At a Time of Climate Crisis: Are universities an obstacle to climate action by reinforcing the status quo?

Research has found universities play a key role in perpetuating unsustainability and are increasingly being run as businesses

In this month’s column for the Irish Times MaREI researcher Dr Hannah Daly at ERI, University College Cork questions are universities an obstacle to climate action by reinforcing the status quo?

Universities occupy a unique and powerful position in society as both creators and disseminators of knowledge. This influence should make them pivotal catalysts for climate action across society. But to fully realise this potential, universities must first transform themselves to prioritise social and ecological wellbeing over purely economic outcomes.

At the recent Rethinking Growth Conference I facilitated a discussion on how universities can leverage their influence and power: As communities of teachers and scholars, universities can challenge the status quo through teaching, research, and through engagement and outreach, including participating in public debates. By decarbonising their own operations, universities can become exemplars of change. But their influence extends far beyond the campus.

Read the full article here.