Conference sustainability plan

Photo by Chaosheng Zhang

Welcome to the west of Ireland! Galway’s beautiful (if wet!) land offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the diverse landscapes and culture of Ireland. 

However, while we hope you enjoy all that Galway has to offer we also bear a  responsibility to care for and respect the environment. Our guide below provides information about the University of Galway’s IAMCR Conference Sustainability Plan, as well as a guide in helping you minimise the environmental impact from your trip.

University of Galway: A Sustainable Campus

The University of Galway’s main campus is adjacent to a Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), designated under EU and Irish law as it contains several ecologically important habitats and species. The University manages the watershed and works to prevent polluted water entering the water system thereby protecting aquatic ecosystems and species. Our campus boasts biodiverse natural areas and we are proud to maintain these through our commitment to  Climate Action and Sustainability.

The University of Galway is committed to Climate Action and Sustainability through our two leading mandates:

  1. To embed carbon management into all University operations and processes with a view to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5˚C.
  2. To lead the transition to a sustainable future by embedding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), into all our major efforts, including education, research, leadership, professional support services, operations and engagement activities. 

Our commitment to the environment was recognised through our designation as one of the first national Sustainable Development Goal Champion for Ireland. Always working with the environment in mind, we have planned this conference accordingly and invite you to learn more about our eco-friendly approach below, as well as the role you will play in keeping the environment in mind at the week’s event.

University of Galway’s Sustainable Conference Approach

Through the University of Galway’s Sustainability Checklist, our Local Organising Committee has adopted the following practices to help reduce the event's environmental footprint, respect culture and promote positive change:

  • Reduced printed materials: We have kept printed materials to a minimum for this conference and encourage use of the IAMCR website provided 
  • Environmentally-friendly catering options: We have ensured to provide lower-carbon emitting and local food options at the event. 
  • Waste management protocols: Many of our bins on-campus have guides on what can be thrown into them. We have composting, recycling and general waste disposal bins across the campus.
  • No single-use cups! The University of Galway does not provide single-use cups on campus. Options are listed below in “At the conference”. 
  • Close-to-campus accommodation: We have close-to-campus accommodation options available. Our campus can be easily (and quickly!) accessed from these accommodation options by foot, bike or public transport.

How you can help the environment

You play an essential part in keeping our conference environmentally-friendly. We encourage  all of our attendees to think about how they can attend the conference with the planet in mind. Here are a few suggestions that can help make your experience more sustainable.

Travelling to Ireland

We encourage you to choose greener flight options: If possible try to:

  • Choose ferry: If boat travel is an option for you, it offers a more eco-friendly alternative to flying.
  • Book direct flights: The most energy-intensive part of a flight is take-off. Try and choose direct options whenever you can.
  • Fly economy: Did you know? Business class has a higher environmental footprint than other classes on planes, in large part due to the extra legroom and often empty seats! Save on money and emissions by choosing economy for your flight.
  • Choose airlines with newer aircraft and higher load factors: New aircraft are more efficient. You can find information on the aircraft types and load ratios from the airline.

Packing for your trip

  • Pack light and responsibly: Minimise your luggage and bring reusable items such as a water bottle, coffee cup, and lightweight shopping bag to reduce waste during your stay. Pack refillable rather than single-use toiletries. 
  • Pack for the weather! It can be cool and damp in Galway so bring some warm layers, a raincoat and sturdy walking shoes.

Travelling around Galway

Once you’ve landed in Galway, we encourage you to:

  • Walk first: We would recommend walking as much as is feasible as it is often faster than public transportation. There is a basic public transport system in Galway but you will likely find that walking, if available to you, is often faster.
  • Use Active Travel:  We encourage you to use active travel (such as walking or cycling) to get to our campus as a first-choice whenever you can.
    • If you come by bike, we have cycling facilities such as bike shelters available for your use. See our Cycling Facilities Map for more information.
  • Use Public Transport: For distances that are too far to walk, we encourage you to avail of public transport, such as buses to reach our campus. The city centre (Eyre Square) is served by the 401 – 409 buses. See the Galway City Bus Network Map for more information.
  • Carpool: Keep an eye on our Facebook page for posts about self-organised carpooling.
  • Taxi options: We understand that sometimes a taxi is needed! We encourage you to carpool if you need a taxi. Taxi options in Galway include: 

When considering travel options, ensure you opt for the travel that suits you best. 

Choose sustainable accommodation

  • Does your accommodation have an environmental plan? Make sure to ask if one exists. These plans often have useful guidance on waste management and eco-friendly practices the accommodation provider sticks to. If one isn’t available, make sure to ask how and where you can dispose of waste, and if you can re-use towels over several days.
  • Stay close by: Save yourself time and effort by staying nearby to our venue. We have provided walking distances next to each of our selected accommodation providers to help you make this choice: https://iamcr.org/galway2026/accommodation. 
  • Switch off when not in use: Save water by turning off taps when not in use (like when you brush your teeth) and choosing shorter showers. Turn lights and devices off when not in use.

At the conference

  • Go digital first: Attendees are encouraged to use available electronic resources and the IAMCR website provided to guide yourself throughout the week.
  • Choose environmentally-friendly catering options:. Wherever you can, enjoy the locally-sourced, seasonal and plant-based options available.
  • Use the right bin: When you have waste, make sure you dispose of it the right away. Many of our bins on-campus are colour-coded and have guides on what can be thrown into them. We have composting, recycling and general waste disposal bins across the campus. When in doubt, hold onto your packaging until you can find a correct bin to use.
  • Bring your own cup and water bottle: The University of Galway does not provide single-use cups on campus. 
    • For hot drinks: Bring a keep cup or avail of the 2GoCup scheme. Leave a €2 deposit and receive a keep cup for use. Return the cup (clean please!) to get your deposit back. 
    • For water: Please bring a reusable water bottle and avail of our water fountains across campus. See the Water Bottle Map for their locations.
    • For any needs where a single use cup is required, please ask a member of staff to assist.
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