What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal? 

• Socially Responsible: be socially responsible in your consumption of food and reduce food waste. 
• Respect and integrity: Act with integrity and respect when engaging with those less fortunate than you. Give back and volunteer with an organisation that aims to end hunger. 
• Effective global citizens who recognises and challenges inequality: Aim to understand the challenges of the unfair food system, educate yourself and use your voice to advocate for change. 
• Independent and creative thinking: reflect on your food consumption behaviour and see how you can be creative in implementing personal changes. Can you be creative and start batch cooking to reduce food waste and save money?

What can I do?

• Give back and support a charitable organisation. Donate if you can or reach out to the charity directly to see if you can volunteer. Cork Penny Dinners, Feed Cork, Homeless Help and Support Cork are some options you can explore. 
• Don’t waste food. Freeze fresh produce and leftovers if you don’t have the chance to eat them before they go bad. Learn more about how you can freeze your left overs safely. 
• Buy and grow in-season food. Try to grow some of your own food. Check out the UCC Community Garden and visit a farmers market in Cork for some fresh produce you can use to batch cook. 

• Buy Funny Fruit—many fruits and vegetables are thrown out because their size, shape, or color are not “right”. Buying these perfectly good funny fruit, utilizes food that might otherwise go to waste.
• Consume less meat and become vegetarian for one day a week. The meat production industry has a huge impact on the environment.
• Use your voice and vote to advocate for an end to unfair food system. Learn more with Fairtrade, which is an alternative approach to conventional trade and is based on a partnership between some of the most disadvantaged farmers and workers in the developing world and the people who buy their products. 

Supports for you

• UCC Students' Union Food Bank: The SU Food Bank has switched from a physical food bank to a voucher system. Learn more here.
• Student Assistant Fund: The Student Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for full-time higher education students who are experiencing financial difficulties while attending college. 
• UCC Students' Union Student Emergency Fund: The Student Emergency Fund is a fund available through UCC Students’ Union to assist students who are experiencing financial hardship due to a change of circumstances and/or an emergency.
• Download the Too Good to Go app. Too Good To Go is a service that connects customers to restaurants and stores that have surplus unsold food.  Every day, unsold food from your favorite restaurants, grocery stores, cafés, and shops goes to waste simply because it hasn’t sold in time. The Too Good To Go app makes it easy to make a difference, allowing you to save Surprise Bags of good food at an even better price.

Over the last 15 years, the number of childhood deaths has been cut in half. This proves that it is possible to win the fight against almost every disease. Still, we are spending an astonishing amount of money and resources on treating illnesses that are surprisingly easy to prevent. The new goal for worldwide Good Health promotes healthy lifestyles, preventive measures and modern, efficient healthcare for everyone.

Some key priorities

• Reduce maternal mortality.
• End all preventable deaths under 5 years of age.
• Fight communicable diseases.
• Prevent and treat substance abuse.
• Reduce road injuries and deaths.
• Universal access to sexual and reproductive care, family planning and education.
• Implement the who framework convention on tobacco control.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Compassion: have self-compassion, go easy on yourself, and seek support when you need it. If you have a friend in need, have compassion for their situation and guide them to supports to help them overcome the challenges they face. 
• Resilience: you are not born with resilience, you can learn it. Developing it can help you navigate challenges in your life. It will support your mental wellbeing as you transition through and out of university. Use our Resilience Building Journal to support your development of this value. 
• Ambition: be ambitious in your wellbeing goals and reflect on your unhealthy habits. The supports at the bottom of this page can help you address challenges you may face in areas such as alcohol and drug abuse and other addictions. If you don't need the supports, perhaps you could be ambitious in supporting someone in your life who needs them? 
• Respect and Integrity: having respect for yourself, your body, your mental health, and having integrity in how you approach your own wellbeing is key to building healthy habits. Respect the struggles others may face in their wellbeing and reflect on how you might support them.
• Socially Responsible: volunteering with organisations who support good health and wellbeing is a great place to start. Consider donating your blood if you can, or becoming an organ donor. As of September 2023 some 129 people have died on our roads, if you drive, reflect on how you can contribute to making the roads a safe place. 

