Trinity has officially launched Green Week 2025 as the first university in the Republic of Ireland to receive Responsible Futures accreditation. This recognition follows a student-led audit assessing Trinity’s commitment to embedding sustainability in its curriculum, governance, and operations. The week began with a student Q&A featuring former President and Adjunct Lecturer for Climate Justice, Mary Robinson, on Monday, March 10th.

Trinity was one of seven universities worldwide to participate in an international pilot of the Responsible Futures programme, run by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK). Originally established in the UK in 2015, the programme expanded globally in 2023, with Trinity invited to take part. Today, over 43 universities in the UK and 10 internationally are part of Responsible Futures, collectively representing more than 1.1 million students.

As part of the accreditation process, each Responsible Futures Partnership undergoes a two-day student-led audit to evaluate progress and determine accreditation status. Trinity’s key achievements that contributed to this recognition include:

  • Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Integration
    The ESD module, led by Associate Professor Norah Campbell, has become a compulsory component of the Trinity Business School curriculum, reaching nearly 600 first-year students.

  • Trinity’s First Citizens’ Assembly on ESD
    Organized by the Students’ Union Environmental Officer and ESD Fellows, this initiative provided a platform for students and staff to discuss sustainability topics, including changemaking, activism, inclusion, and the role of the arts in environmental action.

  • Sustainability in the Informal Curriculum
    Trinity was commended for implementing creative strategies to promote sustainability. Notable efforts included the renaming of the Berkeley Library and Schrödinger Lecture Theatre to the Eavan Boland Library and Physics Lecture Theatre, reflecting the university’s commitment to inclusivity and sustainability.

  • Trinity’s Sustainability Strategy
    The university conducted extensive consultations with nearly 400 students, staff, and community members to shape its sustainability strategy, ensuring a broad and inclusive approach.

Green Week 2025: Events & Highlights

Building on these achievements, Green Week 2025 embraces the theme “Healthy Planet, Healthy People”, emphasizing the deep connection between planetary and human well-being.

Key events this week include:

  • Active Hope Workshop (sponsored by Healthy Trinity) – Exploring the mental health impact of climate change.
  • Sustainability Leadership Awards (Wednesday) – Recognizing outstanding contributions by staff and students in sustainability leadership.
  • Talk with ‘De-Influencer’ Shannen Healy – Discussing sustainable consumer habits.
  • Free Cycle Clinic, Careers Panel, Repairs Café & Vegan Food Samples at the Forum.
  • Photo Competition – Showcasing sustainability through student photography.

During her Q&A, Mary Robinson addressed the challenges of leadership and the importance of staying true to one’s values:

“What I felt was how important it was to be prepared to pay a price. That was the real lesson for me—that I needed to not try and be popular all the time. Sometimes, it’s more important to stay true to what you believe.”

Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action, Jane Stout, highlighted the power of collective action:

“Sustainability is too big for one person, one department, or one institution—we need each other. Green Week brings us together, celebrates our achievements, and sparks new ideas for the urgent changes needed for both people and the planet.”

Join us throughout Green Week to celebrate, learn, and take action!

Find the full list of events on the Sustainability Events Calendar.