Between the 9th and 13th of March, Trinity celebrated Green Week, a week of promoting sustainability and challenging climate change. Green Week hosted events from across campus, with societies, clubs, Trinity sustainability, the Students Union and the Environmental Action Committee hosting events celebrating and promoting these values. At the beginning of the week, a sign appeared at the base of the Campanile reading ‘Green Week.’ Throughout the week, the Arts Block featured a clothes swap pop-up stand.
Also throughout the week, a petition was being circulated for the banning of plastic cups from campus. People Before Profit announced a new permanent Vegan Policy to kick off Green Week.
On the first day of Green Week, the Elizabethan Society hosted a walking debate on the topic of eco-feminism at the GMB. The Buttery and Forum provided meat-free and affordable lunches. Also on in the afternoon, a panel was held on the topic of misinformation and disinformation and how it influences journalism on the climate, biodiversity, sustainability, and public action featuring Shane Raymond of the Journal, Thomas Deane, the Research Communications Manager for Faculty of STEM, Siobhan Dunne of Trinity Library and Freja Goldman of University Times as panelists. In the Business School, Sustainability Leadership Awards were also presented to students, staff, and alumni who had worked in their communities towards climate and biodiversity action. To finish the day, a guided tour of the campus’ biodiversity began at the Campanile.
Tuesday also featured another debate in the GMB on the ethics of coffee. In the Boland library, a found poetry workshop was held by the Green Campus Committee and the Climate Cafe which repurposed old paper material into collages and poetry. Outside of the main campus, in St. James’, a new bike parking unit was inaugurated. The unit was funded by the National Transport Authority. Another event on Tuesday was a network of climate and nature forward citizens discussing ways to develop infrastructure to bridge the gap between scientists and the public. Finally, a panel discussion was had on active travel activism including panelists from the Dublin Cycling Campaign and Irish Doctors for the Environment.
On the 11th of March, a webinar by Education for Sustainable Development presented their plans and initiatives for the rest of the academic year. Another presentation in the GMB was on Dr. Rupa Marya’s survey on the School of Medicine Centre for Land, Food, Health. The discussion was a collaboration between Trinity Sustainability and Healthy Trinity, the School of Medicine, the School of Natural Sciences, and Trinity Business School. The Students’ Union Environmental Action Committee, Zoo Society, Trinity Arts Festival, and Trinity Surf Club invited marine conservation scientist Dr. Jenny Bortoluzzi for a Shark Night. The event included lino printing and music.
A second biodiversity tour occurred on Thursday. Trinity Arts Workshop also had a craft workshop on ecobricks and making patches. A support group for climate emotions also created a space for people to discuss their emotions. The support group also included vegan refreshments provided by DU Food and Drink.
On the final day of Green Week, Trinity Sustainability planned a trip to the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun. CycleClinic and ARUP also provided a free bike repair clinic with free service at the Pav. Alongside the bike repair was also a repair cafe where household electrical items and furniture could be fixed. The cafe was facilitated by Dublin Maker and Tog Hackerspace.
Jane Stout of Trinity Sustainability said: “The aims of the week are to bring students and staff together to celebrate the good work that is happening. […] Trinity’s Sustainability Strategy seeks to embed sustainability in our education, research, operations and community, to meet targets for climate biodiversity and health. The wide variety of more than 20 events during Green Week demonstrates the links between these, and showcases some of these things we’re doing.” She finished by saying “It is truly a community effort.”
Amelia Flanagan, the Environmental Officer of the Students’ Union said “Aims of Green Week from an SU perspective is to get people enthused again about the environment and about protecting it!” Flanagan also spoke on the role of people, stating “Caring about the environment means caring about people, and vice-versa, and learning about people, and vice-versa.”