• Use Silvercloud: These self-help programs are designed to help you improve and maintain your wellbeing by addressing underlying issues that can have a negative impact on how you would like to live your life.

• Shelf Help : Self Help books available free in the library on all aspects of your health.

• Explore the range of activities  you can participate in while a student at UCC that can support your physical and mental wellbeing. 

• Volunteer with an organisation that supports good health and wellbeing, such as  UCC Niteline, Irish Heart Foundation, Irish Cancer Society, Pieta House. Find more organisations here. 

• Do the Every Matters- Healthy Habits for University life Digital Badge. It will support you to explore some practical everyday things, based on the latest scientific research, that you can say and do to support yourself during this important time of your life and establish healthy habits and routines for your university lifestyle, enhancing your successful transition into and through higher education.

 Supports for you

• UCC Student Support Tree
• Crisis Text Line – Text UCC to 086 1800 208
• Crisis Text Line’s text message support service is available to UCC students and Staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We provide in-the-moment anonymous support and problem solving when you need it most
• Samaritans – 116 123 (24 hour freephone)
• Pieta House – 1800 247 247 (24 hour free phone)
• Aware – 1800 804 848 (10am-10pm freephone)
• Drink Aware Support Services
• HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline
• Quiet Smoking 

Education liberates the intellect, unlocks the imagination and is fundamental for self-respect. It is the key to prosperity and opens a world of opportunities, making it possible for each of us to contribute to a progressive, healthy society. Learning benefits every human being and should be available to all.

Some key priorities

• Free primary and secondary education.
• Equal access to quality pre-primary education.
• Equal access to affordable technical, vocational and higher education.
• Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success.
• Eliminate all discrimination in education.
• Universal literacy and numeracy.
• Education for sustainable development and global citizenship.
• Build and upgrade inclusive and safe schools.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Creator, evaluator and communicator of knowledge: be responsible in how you evaluate and disseminate your knowledge, thoughts and ideas. Share your research and share your skills with those who need to learn. 
• Integrity and ambition: have integrity and ambition in how you approach your studies. Avail of the study supports available to you to achieve your greatest ambitions. 
• Independent and creative thinking: develop the ability to build your own critical thoughts on a subject matter and bring this to your work. Employ your creative thinking ability to problem-solve. You will carry these values with you throughout your life. 
• Digital Fluency: enhance your digital skills so you can adapt to new technologies and share your knowledge of digital platforms with those who need to develop their digital skillset. 
• Effective global citizen who recognises and challenges inequality: use your vote and advocate for change in the education system. Volunteer to support youths who face challenges during their educational journey. 

What can I do?

• Mentor young people. You can provide tutoring and homework assistance, teach a language or deliver a lesson on the Global Goals. Le Chéile provides the opportunity to mentor young people. Other organisations such as Foróige offer the Big Brother Big Sister Programme where you can provide a supportive mentoring friendship for young people*.

• Become a Peer Support Leader. UCC Peer Support is a programme the university has put in place to ensure the transition into life in UCC for first years and international students is supported by the knowledge of those that know it best - the students themselves*. Contact your College to find out if they run a Peer Assisted Learning programme that you can volunteer with.

• Volunteer with the UCC Homework Club and supports students in secondary schools across the city.*Dedicate a minimum of 20 hours of your time to a voluntary organisation and you can apply for a UCC EmployAgility Award.

• Donate your used books. The easiest way to give access to knowledge is to donate your used books to someone. Give them to someone on your course who might need them, or donate to a charity shop in the city.

• Join the Proud Ally Student Network. Play your part in creating an inclusive environment by becoming a Proud Ally to your LGBTQ+ classmates. To be a Proud Ally you must educate yourself, understand, acknowledge and challenge your own prejudices. Learn more, join the network, order your badge and download your digital pack here.

• Get to know your Students' Union representatives. UCC Students’ Union is the chief representative body for students in UCC. UCCSU is a democratic organization run by 6 full time officers elected by the student body. The SU’s main functions are to provide academic assistance to students, to provide support to students in need, to lobby the University and the government on issues affecting students. 
• Check out the In-Person Learning resources to understand how you can make the most of your education by attending college in-person. 

