Become a changemaker for sustainability in 2024

We’re once again gearing up for Green Impact, an internationally recognised and University-wide program where you can become a leader of change and make an impact to sustainability on our campuses.

To learn about the 2024 program, how to use the new toolkit platform, and to hear about past participants’ experiences completing Green Impact, attend the Green Impact 2024 launch from 12–1 pm on Thursday 21 March.

With the support of the Sustainability Team, over six months individuals and teams complete actions from an online toolkit that promote sustainable practices and make progress towards targets outlined in the University’s Sustainability Strategy.

“By participating in this initiative, students not only contribute to tangible environmental improvements but also gain invaluable skills, experiences, and connections,” said Gillian Graham-Crowe, Director of Sustainability at the University.

“Green Impact is about empowering our students to be the change they want to see in the world, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to drive positive change not just on campus, but in their broader spheres of influence,” Gillian added. 

Creative solutions making a difference

Green Impact in 2023 brought together nine teams of staff and students from across five of our campuses. These teams worked together to successfully complete 474 sustainable actions.

From book swaps to meatless lunches, refurbishing chairs, upcycling bird feeders from old crockery and implementing a re-usable laboratory glassware system, teams used their creativity to build momentum and involve their local areas in sustainability actions.

Six teams achieved gold at the Green Impact Awards in 2023, with a further three achieving silver. Sinead Ahern from the Northern Clinical School received the Student Champion Award.

“Through Green Impact, I learned a lot about team building and organisation, which are skills that will be relevant in every profession. I also was lucky to attend a course teaching carbon foot printing skills applicable to the healthcare industry, which helps me to meaningfully engage with sustainability advocacy in my workplace," said Sinead.

“I would definitely recommend Green Impact to other students. It was an amazing opportunity to work collaboratively within a team and gain exposure to the plethora of ways you can make a positive impact on the environment, as an individual and on an institutional and community level,” Sinead added.

Get involved in 2024

Whether you're passionate about environmental communications, getting your hands dirty in the garden, reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, or promoting biodiversity, there's a place for you in the Green Impact program. You'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while also gaining recognition for your efforts through the Green Impact Awards. 

“There’ll be many opportunities to build sustainability literacy while deep diving into social and environmental sustainability challenges,” said Ysobel Cranfield, Engagement Specialist in the Sustainability Strategy.

“Green Impact is a fantastic opportunity to build connections with your team while developing important sustainability and leadership skills. We celebrate all actions as they contribute to a broader international movement toward a more sustainable future,” Ysobel added. 

Student, staff, and mixed teams can join the program with no limit on team sizes. Individuals can express their interest to join and will be matched with a team. There are also no expectations on the number of actions that need to be completed – you and your team can determine your level of involvement and time invested.

“Smaller individual or group-based tasks are often not very time consuming and can be a great base to start. My Green Impact team had meetings roughly every month and I would dedicate half an hour before and after the meeting to upload evidence or plan for future tasks,” Sinead explained.

Attend the Green Impact 2024 launch on 21 March from 12–1 pm to find out more about the program and what you need to do to register to participate in 2024.