University College Dublin joins UN-backed Race to Zero climate campaign

University College Dublin has officially joined the (opens in a new window)Race to Zero, a United Nations-backed global campaign uniting institutions across the world in a shared mission to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

In becoming a signatory to Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges, UCD joins over 800 higher education institutions committed to tangible climate action.

The campaign is part of the broader Race to Zero initiative, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which mobilises businesses, cities, financial institutions and academic organisations to deliver a resilient zero-carbon future.

UCD’s membership signals a significant step in the university’s sustainability path, demonstrating its dedication to environmental leadership and global climate targets, setting itself a 2040 deadline for net zero in the UCD Breaking Boundaries strategy and associated Sustainability Plan. 

We have just joined the Race to Zero and so UCD now has one year to develop and publicly share a comprehensive net zero action plan and baseline carbon emissions report. The next step will be to implement projects across energy, transport, procurement, waste and more—reporting annually on progress.

“Joining Race to Zero is a natural progression of our existing sustainability work,” said UCD’s Vice President for Sustainability, Professor Tasman Crowe. “This commitment underscores our responsibility to future generations and strengthens our role as a catalyst for sustainable development in Ireland and beyond.”

The Race to Zero campaign is guided by an Expert Peer Review Group of international scientists and technical experts. It sets out four key criteria for signatories: 

• Pledge to net zero by 2050 or earlier 
• Plan the actions required
• Proceed with implementation
• Publish annual progress for accountability and transparency.

Educational institutions involved in the campaign are encouraged to engage students and staff, share their stories and collaborate across sectors to drive systemic change.