September Newsletter of the Climate Justice Universities Union

Welcome to all new members! The Union continues to expand and mobilise collective action in lots of different ways. In this newsletter, we share news, branch updates, resources and invite you to multiple upcoming events. With Ireland co-hosting with Tuvalu the Santa Marta process for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in 2027, the Union is focused on building on its Irish roots to inspire international climate justice action toward societal transformation and fossil fuel phaseout. 

In solidarity ~ The Climate Justice Universities Union Coordinating Team

CJUU Priority Campaign - Get Universities to Endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Universities around the world are endorsing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. One of the Union's priority campaigns is to get more higher education institutions to endorse the treaty. The All-Island Ireland Branch are working to get all higher education institutions on the island to endorse the Treaty and several universities have already signed up. The All-Island Ireland Branch have created templates that can be replicated or adapted internationally. This includes an example of a petition that can be used to gather support from across your institution and create cross-sectoral collaboration.

New Branch Set-Up Toolkit

Find here the toolkit that will walk you through the steps to set up and run a local institutional/regional branch of the Climate Justice Universities Union. The basic principle of a branch is to support the branch members to identify and run campaigns of their choosing. This toolkit includes examples of how branches can establish structures and roles, advice on communications, and branch starter pack resources.

Updated Manifesto

Based on multiple conversations with members and the coordinating team, the Union's Manifesto has been updated to articulate our collective goals. Check out the updated 12-point Manifesto on our website and below:

Tech Infrastructure Acknowledgement

As part of the tech justice work of the Union, some members have begun the practice of doing a tech infrastructure acknowledgement at the beginning of virtual events held on zoom or other big-tech platforms.  The idea is to acknowledge that we are aware of the harm of the technologies we are using and to create space to reckon with our systemic dependence on these platforms.  Below is sample text of a tech infrastructure acknowledgement that the Climate Justice Universities Union has used in our events.  Members are welcome to adopt this practice and use/adapt the text below. 

“We acknowledge that some of us are living as settlers on ancestral Indigenous lands, continuing to benefit from past and ongoing colonial violence. At the same time, in our fossil-fuel driven and energy-intensive consumer economy, we are all participating in different kinds of invisible destruction, toxicity, and harm to frontline communities affected by the uneven effects of pollution, climate change, and resource extraction. Using technologies like Zoom is part of these invisible forms of "slow violence." The organizers of this virtual meeting decided that this conversation needed to take place and we needed to use existing infrastructure, but we acknowledge the harm and we are actively working to find alternative ways to connect that do not contribute to inequality or climate injustice.”

Leadership Opportunities in the Union

• Treasurer – the Union is seeking a treasurer to keep track of any donations and ensure operational expenses are paid. Prior experience working with simple budgets would be helpful. The treasurer will become part of the coordinating team. 
• Fundraising Lead – the Union is seeking someone to focus on strategic fundraising at both the international level and at the Irish all-island branch level. Prior experience with organisational fundraising would be helpful. 
• Communication – the communication working group is looking for someone to enhance communication both operationally and strategically. This could involve providing communication support in the newsletter, on social media, and on the website. 
• Branch Leadership – the Union is seeking branch leaders to launch new regional and institutional branches to mobilise in different jurisdictions. In addition to the new branch toolkit (featured above), members of the coordinating team and members of some of the more established branches are available to meet with those interested in starting a new branch.   

Interested in one of these roles? Please send an expression of interest explaining what you would bring to the role and why you would be a good fit to climatejusticeuni@proton.me   

Coordinating Team Retreat

Members of the International Coordinating Team came together for a weekend strategic planning retreat at Cloughjordan Ecovillage in Tipperary, Ireland. The Union’s priority campaigns were defined, strategies were discussed, and operational details were worked out. Thanks to Davie Philips in Cloughjordan for the tour of the ecovillage and its farm. 

Northwest England Branch Launch

The launch of the CJUU’s Northwest England branch on 9 September was a great success, with friends representing local unions, the University of Manchester, University of Liverpool, and Lancaster University in attendance. A key discussion point revolved around the need to build intersectional alliances with other key actors in the climate justice space, namely schools, union groups, relevant activist networks, so as to not disjointedly reproduce similar efforts and to build effective momentum. Coordinators, Heather and Jessica, gathered attendees ideas and suggestions around events, campaigns and initiatives via a Padlet exercise, and will use these to inform the branch's next gathering. If you would like to join the Northwest England branch, please contact heather.alberro@manchester.ac.uk

Watch the recording of Aaron Thierry: The Cassandra Condition: Climate Scientists and the Weight of Knowing

On Thursday 10th September, the Climate Justice Universities Union and Trinity’s School of Psychology hosted activist, researcher, and double-PhD, Dr Aaron Thierry. Dr Thierry delivered a talk on his doctoral research - The Cassandra Condition: Climate Scientists and the Weight of Knowing and has graciously agreed for the talk to be shared here. Watch the recording below:

Aaron Thierry, TCD and the CJUU, 10th September 2026

On Thursday 10th September, the Climate Justice Universities Union and Trinity’s School of Psychology hosted activist, researcher, and double-PhD, Dr Aaron Thierry (https://bsky.app/profile/thierry…

TubEduO’Neill Colm

Stop Climate Chaos Coalition Stop Launches New Report

The CJUU All-Island Ireland branch is part of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. The coalition launched a new report “Ending Fossil Power” on 16^th September and members of CJUU attended. 

New Article: It Takes Collective Climate Action to Fight Climate Destruction

In this Irish Times article, CJUU Co-Convenor Jennie Stephens highlights the power of collective action, and how working together on petitions, campaigns, and taking a united stance is urgent and necessary. As climate destruction intensifies,  we can no longer afford to accept inadequate government responses. Resisting data centres, advocating for fossil fuel phaseout, calling for strong public services, signing petitions, and joining community groups to call for community-based food, community-owned renewable energy & community wealth-building are all urgently needed.  The Climate Justice Universities Union is mentioned as one organisation that is facilitating collective action.

Flash Panel: Climate and Democracy! TODAY 18 Sept, 12 pm Eastern

Does climate matter anymore, when democracy is under threat? Does democracy matter, when our climate is in peril? How can we reach voters about these critical issues? Come learn how in our "Climate and Democracy" Flash Panel with with Environmental Voter Project's Shannon Seigal, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication's Marija Verner, and Brandeis University's Sabine von Mering. All are invited – students too! Check out our upcoming events here, find our archive of past flash talks/flash panels here, and register for any of these events at bit.ly/CJUU-NA-ZOOM.

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