New Sustainability Strategy targets carbon-neutral, nature-positive and healthy campus

University of Galway has cemented its position as a global leader on sustainability impact, retaining its place as No.1 in Ireland, third in the European Union and top 100 in the world for the fifth year in a row.

 The Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 rank University of Galway ahead of all the universities in Ireland for performance on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

 More than 1,600 institutions from 116 countries are ranked in the THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026.

 It placed the University at 68^th in the world and 3rd in the EU.

 University of Galway has been Ireland's leading university for sustainability for five years. To mark the achievement and as Ireland prepares to take over the Presidency of the European Union next week, the University launched its new Sustainability Strategy 2026-2030, setting out the next phase of its sustainability ambitions, at a special meeting of the ENLIGHT European University Alliance in Galway.

 Professor Becky Whay, University of Galway Deputy President and Registrar, said: “At University of Galway, sustainability is central to our purpose and identity. It shapes how we teach, learn, research, operate and engage. We aim to lead the transition to a sustainable future and foster the next generation of leaders and innovators to tackle global challenges. The University of Galway Sustainability Strategy 2026-2030 builds on a decade of institutional commitment and leadership, setting a renewed direction for a carbon-neutral, nature-positive and healthy university with a focus on education for sustainable development. It reflects our belief that universities have both the capacity and the responsibility to lead transformative change for people and planet.”

 Dr Richard Manton, Director of Sustainability at University of Galway, said: “As we launch our third sustainability strategy, we are very proud to once again be ranked as Ireland’s top university for performance on the Sustainable Development Goals. As recognised in SDG 17, partnership for the goals, we will only achieve our sustainability objectives by working closely with our partners on campus, in our city and across our region. I would like to thank our 100-person Community University Sustainability Partnership for developing the new strategy and for driving our sustainability efforts for the past 11 years.”

 The Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 recognise University of Galway for particularly strongly performance on Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12), where it is ranked 8th in the world. Other strengths are 23rd for Partnerships for the Goals (SDG17), 48th for Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3) and 58th for Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6).

 The new Sustainability Strategy at University of Galway sets out an ambitious vision for a carbon-neutral, nature-positive and healthy campus, underpinned by a Learn-Live-Lead model, connecting education, research and operations to real-world impact.

 There are 10 areas of focus in the strategy: research and innovation, teaching, learning and assessment, energy and buildings, nature and ecosystems, procurement, travel, circular economy, health and wellbeing, engagement and leadership, and governance and reporting.

Key targets and actions include:

• Embedding sustainability competencies in all educational programmes at the University

• Achieving Green Lab certification for all labs on campus

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and moving ambitiously towards carbon neutrality

• Securing Gold in the NTA Smarter Travel Mark

• Implementing a new biodiversity action plan for a nature positive campus

• Building on the successful elimination of single-use cups, removing remaining single-use plastic catering items

• Achieving Platinum rating in the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS)

 The Sustainability Strategy 2026-2030 is available at www.universityofgalway.ie/sustainability/strategy

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