to demonstrate the differences a university is making to the world we live in”.
In 2019/20, NUI Galway submitted an application for the Overall THE University Impact Rankings, in order to apply for an overall rank a university must submit data for at least four out of the seventeen SDGs with "SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals" being compulsory. A submission can then be made for any additional three SDGs to achieve an overall impact rank. In 2019/20 NUI Galway submitted data for the compulsory "SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals" and an additional six of the total SDGs. The Times Higher then publish the results for the Universities best four of all the SDGs submitted. See details of each of the SDGs and the metrics required for each of the SDGs in the poster.
NUIG are a member and committed to the ENLIGHT network which stands for European university Network to promote equitable quality of Life, sustaInability and Global engagement through Higher education Transformation, more information here: https://enlight-eu.org/index.php/university-about-us/members/248-national-university-ireland-galway
We are currently registering with the Alliance for Sustainability leadership: more information is available here: https://www.eauc.org.uk/about_us
And we are registering with AASHE.
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainability planning efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.