Environmental awareness lies at the heart of the Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) programme. It serves as a fundamental pillar, highlighting the significance of understanding environmental complexities alongside social and economic sustainability. As part of GLSD’s Environment Week on Tuesday, 05 March 2024, students had the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Niamh Schmidtke, an artist and advocate renowned for her exploration of environmental consciousness.
Niamh Schmidtke's session drew participants from both the GLSD programme and the wider student body. With a diverse background spanning speculation, audio, ceramics, and installations, Niamh provided unique insights into the complexities of 'being green.' She emphasised the importance of considering various voices within the environment, challenging attendees to rethink traditional notions of environmentalism.
During the session, Niamh delved into the financial origins of climate crises, urging attendees to critically examine the discourse surrounding renewable energies. Through her perspective, she highlighted the need for a pragmatic approach to sustainability, grounded in a deep understanding of environmental and economic dynamics.
The conversation also touched upon the concept of intimacy as a decolonial praxis for the future. Attendees explored the transformative potential of intimate connections with the environment, fostering inclusivity and disrupting conventional power structures.
Niamh Schmidtke's session left attendees with a renewed perspective on environmental engagement. Her interdisciplinary approach and thought-provoking insights inspired participants to integrate environmental considerations into their personal and professional endeavours.
Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) is a seven-week extracurricular programme designed by the UL Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation in collaboration with UL Global. This programme brings study abroad, Erasmus, and full degree students from across the world together, to actively learn about systemic approaches and challenges to sustainability across the economy, environment, and society. Students hear from expert guest speakers both on-campus and through site visits, engage in debates and discussions on contemporary sustainability issues, and work in interdisciplinary teams to co-create student-led sustainability projects to be implemented on campus. To find out more, please visit (https://www.ul.ie/sustainability/global-leadership-for-sustainable-deve…), or contact the programme coordinator jack.oconnor@ul.ie.