• Publish your research and share your knowledge. If you are a PhD you can publish with The Boolean Journal. Contact the student-led journal publishing team on booleanjournal@ucc.ie.

Supports for you

• UCC Students' Union representatives: reach out if you need support. 
• UCC Skills Centre. The Skills Centre provides a dedicated, responsive and active learning space for the enhancement of study and writing skills.
• Learn more about the range of supports available to help you have a high quality experience. 

Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. By denying to recognise the gender identity of others, we are at risk of excluding and marginalising gender-diverse individuals. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.

Some key targets

• End discrimination against women and girls.
• End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls.
• End all violence against and exploitation of women and girls.
• Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making.
• Universal access to reproductive health and rights. 

SDGs and the LGBTQ+ Community 

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals are badged as ‘an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership’. However, there is a stark and worrying omission of a call for LGBTQ+ equality as well as a call to end homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic violence. Where many other marginalised groups are named, LGBTQ+ people are not. The language of the SDGs is vague enough that LGBTQ+ people may be included under the ‘other’ groups, and in the call to leave no one behind.

The omission is due to some 70 UN member states who legally discriminate against and/or criminalise LGBTQ+ people, with several countries imposing the death penalty. However, by excluding LGBTQ+ people from the SDGs, it implies that discrimination, criminalisation, and violence against LGBTQ+ is somehow tolerable.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal? 

• Effective Global Citizen who recognises and challenges inequality: educate yourself and understand the challenges gender inequality poses to those around you. Use your voice and stand against gender-discrimination that you encounter. 

• Respect and Integrity: have respect for gender-inequality and respect gender-diversity. Learn how to act with integrity by educating yourself on gender diversity and the use of personal pronouns. 

• Socially Responsible: advocate for change and learn how to be an effective bystander to those facing gender-based harassment. 

• Compassion: have compassion for those who face gender-discrimination. Support your peers and advocate on their behalf. 

• Independent and creative thinking: In Ireland, violence against women reached record numbers in 2022, with the highest number of violent deaths since 2007. Last year was the most violent year for LGBTQ+ people in Europe in a decade. Be an independent thinker by educating yourself and forming your own opinions, don't share negative rhetoric. Shut down derogatory jokes you hear about women or members of the LGBTQ+ community. Join an advocacy group to use your creative thinking and problem solving skills to encourage change. 

What can I do?

• Be aware of gender stereotypes. Recognize them, avoid them and educate others about them.

• Stand up against harassment. Whenever you see or become aware of harassment, whether in college, the workplace, streets, home or the online space, raise your voice against it. Learn the skills you need to do this safely, and become an effective bystander. Take the UCC Bystander Intervention Digital Badge.

• Find female mentors/leaders. Ensure that some of your role models or mentors are women. There’s a lot you can learn from women in positions of authority. Learn more about how you can find a mentor here in UCC. 
• Share the workload at home. Sharing domestic responsibilities ensures the work burden doesn’t fall only on one person and instills the value of gender equality and essential life skills.
• Educate yourself on gender-diversity, use of pronouns, LGBTQ+ terminology,  and become a Proud Ally to the LGBTQ+ community. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, compassion, and integrity. Visit the UCC Proud Ally Student Network webpage to learn more. 
• Women earn 10 to 30 per cent less than men for the same work. Pay inequality persists everywhere. Voice your support for equal pay for equal work. Learn more with WorkEqual. 

Supports for you

• Report an incident with the UCC Speak Out anonymous reporting tool. 
• Contact Student Counselling and Development. 
• Contact the UCC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit.
• UCC Gender Identity and Expression Policy

One in three people live without sanitation. This is causing unnecessary disease and death. Although huge strides have been made with access to clean drinking water, lack of sanitation is undermining these advances. If we provide affordable equipment and education in hygiene practices, we can stop this senseless suffering and loss of life.

Some key targets

• Safe and affordable drinking water.
• Provide access to sanitation and hygiene.
• Improve water quality, wastewater treatment and safe reuse.
• Increase water-use efficiency and ensure freshwater supplies.
• Support local engagement in water and sanitation management.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal? 

