Sustainable Communities
Sustainable communities prioritise long-term environmental, social and economic health. They strive to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Overview
Along with renewable energy use, sustainable food systems and efficient waste management, equitable access to resources and opportunities are key components of a sustainable society.
SDG 11 focuses specifically on sustainable cities and communities, but their underpinnings derive also from a wide range of other SDGs including 6, 8, 9 and 10.
Many UCD research projects and taught courses highlight the human, social, and behavioural dimensions of societal transitions, emphasising the need to embed these changes within the frameworks of equality, social justice, and human wellbeing.
Research, Innovation and Impact
UCD researchers are working with communities and policymakers to build a more equitable and just society in Ireland and globally. Multidisciplinary experts are shaping national and European policies to create inclusive and resilient social structures. This includes work on improving societies through digital technologies, community led transition and shaping policy.
Sustainable communities is one of the research themes of the UCD Earth Institute, where projects look at how to make towns, cities and other human settlements inclusive, safe and resilient.
The UCD Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS) is a large, multidisciplinary centre whose members explore the role of business and business education in shaping a better society.
The UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy is a centre of excellence for policy-relevant research in the social and behavioural sciences.
UCD Centre for Humanitarian Action is an internationally recognised platform of excellence for humanitarian research and education. Projects include building resilience through education and the ethics of humanitarian negotiations.
The UCD Centre for Irish Towns (CfIT) brings together researchers and stakeholders from across the island of Ireland to support the revitalisation of Irish towns
UCD has many excellent researchers working in this area, including:
- Professor (opens in a new window)Michelle Norris who is a leading voice on housing policy and urban regeneration.
- Associate Professor (opens in a new window)Nessa Winston, whose research examines sustainable communities, affordable energy and transport and who serves on the the (opens in a new window)National Economic and Social Council.
- Dr (opens in a new window)Karen Keaveney, who works on rural community development and policy and is Vice President of the Geographical Society of Ireland.
Education
Courses in this area include Masters in Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, International Human Rights and Equality Studies and many undergraduate degrees, including the BSc in City Planning and Environmental Policy, the BSc in Landscape Architecture and those accessible via the large diverse (opens in a new window)Social Sciences programme.
Campus Initiatives
A wide range of events and activities on campus promote sustainable community living. For example, student societies such as SUS SOC and the UCD Horticulture Society run clothes swaps and repair cafes and workshops on home gardening.
UCD (opens in a new window)Greenacre is a new experiential sustainability hub to explore, experiment and iterate meaningful actions for a sustainable planet. The first of its kind in Ireland, it is located on an acre of campus in Belfield and grounded in the creative problem-solving ethos of the UCD (opens in a new window)Innovation Academy.