DCU and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

End poverty in all its forms everywhere

DCU takes a comprehensive approach to widening participation in higher education, led the way as Ireland’s first University of Sanctuary and holds a long-standing commitment to eradicating poverty through community engagement.

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

DCU participates in Food for Health Ireland, a multidisciplinary research centre that addresses some of today's most pressing global health issues through innovation in food

Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages

DCU takes a whole-campus approach to health and wellbeing through the DCU Healthy initiative, and our Health Technologies and the Healthy and Ageing Society priority area integrates biomedical research with technology and social sciences for innovative solutions to health problems

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

DCU is committed to the widest possible access to higher education through DCU in the Community and as a Age-Friendly University, while the DCU Educational Disadvantage Centre works to break the cycle of socio-economic and educational exclusion

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

DCU takes pride in our ongoing progress in addressing gender inequality in senior academic positions, our Women in Leadership initiatives, and the impact of our research in the area of gender equality.

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

The DCU Water Institute tackles national, international and global water resource problems through research, education and innovation, providing informed leadership decisions for sustainable action.

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

DCU maintains strong links to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), including as a member of the Better Energy Communities Network. Learn more about being energy-smart at DCU

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

The DCU National Centre for Family Business translates leading Irish and International research into best practice for the present and future generations of Irish family businesses.

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

As the home of the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, and an academic partner of the Irish Photonic Integration Centre, DCU is at the leading edge of research into sustainable and renewable energy

Reduce inequality within and among countries

DCU’s leadership in reducing inequality is reflected in the diversity of our student body, our pioneering work as the world’s first autism-friendly university and the establishment of the DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

The DCU Entwine Centre’s mission is to provide a networked platform with a global reach to make possible an energy-efficient Internet of Things at the scale required by a smart city.

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

DCU was the first Irish university to feature a plastic-free initiative in its sustainability plans, and our procurement policies take care to consider the sustainability of our consumption

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society provides leaders with an understanding of the climate regulatory landscape and the wider environment in which change must be achieved.

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

DCU’s cross-faculty initiative of research and education on water, the DCU Water Institute, holds the promotion of healthy aquatic ecosystems as one of its central goals

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

The DCU Biodiversity Plan will outline DCU's embedding of biodiversity protection into decision-making across all sectors of the University

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

The DCU Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction provides analysis, research and expertise on conflict and peacebuilding around the world

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

DCU collaborates with all our stakeholders and partners working to transform lives and society for a better, fairer and more sustainable world.   DCU coordinates RCE Dublin, a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.