• Respect and Integrity: use water resources with respect and integrity and try to avoid wasting water in the home. Keeping a jug of water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run cold will save six liters a day and making sure the tap is off while brushing teeth can save up to 84 liters of water a week!
• Effective global citizens who recognise and challenges inequality: recognise water inequality by education yourself on the global water crisis. Use your voice and passion to support an organisation who are aiming to tackle the water crisis and advocate for change. 
• Socially Responsible: do your best to keep local waterways clean by responsibly disposing of your waste and getting involved in a local river clean up or the annual Big Beach Clean. Report leaks in your household to the homeowner and if you see a burst pipe on the street, report it to the local council. 

What can I do? 

• Don’t overuse water. Make sure to close a tap when washing dishes, take short showers – Bathtubs require gallons more water than a 5-10 minute shower. Consider getting a water meter to be aware of your water usage. 
• Utilise the drinking fountains on campus instead of buying water in the shop. BYOB... bring your own bottle! This map will show you where campus drinking fountains are located. 
• Take part in the Big Beach Clean programme. The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. Get involved. 

• Organize a clean up project for rivers.  Engage your whole community to clean up a local river, seaside or an ocean. Take inspiration from those who have done it before you!
• Fundraise for a charity/initiative such as The Cycle,  a not-for-profit organisation that builds sustainable eco-toilets and teaches menstrual education.
• Report an issue with water, such a burst pipe that is flooding the area,  to Uisce Éireann. 

Supports for you

• If you encounter an issue with water and sanitization in your rented accommodation, you can contact Citizens Information or Cork County Council for guidance on how to progress.  

• Report a water issue in UCC.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially Responsible: be mindful of your energy use. Take small steps, like turning off the lights when you're not using them and only charging devices for as long as they need. 
• Respect and integrity: act with integrity and respect when using energy. Switch up your light bulbs for a more eco-friendly option. If you replace all the bulbs in your home with LED lights, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50kg a year (Source: Energy Saving Trust)
• Creators, Evaluators and Communicators of Knowledge: educate yourself on effective use of energy and if you are studying or researching the area of energy efficiency, disseminate your research and share your knowledge. 
• Independent and creative thinking: reflect on how you use energy and use your creative thinking and problem solving skills to devise ways you could be more efficient. Don't believe the many myths circulating about energy use and educate yourself with reputable sources to form your own independent opinion. 

What can I do?

• Don’t use multiple devices at the same time. Be mindful about this and only several devices when absolutely necessary. Don't charge your devices overnight, just for as long as it needs!
• Switch off your appliances at the socket. Turn off the lights when you’re not using them.
• Buy rechargeable electronics. Don’t buy or use one-use batteries.
• Use eco- mode on your appliances such as the washing machine and dishwasher. 
• Cook with the lid on! Reducing the head and leaving your the lid on your pot when cooking on the stove, reduces energy consumption by 70%. 
• Join  UCC Envirosoc, a student run environmental group, promoting sustainability & green choices in UCC. 
• Use a bike to travel more sustainably. Register with TFI Bike Share for €10 per year and cycle your way to to and from the city centre. Download the Bike Share app to find bike hire collection and drop off points. 

• Switch out the bulbs on your lights and lamps for a more eco-friendly option. 
• Make a difference on campus. Engage with the UCC Greenshoots Green Campus Programme or the Green Labs Community. 

• Tune into the UCC Green Campus podcast . In this episode Dr. Hannah Daly, lecturer and researcher in energy, economy, environment and engineering systems in UCC discusses her experience as the Agency Lead on Energy Access and SDG7 collaboration in the International Energy Agency in Paris.

Supports for you

• Making your home more sustainable. If you are living at home, learn more about supports and availing of grants. 

• Explore the resources available with Green Campus. 

