Representatives from the University of Iceland accepted the Green Flag from the Icelandic Environmental Union on a special green orientation day that took place both in the University Centre and by the Main Building. A student initiative
The University of Iceland received Green Flag certification in 2020, as part of the Icelandic Environment Association's eco-schools programme which aims to improve environmental and sustainability education and support sustainability strategies in schools.
The Flag was presented after an evaluation of Icelandic Environmental Union on the goals set by the University's Green Flag committee in which the Student Council and the Council's Environment and Communications Committee play a key role in collaboration with a University employee in sustainability and environmental issues.
The Flag was presented at a formal ceremony addressed by Dagmar Ólafsdóttir, chair of the Student Council's Environment and Communications Committee thanking last year's committee members for their hard work and firm policy making in this project. "I stand here today as a student representative and I'd like to take this opportunity to remind us all of the importance of our voice. Our accomplishments in this matter are largely thanks to the students and staff who voiced their concerns and applied pressure in the right places," said Dagmar and pointed out that it is partly thanks to students that environmental- and sustainable issues are among the principal guidelines in the University of Iceland's new strategy, UI26.
The Green Flag was then hoisted in front of the Main Building after which the rector, staff and students planted trees on campus as a step towards an even more sustainable University.