Litter and waste generated on campus has a negative impact on our local environment. These impacts also effect neighbouring communities as well as contributing to national and global environmental degradation. Waste on campus can take the form of food waste, material waste, chemical waste, and electrical waste. Waste is not only an environmental issue, but also an economic one.

According to a recent EPA report, in 2020, the waste created generated by Ireland’s linear economy (make – take – use – dispose) increased to 16.2 million tonnes (3.25 tonnes per person), up from 12.7 million tonnes (2.77 tonnes per person) in 2012. The same report showed that our recycling rates were considerably below EU waste targets.

It is our ambition at TU Dublin to implement the principles of the circular economy by reducing waste, reusing, and repairing products and materials, and to recycle effectively.

Under the theme Litter and Waste, TU Dublin will:

• build awareness around the environmental impacts of litter and waste
• assess the impact of litter and waste on campus
• implement practical measures for preventing and minimising litter and waste
• promote a circular economy culture

Energy

Large institutions, such as TU Dublin, are energy intensive and run many different operations and functions for thousands of students and staff members. A high level of non-renewable energy production and consumption has a direct negative effect on the environment. The environmental problems directly related to energy production and consumption include the generation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) which contribute towards poor air quality and climate change.

In Ireland in 2021, the EPA reported that the energy sector was the third largest contributor to overall emissions accounting for 16.7% of total GHG emissions. SEAI's Energy in Ireland 2022 report showed that Ireland’s total energy use in 2020 was down almost 9%, and energy related CO2 emissions fell also by 11.4% due largely to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall share of renewable energy however was just over 13%, falling short of the EU renewable energy target of 16%.

TU Dublin has a responsibility to support government policy for reducing energy consumption. Under the theme of Energy, TU Dublin will improve energy efficiency, in tandem with developing an ongoing engagement and awareness campaign to help students and staff to conserve energy on and off campus. Through practical measures, TU Dublin will mitigate the impact of energy related GHG emissions by reducing daily energy use on campus.

Under the theme of Energy, TU Dublin will:

• build awareness around the environmental impact of energy-use and carbon
• ease the pressure on the national electricity grid
• reduce indoor temperatures to 19 degrees as per government policy
• optimise the use of campus buildings
• reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels
• reduce our overall energy costs by reducing energy consumption

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things on earth including animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms like bacteria. Life on earth is supported by a delicate balance of eco-systems. Disruption to this balance, such as species and habitat loss, has serious negative impacts to biological systems and damage can sometimes be irreversible.

NPWS reported in a 2019 report, that almost half of the EU protected habitats and species in Ireland are in decline. The data revealed that over 60% of Ireland’s common birds are threatened, one third of wild bee species are becoming extinct and the number of rivers with pristine water quality has plummeted from 500 to 20 over the past 40 years. In 2023, Ireland will publish its 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) 2023-2027, and there is much work to be done nationally to halt biodiversity loss.

With 115 acres of land across Dublin city-centre and sub-urban landscapes, TU Dublin has an opportunity to protect biodiversity and enhance the local environment.

Under the theme of Biodiversity, TU Dublin will:

• build awareness around the value of protecting biodiversity and the natural world
• support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

• boost the diversity of native plant and animal life through conservation

• develop understanding of environmental and natural resource management

• constantly review land-use and landscaping practices in favour of protecting biodiversity

Transport & Mobility

Pollutants from transport-related emissions have a serious negative effect on human and environmental health. The air pollutant emissions generated from transport are a main contributor to air quality problems both in Ireland and globally. These pollutants can include particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO).

In Ireland in 2021, the EPA reported that between 1990 and 2021, Transport shows the greatest overall increase of GHG emissions at 112.2%. Fuel combustion emissions from Transport accounted for 9.3% and 17.7% of total national GHG emissions in 1990 and 2021, respectively. Under the revised Climate Action Plan Ireland has new ambitious targets to transform how we travel over the coming seven years.

TU Dublin is uniquely positioned to support sustainable travel to each of its campus locations. Our recent TU Dublin Smarter Travel staff and Student Survey 2022 revealed that 83% of survey respondents agreed that they would like to use sustainable transport to reduce their impact on the environment.

Under the theme of Travel, TU Dublin will:

• build awareness around the environmental and health impacts of transport-related emissions
• foster a culture of active and sustainable travel to campus
• work together with the National Transport Authority and local authorities to improve sustainable travel to campus
• provide opportunities for healthier, equitable and more sustainable commutes
• provide infrastructure and facilities to support active travel