Economic development should be a positive force for the whole planet. This is why we must make sure that financial progress creates decent and fulfilling jobs while not harming the environment. We must protect labour rights and once and for all put a stop to modern slavery and child labour. If we promote sustainable job creation with expanded access to fair and just banking and financial services, we can make sure that everybody gets the benefits of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Some key priorities

• Sustainable economic development. Though Goal 8 specifies economic growth as a primary goal, economic growth continues to require the unsustainable use of natural resources, cheap fossil fuel energy, and cheap labour. Many economists now believe that economies which place human and environmental wellbeing as their primary goal are the future of economic development.
• Diversify, innovate, and upgrade for economic productivity.
• Promote policies to support dignified and purposeful job creation and growing enterprises.
• Promote youth employment, education, and training.
• Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal? 

• Ambition and Integrity: developing a growth mindset and setting yourself goals will help you to achieve your ambitions. You need to be true to yourself to build a life that makes you happy to act with integrity when you make big choices. Applying for your first graduate job? Pick a company whose values align with yours. 
• Digitally Fluent: having the ability to utilise and adapt to new technologies will support you in finding decent work. Digital fluency will also help you to use reputable online resources and navigate online application processes.
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge: are you fantastic at CV writing or an expert at interviews? Maybe you are good at online job hunting or networking. Share your knowledge with those who struggle. Upskill yourself in these areas by availing of the supports available to you and evaluating the information they provide. 
• Independent and creative thinking: if you don't have much work experience it can be tough to apply for a new job. You can get caught in the cycle of not having enough experience, but not being given the opportunity to gain experience. Be creative in how you develop your employability skills and volunteer, get involved in clubs and societies, apply for the EmployAgility Award and build your skillset while at university.
• Socially responsible: when purchasing new products or clothing, be mindful of how they were made. Who made them? Is there a potential that workers were exploited?

What can I do?

• Be a conscious consumer – if something is cheap it is likely to be hurting people or the planet in some way. The boom of the fast fashion industry has had detrimental impacts on the planet and the workers it exploits. 
• Know your rights at work. In order to access justice, knowing what you are entitled to will go a long way. Learn more about your rights in the workplace. Click here to learn more about your rights if you are an intern. 

• Unpaid Internships. Students are often expected to do unpaid work. Learn more about the Irish Law on unpaid internships.
•  Buy from local producers. Support local economic growth by choosing to buy from local producers and businesses. Check out this list of Cork food producers. 
• Utilise the supports available to you to ensure you transition to a graduate job that makes you happy, and where there are decent opportunities. Engage with UCC Career Services to get the support you need to plan your career. Attend their job fairs to connect with reputable employers. 
• Explore Entrepreneurship. Connect with UCC Ignite for information on where to get started and details on student programmes they run. 
• Enhance your digital fluency. We are living in an age of digital enhancement and acquiring digital skills is often key to securing decent work in the future. Check out the Digital Fluency learning experience to enhance your skills. 
• Make the workplace better. Check out these Committee and Meeting training resource to support you as you work with people, learn to collaborate, and understand how to deal with conflict. The workplace is successful when people work together, this training supports you in developing key workplace skills you can put into practice with committees and meetings you engage with on campus. 
• Passion and commitment to your work is vital, but this can only be achieved if you receive adequate rest and time to look after yourself. Graduates may often feel that they need to push themselves harder due to their inexperience, but work without adequate compensation and rest is not acceptable.

Supports for you

• Gain experience and skills to add to your CV and Diploma Supplement by participating the UCC EmployAgility Awards. 
• Learn how to deal with issues that arise at work with information from the Workplace Relations Commission. 
• Connect with UCC Career Services to get support in planning your career. 

A functioning and resilient infrastructure is the foundation of every successful community. To meet future challenges, our industries and infrastructure must be upgraded. For this, we need to promote innovative sustainable technologies and ensure equal and universal access to information and financial markets. This will bring prosperity, create jobs and make sure that we build stable and prosperous societies across the globe.

Some key priorities

• Develop sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructures.
• Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
• Upgrade all industries and infrastructures for sustainability.
• Enhance research and upgrade industrial technologies.
• Facilitate sustainable infrastructure development for developing countries.
• Universal access to information and communications technology.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal? 

Too much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people. This often leads to financial and social discrimination. In order for nations to flourish, equality and prosperity must be available to everyone – regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status. When every individual is self sufficient, the entire world prospers.

Some key priorities

• Reduce income inequalities.
• Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion.
• Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination.
• Enhanced representation for developing countries in financial institutions.
• Responsible and well-managed migration policies.
• Special and differential treatment for developing countries.

