After our first two meetings, in which we read The Mechanic and the Luddite (Jathan Sadowski) and How Beautiful We Were (Imbolo Mbe), and following input from participants, the Reading Group is expanding its remit to incorporate reports and papers that are of interest and importance to members. The first reading suggestion from a group member is the 2026 World Inequality Report. We’ll discuss this report at the next meeting (**24th November, 8pm Dublin** - register here). The report is 200 pages long! We don't expect people to read all of it - just sections of interest to them (e.g., Chapter 6 - _Climate, a Capital Problem)_. We plan to discuss the report’s implications, and how it can be of use for teaching, campaigning, etc. After having read _How Beautiful We Were_ - which we felt was a powerful and important, but bleak read - it was suggested that we would read something from the solarpunk/thrutopia genre, which offers positive visions of an alternative future. The book When There Are Wolves Again, by E.J. Swift (2025) has been suggested by a reading group member - we’ll meet to discuss this book on January 12th (8pm Dublin - register here). Two additional things to share: * Tressie McMillan Cottom on reading as part of the fight against big tech, and Matt Seybold on reading-related “neuroplasticity as praxis”:_"Reading, listening, and having conversations is the plan, and it could be, I believe, a highly effective one, even before it converts into boycotts or protests or electoral campaigns... ...We can read our way out of this mess.”_ If you agree - please join the reading group! Suggestions for dates, times, and titles are most welcome (clare.kelly@tcd.ie). * No doubt many are reading Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor’s clarifying and galvanising End Times Fascism (a potential title for a future meeting!). CJUU Convenor Jennie Stephens wrote about the relevance of their analysis for Ireland (“Big Tech’s lapdog”) in the Irish Times this week.

What does Climate Justice mean for the Future of the University?A day to think, discuss and strategize for collective actionEventbrite All welcome to the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU) all-island Ireland meeting in-person on Monday 7th of December hosted by the Trinity College Dublin CJUU branch. Join us for an inspiring and fun day of building our collective capacity, strengthening relationships, and strategising together about how to advance climate justice principles and act in solidarity during these turbulent times. This in-person meeting is open to all who work in, study at, and care about the higher education sector across the island of Ireland. A priority for the Union is increasing connectivity, so we can mobilise together to address the most pressing issues we face – such as university funding, resisting AI and Big Tech, and the need to address increasing precarity amongst students and early career researchers. More details and registration here Please share with colleagues and friends across your networks.

Dear colleagues, CJUU's North American branch invites EVERYONE to join us Friday Oct 16 for a ground-breaking one-hour flash panel discussing pathways to campus-wide climate literacy requirements ("climate GEs"), which are now on the books at several US universities. Hear from faculty who spearheaded these initiatives, bring your own stories, and discuss paths for overcoming common campus challenges. These faculty have done it; we all can – and just think of the difference it would make if EVERY university had a climate justice GE! Featuring UC San Diego's Adam Aron, UC Davis's Mark Huising, and San Francisco State University's Autumn Thoyre. Register for the zoom link at bit.ly//CJUU-NA-ZOOM and check out our archive of past flash talks. All are welcome – please share!

The Climate Justice Universities Union stands in solidarity with Ireland’s public sector workers and their trade unions taking industrial action. We also stand in solidarity with students and their unions, post-graduate workers and their collective action groups, as they campaign to fund their future including universal free education and housing. We fully support the fight for fair wages and conditions for all, which - amid the cost of living crisis and the accelerating ecological crisis - is a climate justice issue. We encourage all our members to engage and support these actions.

