Climate Action Roadmap
Mary Immaculate College is proud to present its Climate Action Roadmap, 2030.
CAR 2030 is a response to the request made of all publicly-funded organisations and institutions, through the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate, ‘to show leadership in climate action.’ Organisations such as MIC, including all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), have been called upon to help realise the State’s target of reducing Ireland’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51%, as well as to support the achievement of energy efficiency in the public sector.
Introduction
These goals were set in response to the Irish Government’s undertakings following the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Notwithstanding the much-debated efficacy of the COP process – particularly since the 26th Conference – COP-26 remains the loudest clarion call to governments to take action towards a mass decarbonisation effort aimed at arresting the pace of global warming and fending off the run-away effects of greenhouse gas emissions. The key message from COP-26 is that time is of the essence and that if action is not immediate the tipping point for climate catastrophe will not be avoided.
HEIs, in particular, have an essential role to play in meeting the challenge of averting the worst ravages of climate crisis, a role envisaged by the UN in the articulation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it has set, which include objectives of direct relevance to the College’s core mission, including equitable provision of educational opportunities in addition to well-targeted teaching, learning and research strategies.
Why MIC Must Contribute
Reducing the MIC Carbon Footprint
As a large publicly-funded higher education institution – and a net contributor to Ireland’s carbon emissions - MIC has a social and moral obligation to enhance the sustainability of its operations and to contribute to collective efforts to meet the ambitious targets outlined in the Climate Action Mandate. Although it will be a significant challenge for it to do so, MIC has set ambitious targets for reduced greenhouse gas emissions that are proportionate to its size and to its carbon footprint within the broader context of Ireland’s decarbonisation goals. The main deliverable is a 64% reduction from the College’s baseline GHGs (inclusive of SCOPE 2 electricity usage) to 679,458.3 kg CO2 by 2030 and the College is steadfastly committed to the full achievement of that target.
A Vital Agent for Change
As a College of Education and the Liberal Arts, MIC also has the potential to serve as a significant catalyst for change through its students, staff, and partners. This influence extends from the immediate impact of its teaching and learning mission to its research and knowledge transfer initiatives. Additionally, MIC's broader relationships with its alumni, with the early years, primary, and post-primary education sectors, with its professional development program stakeholders, with other sectoral partners contributing collectively to local and regional governance, and with the College’s own significant capacity to influence policy, means that the institution can exert a substantial multiplier effect.
What is needed now is to gather these strands together is a coherent and effective roadmap ‘framework’ and CAR/MIC 2030 paves the way for this by establishing 6 thematic categories of action.
Much has been achieved to date under each theme but beyond the baseline positions and current contexts linked to them there is potential for significantly enhanced impact in all instances. The sections below set out the specific meaning of each thematic category for MIC, relevant baseline positions, targets, progress to date, and initiatives to be put into action.
“MIC embraces its role as a leader in higher education and to shaping sustainable futures through education, research, and systemic networks of collaboration.”