What can I do?

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially responsible: advocate for change, and use your vote in local elections. Supporting neighbourhood businesses keeps people employed and circulates money back into your community
• Respect and integrity: bike, walk or take public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got a big group!
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge: if you have expertise in this area, share your knowledge. Offer support to local community groups.
• Independent and creative thinking: lobby your local council for change if you see an issue in the community. Work with local community organisations to create solutions and implement change.

What can I do?

• Shop, eat and drink locally. Supporting neighbourhood businesses keeps people employed and circulates money back into your community. Learn more about local enterprises. 
• Commute in a sustainable way – bike, walk or take public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got a big group. Learn more about commuting to campus.
• Offer your support to communities who need it. Take influence from Louise Quill, UCC graduate and founder of the Tír na nÓg Children's Village Tanzania. Watch her feature documentary Kilimanjaro Mamma here. 

• Take care of public spaces. Start yourself and inspire others to contribute to better public spaces – water the greenery, trim and plant trees, renovate sports areas and playgrounds, organize a cleanup. Join a litter pick coordinated with the UCC Students' Union- keep an eye on their socials for more details. 
• Use your local green spaces, and advocate for the inclusion of biodiverse greenery (green roofs, green walls, allotments etc.) in your city alongside any infrastructure development. Cork Healthy Cities have a number of projects underway in the city. Get involved and support Cork's green spaces for health. 

Supports for you

• UCC Accommodation and Community Life.
• Citizens Information on the minimum standard for rented housing. 
• Getting around Cork: Travel Tips.

Our planet has provided us with an abundance of natural resources. But we have not utilized them responsibly and currently consume far beyond what our planet can provide. We must learn how to use and produce in sustainable ways that will reverse the harm that we have inflicted on the planet.

Some key targets

• Sustainable management and use of natural resources.
• Halve global per capita food waste.
• Responsible management of chemicals and waste.
• Promote universal understanding of sustainable lifestyles.
• Remove market distortions that encourage wasteful consumption.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially responsible: read the fine print when buying products. Do your research and buy from companies that have sustainable practices.
• Respect and integrity: buy second hand whenever you can. and try not to buy unless you need something.
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge: share your knowledge with your family and housemates and make your home more sustainable.
• Independent and creative thinking: reflect on your habits. Be more conscious when making purchases and consider how products are packaged.

Supports for you

• UCC International Office Swap Shop
• UCC Green Campus Green Guides
• Cork Clothes Swap

Climate change is a real and undeniable threat to our entire civilization. The effects are already visible and will be catastrophic unless we act now. Through education, innovation and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet. These changes also provide huge opportunities to modernize our infrastructure which will create new jobs and promote greater prosperity across the globe.

Some key targets

• Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related disasters.
• Build knowledge and capacity to meet climate change.
• Implement the UN framework convention on climate change.
• Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning. 

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially responsible
• Respect and integrity
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge
• Independent and creative thinking 

Healthy oceans and seas are essential to our existence. They cover 70 percent of our planet and we rely on them for food, energy and water. Yet, we have managed to do tremendous damage to these precious resources. We must protect them by eliminating pollution and overfishing and immediately start to responsibly manage and protect all marine life around the world.

Some key targets

• Reduce marine pollution.
• Protect and restore ecosystems.
• Reduce ocean acidification.
• Sustainable fishing.
• Conserve coastal and marine areas.
• Increase the economic benefits from sustainable use of marine resources.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially responsible
• Respect and integrity
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge
• Independent and creative thinking
• Compassion

• Never buy bottled water. Utilise the numerous drinking fountains on campus to refill your own bottle. Download the Refill Ireland Tap Map App to find refill locations around the country! 
• Buy local and certified fish. You can support small-scale producers by shopping in local markets and shops. Visit the English Market to find numerous seafood providers that stock fresh, locally-sourced produce. 
• Be Inspired. Tune into this episode of the UCC Student Stories Graduate Attributes Programme Podcast. We chatted with  Sunny Tran, MSc Information Systems for Business Performance graduate. He co-founded the social enterprise MANTA Sail Training Centre, which diverted fisherman to water sports, and promoted sustainable green livelihoods and awareness in his community.