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 recently completed a PhD in Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences, having previously earned a doctorate in ecosystem ecology. His shift into social science followed from a growing interest in the institutional drivers of the climate crisis. His research examines how scientific knowledge is produced and acted upon under conditions of ecological emergency and asks what universities and researchers owe the public in a crisis. He also works to support engaged scholarship and academic activism. His voice was one of twenty featured in the recent book Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action. He is now a research analyst at ASRA. 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. In this talk, Dr Thierry presents findings from a reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with climate scientists across a spectrum of engagement with the climate emergency movement, exploring how they make sense of the crisis they study and how they navigate the gap between understanding and action. The research develops the concept of the Cassandra condition and asks uncomfortable questions about scientific neutrality and advocacy, questions that are personal as well as professional for Earth-system scientists working at the boundary between knowledge production and planetary crisis. In addition to his contribution to Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action, Dr Thierry has co-authored several papers addressing the role and responsibilities of universities and academic communities in our climate emergency: Perrin, A. J., Capstick, S., Elliott, T., Knapp, P., Thierry, A., Wyatt, T. D., & Gardner, C. J. (2025). How scientists can contribute to the social movements essential to protecting climate and nature. _npj climate action_ , _4_(1), 72. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00268-9 Wyatt, T. D., Gardner, C. J., & Thierry, A. (2024). Actions speak louder than words: the case for responsible scientific activism in an era of planetary emergency. _Royal Society Open Science_ , _11_(7), 240411. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240411 Thierry, A., Horn, L., Von Hellermann, P., & Gardner, C. J. (2023, October). “No research on a dead planet”: preserving the socio-ecological conditions for academia. In _Frontiers in education_ (Vol. 8, p. 1237076). https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1237076 Capstick, S., Thierry, A., Cox, E., Berglund, O., Westlake, S., & Steinberger, J. K. (2022). Civil disobedience by scientists helps press for urgent climate action. _Nature Climate Change_ , _12_(9), 773-774. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01461-y

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.

**This coming Thursday 10 th September, 13:00 - 14:00, the Climate Justice Universities Union and Trinity’s School of Psychology are delighted to host activist and researcher Dr Aaron Thierry **(https://bsky.app/profile/thierryaaron.bsky.social). Dr Thierry recently completed a PhD in Cardiff University's School of Social Sciences, having previously earned a doctorate in ecosystem ecology. His shift into social science followed from a growing interest in the institutional drivers of the climate crisis. His research examines how scientific knowledge is produced and acted upon under conditions of ecological emergency and asks what universities and researchers owe the public in a crisis. He also works to support engaged scholarship and academic activism. His voice was one of twenty featured in the recent book Scientists on Survival: Personal Stories of Climate Action. **Dr Thierry will deliver a talk on his doctoral research -_The Cassandra Condition: Climate Scientists and the Weight of Knowing_** Climate scientists hold consolidated knowledge of catastrophic risk while working within institutions that have repeatedly failed to generate a commensurate political response. What does it mean to live and work inside that contradiction, and what does it reveal about the role of scientific expertise in a declared emergency? This talk presents findings from a reflexive thematic analysis of interviews with climate scientists across a spectrum of engagement with the climate emergency movement, exploring how they make sense of the crisis they study and how they navigate the gap between understanding and action. The research develops the concept of the Cassandra condition and asks uncomfortable questions about scientific neutrality and advocacy, questions that are personal as well as professional for Earth-system scientists working at the boundary between knowledge production and planetary crisis. The work comes from science and technology studies, and the accounts speak to psychological research on moral injury, ecological grief, and the coping strategies of people who know more than they can act on. The talk opens a conversation about those connections, and about whether the inherited norms of the profession are adequate to the moment. Dr Thierry's talk is **in person only**. You do not have to sign up for this talk - you can just come along. The talk will take place in **lecture theatre LB11** which is located in the basement of the **Lloyd Institute,** which is near the former Science Gallery and the Pearse Street entrance to Trinity****(location shown here: https://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php?b=249). From 15:30-17:30, Dr Theirry will host an in-person interactive workshop on _An Introduction to Campaign Strategy._ Spaces in the workshop are limited - please contact clare.kelly@tcd.ie if you are interested in attending.

**CJUU's North American branch warmly invites all members, friends, and interested parties to our next Flash Discussion:** **AI-Free Teaching Tips and Strategies!** On **Fri Aug 21, from 12-1 pm Eastern,** join Loyola-Marymount University's Amy Woodson-Boulton and University of Richmond's Ryan Cales to discuss how AI-free teaching is not just possible but SPECTACULAR! Flyer/details here and**** zoom-register here_!_ Topics for upcoming Flash Talks/Panels/Discussions, the third Friday of each month from 12-1 Eastern, can be found on CJUU's events page. We're always happy when you share news of these opportunities with your networks!