• Get involved and join the UCC Environmental Society. A student run environmental group promoting sustainability and green thinking in UCC. 
• Communicate. Use your voice and vote to advocate for action for life below water at a local level by joining an environmental advocacy group. Share your passion and enthusiasm for environmental action with others.
• Join UCC’s Green Campus Committee and Greenshoots Programme. Contact Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, Greenshoots Coordinator, at inishuilleabhain@ucc.ie to find out more.

A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We are all part of the planet’s ecosystem and we have caused severe damage to it through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Promoting a sustainable use of our ecosystems and preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.

Some key priorities

• Protect biodiversity and natural habitats.
• Prevent invasive alien species on land and in water ecosystems.
• Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.
• End deforestation and restore degraded forests.
• End desertification and restore degraded land.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Socially responsible
• Respect and integrity
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge
• Independent and creative thinking
• Compassion

What can I do?

• Join a group. Get involved in real, tangible action for biodiversity at a local level. UCC’s Green Campus Committee and Greenshoots Programme are a great place to start. Contact Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, Greenshoots Coordinator, at inishuilleabhain@ucc.ie to find out more.

• Don’t buy products tested on animals: Check the labels on the products you buy.

• Clean your local parks and forests. Organise your own or join an existing clean-up event to sustain the ecosystem of your local green space. Connect with Cork City Clean Up and play a part in making our green spaces cleaner.

• Compost: Composting food scraps can reduce climate impact while also recycling nutrients. Check out this guide to get started. 

• Volunteer with street animal organizations or shelters. Help to save lives of animal species by volunteering in organizations helping these pets as well as endangered species. Contact Wildlife Rescue Cork, The DAWG Sanctuary, or the CSPCA.
• Lead by example. Try to reduce your carbon footprint and share your experiences with others. Make space for biodiversity in your garden if you have access to one. Use and share knowledge about local greenspaces.
• Learn. Check out resources on the extinction crisis, the systemic problems that got us here, and the countless exciting solutions to this issue.

• Communicate. Use your voice and vote to take action to help biodiversity at a local level by joining an environmental advocacy group. Share your passion and enthusiasm for climate action with others.

• Learn more about the biodiversity of our campus. Take a walk along our Biodiversity Trail. 

Supports for you

• UCC Green Campus Resources: The Green Campus Committee is student-led, chaired by the Student’s Union Communications & Engagement Officer and the Chairperson of UCC Environmental Society. The committee meets regularly throughout the academic year to discuss ideas and campaigns to improve our campus. Contact us at greencampus@ucc.ie to get involved.
• UCC Environmental Society: UCC Enviro Soc is the university’s student environmental society. Enviro Soc aims to promote a greener, more sustainable way of life through events such as workshops, film screenings, trips away, conferences, and debates. Email environmental@uccsocieties.ie to find out more.
• UCC BEES Society: This society is open to all who love and study the Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UCC. They organise regular events and trips during the academic year. Email bees@uccsocieties.ie to get involved.
• UCC Green Forum: The Green Campus Forum draws its members from across the college community, and includes staff, student representatives, and key personnel with responsibilities in relation to the sustainability strategy. Chaired by President John O’Halloran and Mark Poland (Director of Buildings and Estates), the Forum meets regularly to drive forward the Green Campus project and sustainability within UCC. If you wish to be a representative for a particular group/area, please contact us at greencampus@ucc.ie
• Cork Nature Network: Cork Nature Network is a non-profit wildlife conservation organisation that aims to protect and promote Ireland’s Wildlife through education, research and conservation. Get in touch via their website.
• Cork Urban Soil Project: Cork Urban Soil Project is about community-scale composting. They compost urban food scraps and use the resulting soil enhancer to grow more food, right in the middle of the city. See how you can get involved.

Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.

Some key targets

• Reduce violence everywhere.
• Protect children from abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence.
• Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice.
• Combat organized crime and illicit financial and arms flows.
• Ensure responsive, inclusive and representative decision-making.
• Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Effective global citizens who recognise and challenges inequality
• Socially responsible
• Respect and integrity
• Compassion
• Digitally Fluent

What can I do?

• Vote! Take advantage of your right to elect the leaders in your country and local community. Check the register and ensure you are registered to vote. You will need your PPSN and Eircode. 

• Know your rights at work. In order to access justice, knowing what you are entitled to will go a long way. Learn more about your rights and entitlements. 
• Join the Global Justice society:  a student run organisation that aims to raise awareness of developmental issues around the globe. Through social events, talks with experienced guest speakers, and fundraising activities, they aim to bring together students who are looking to make an impact during their time here at UCC and have fun doing it. Contact intdev@uccsocieties.ie. 
• Join the UCC Government & Politics Society : a politically neutral society that welcomes any and all opinions to join. The society welcomes all students with any political views to join and particularly anybody to wishes to broaden their political understanding of current affairs. They host a wide variety of events over the academic year, including debates on topical issues which are always thoroughly enjoyable and engaging for all as well as their annual Politics Week. Contact politics@uccsocieties.ie. 
• The Bystander Intervention programme at UCC forms part of a strategic response to the issues of sexual misconduct and violence among student populations. Click here to learn more and enroll. 
• Join the Proud Ally student network: 51% of third level students experienced verbal or sexual harassment related to their gender identity or expression in the form of inappropriate questions about their body/sexuality. The Proud Ally Student Network aims to educate and empower everyone to harness core attributes and values to become effective and proud allies to the LGBTQ+ community. 

Supports for you 

• UCC FLAC Society gives UCC students access to professional, confidential, and helpful legal advice on a range of issues they might have- from employment to tenancy issues. They bring in barristers and solicitors to speak with students and help to make the legal system a little less scary and a lot more accessible. They also host a range of speakers, seminars and an annual conference. Contact flac@uccsocieties.ie. 
• Anonymously report an incident using Speak Out.
• UCC Students’ Union is the chief representative body for students in UCC. UCCSU is a democratic organization run by 6 full time officers elected by the student body. The SU’s main functions are to provide academic assistance to students, to provide support to students in need, to lobby the University and the government on issues affecting students, and to provide entertainment on campus

The Global Goals can only be met if we work together. International investments and support is needed to ensure innovative technological development, fair trade and market access, especially for developing countries. To build a better world, we need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.

Some key targets

• Invest in least developed countries.
• Knowledge sharing and cooperation for access to science, technology and innovation.
• Promote sustainable technologies to developing countries.
• Enhance availability of reliable data.

What core attributes and values can you develop to help achieve this goal?

• Respect and integrity
• Creators, evaluators and communicators of knowledge
• Independent and creative thinking
• Compassion
• Ambition
• Effective global citizens who recognise and challenges inequality

What can I do?

• Support export by buying products from developing countries. Pay attention to the Fair Trade label on products which helps to indicate products from local producers in developing countries.

• Volunteer with NGOs (non-governmental organisation) that are working towards the Global Goals. Click here for a list of NGO's you can reach out to. Dedicate a minimum of 20 hours to volunteering and you will be eligible for the UCC EmployAgility Award: Volunteering pathway. 
• Join a Dojo: A Dojo is a free, volunteer-led, community-based computer club for young people. Find a Dojo you can volunteer with and share your coding knowledge. 
• Share your knowledge. If you are a PhD student you can publish your research with The Boolean Journal. If you are not a PhD student, you can share your knowledge with various student media outlets on campus like the UCC Express, the student newspaper, Motley Magazine and Student Radio. 
• Join the Enactus Society: Enactus is the social entrepreneurship society where students use all their skills and abilities to create positive social impact. They  develop projects, ideas and businesses that directly impact humanity. Contact erasmus@uccsocieties.ie. 

Supports for you

• UCC Library Laptop Loans: 72 Chromebook laptops are available for students to borrow in UCC Boole Library and 24 are available in Brookfield Library from the self-service locker system.
• Laptop Scheme: As part of the package of support for higher and further education institutions, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has allocated funding to support disadvantaged students in the higher education sector in accessing ICT (Information and Communications Technology) devices. Check your eligibility.