_Dear Members,_ _As the devastating impacts of fires, drought, heat and floods expand, the need for transformative climate justice is more urgent than ever. The Climate Justice Universities Union continues to bring people together to support collective action toward structural and systemic change advancing climate justice._ _In this July newsletter we share news of past and upcoming Union-wide events, CJUU branch updates from Ireland, North America and the UK, as well as members' personal advocacy efforts and pursuits toward climate justice, which connect back to the core collective goals in the Climate Justice Universities Union Manifesto._ _In solidarity ~ The Climate Justice Universities Union Coordinating Team_ ### **Collective Action Town Hall 23rd July** Photo by Markus Spiske / Unsplash Thank you to all members who attended t**he CJUU's first Collective Action Town Hall meeting** , which was held online on Thursday 23rd July. The meeting was introduced by CJUU co-convenors, Jennie Stephens and John Barry. After outlining the history, structure and aims of the Union, there followed an engaging discussion with participants on how to set up a branch, what lessons could the Union learn from other initiatives such as Extinction Rebellion and Scientist Rebellion, the acknowledgement of the different (and sometimes difficult) political contexts members face in organising, the importance of multiple communication opportunities to engage union members to connect (an email listserv was proposed) and suggestions for future all-Union events. The next Town Hall will be held on **Thursday 10 September,** **7pm Irish Time, 2pm EST, 11am Pacific.** All are welcome to discuss strategy and collective action! Join for another empowering discussion about the power of collective action and organising, and to learn more about the strategies and structures within the Climate Justice Universities Union. Register here! ### **Climate Justice Universities Union Manifesto** Union members have **co-developed a Manifesto** that includes 15 specific campaigns and collective goals that we are working toward in different ways. This manifesto is a living document and we encourage members to have a look at our latest version below, which was last updated on 24 July. Branches and working groups can collectively select which of these campaigns to focus on, and additional, new campaign ideas can be proposed and added to this working document. If members have any suggestions for the manifesto, we would love to hear from you at _climatejusticeuni@proton.me._ Manifesto-Climate-Union-July-2026Manifesto-Climate-Union-July-2026.pdf169 KBdownload-circle ## CJUU Branch & Member Updates ### **CJUU North America Flash Panel on AI-Free Teaching: Tips and Strategies, with Ryan Cales and Amy Woodson-Boulton, 21 August 2026** Join the latest CJUU North America Flash Panel on**21 August, titled AI-Free Teaching: Tips and Strategies, with Loyola Marymount University's Amy Woodson-Boulton and University of Richmond's Ryan Cales.** Learn how faculty are approaching AI-free teaching and strategies that you can apply to your courses. These Monthly Flash Talks occur every third Friday, 12-1 pm Eastern time. Find our archive of past flash talks/flash panels here, and register for any of these events at bit.ly/CJUU-NA-ZOOM. ### Supporting activists in court in the United States ICE's Boston Field Office, located in Burlington, Massachusetts. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR) The murder of Joan Sebastian Guerrero at the hands of an ICE agent in Biddeford, Maine, has led to more protests against ICE in the US in late July. CJUU coordinating team member Sabine von Mering was arrested in December 2025 as part of a group trying to deliver care packages to ICE detainees in Burlington, MA, but was able to resolve her legal case with 'pre-trial probation' until September 16, 2026 and a temporary stay-away order from the ICE facility.**** The trial involving our colleague from Boston University, Nathan Phillips, one of the "Granola Bar Defendants [wbur.org]", is scheduled for **August 26 in Woburn District Court.** To stay informed about the organizing initiatives to show support at court,**** please fill out this form, and help bring people out! Sabine is also trying to encourage people to copy her latest artivist initiative: painting the climate warming stripes (reading.ac.uk) onto her garage door, see below! CJUU coordinating team member Sabine von Mering's painted garage door ### **Launch of Northwest England Branch on 9 September** Calling all our Northwest England members! A new regional branch of the CJUU will officially launch on the 9th September 2026. This **hybrid event** will provide a space for colleagues across the region to meet, network and discuss regional collaboration opportunities. Event coordinators: * Heather Alberro (University of Manchester) * Jessica Hampton (University of Liverpool) **When:** 9 September, 14:30 - 16:00 BST **Where:** University of Manchester (hybrid), Humanities Bridgeford Street building, room 1.69/70. Scan the QR code above or click here for more info and registration. ### **CJUU All-Ireland In-Person Assembly at Trinity College Dublin, December 2026** The next **CJUU All-Ireland Assembly** will be hosted at Trinity College Dublin in December 2026. This is an opportunity for Ireland-based members of the CJUU to connect in person and discuss how higher education institutions in Ireland can and should respond to our ecological and social crises. This in-person gathering will be held on either the 7th or 8th December. Full details to be confirmed soon! ### **Ireland Policy of Higher Education Working Group: Update on Research Ireland's new strategy & programme** Research Ireland's Strategy 2026-2030 The Ireland Higher Education Policy working group continues to work on advocating for public research aligned with climate justice. All CJUU members are asked to consider signing this Open Letter expressing concern about the priorities of public research in Ireland. The letter has catalysed moblisation, at this point, Research Ireland/Taighde Éireann appear to be moving ahead with dismantling the Government of Ireland scholarships and fellowships and replacing them with a programme where the funds would be given to individual higher education institutions to disperse based on their strategic plan and national priorities. This is a major structural change that will have long-term implications for the future of research in Ireland (See full update here). In addition, a new Coalition for the Future of Research in Ireland has been formed. https://coalitionforthefutureofresearchinireland.ie/ ### **Study Visa Refusals for Gazan Students in Ireland** There is growing concern in Ireland about public funding of defense research and the Irish Government’s denial of study visas to students coming to Ireland from Gaza. Activists, trade unionists, students, higher education professionals and concerned members of the public are holding a protest outside Ireland's Department of Justice on 31st July. We ask our members to consider signing this open letter and this petition to express our grave concern about the refusal of visa applications of students from Gaza who have received fully-funded places to study in Irish institutions in the 2026-27 academic year. ### **CJUU Ireland supports the call for Irish Government to recuse itself from digital policy debates** Screenshot of Johnny Ryan giving a talk at re:publica 26. The talk is titled 'How we avoid dystopia'. A group of 50 academics has shared an open letter calling for the Irish Government to “recuse itself from key EU negotiations” (Zuboff et al, 2026) on digital rule books, and corporate tax rules. This disqualification is made on the basis of “Ireland's questionable record regarding the protection of EU digital rights” (ibid.). As Ireland began its turn of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1st of 2026, the failings of the Irish Government to enforce EU GDPR law have been foregrounded. The letter says there is “good reason to believe that Ireland continues to facilitate tax arbitrage by multinational corporations,” and that “Ireland’s reliance upon giant non-EU firms creates insurmountable conflicts of interest, as evidenced by the country’s track record in the area of data regulation and taxation”. The Climate Justice Universities Union supports the call for Ireland to recuse itself from digital policy debates, and applauds the work of noyb, Enforce, and the group of academics calling this government to task. Read more about this our website. ### **Sign the petition to Stop Universities from joining the UK War Machine** **On 13 July 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence announced the 35 universities that will be the founding members of the new Universities Defence Alliance** - a group of institutions set to receive government funding to “strengthen defence research, build critical skills and support the UK's future defence capability.” According to the Ministry of Defence, these universities will: * bring together academia and the armed forces * promote careers in defence * support research into new defence technologies. The alliance will be part of a **£182 million** investment to “build defence-related skills and expand opportunities across Britain.” **The Climate Justice Universities Union supports the** People & Planet**'s call on the 35 universities to cancel their membership and ask members to** sign their petition. ### **CJUU Book Discussion of "How Beautiful We Were" on 1st September** A reminder that the CJUU Book Club will have a discussion of Imbolo Mbue's novel How Beautiful We Were on **Tuesday September 1st, 19:00-20:30** Irish Time, 2-3:30 EST.**** Register Here**!** ## External Events ### **International Symposium on Climate Justice and Environmental Equity - Barcelona, Spain, 28th September** "The International Symposium on Climate Justice and Environmental Equity **ISCJEE** which will be held during **28th Sep 2026** at **Barcelona, Spain** is a global forum dedicated to addressing the social, ethical, and policy dimensions of climate change and environmental sustainability. This symposium brings together researchers, activists, policymakers, and community leaders to explore solutions that ensure fair and just responses to environmental challenges." Early bird registration is on the 29th August and the abstract submission deadline is the 6th September. More details available here. ### **Invitation to "Climate, Migration, Refugees and the SDGs: Leaving No One Behind” in University College Cork, 14 September** This SDSN Ireland event is being organised in partnership with the UNIC European University Alliance and UCC Futures: Collective Social Futures. We invite you to register for this event via this link. This event will examine the interconnections between climate change, human mobility, sustainable development, and human rights through the framework of the UN 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. The programme will feature opening remarks by Minister of State Neale Richmond and a keynote by former Irish Ambassador David Donoghue, who chaired key UN negotiations in these fields. A panel discussion, moderated by Prof. Ursula Kilkenny, will then bring together leading practitioners and scholars working across migration, humanitarian response, climate action, and social inclusion. The event will also provide an opportunity to consider related challenges and opportunities for the Post-2030 Agenda. ## Share your news with us! Do you have news, events, papers or resources to share? Get in touch with us at climatejusticeuni@proton.me

Join us Thursday 23rd of July for an empowering discussion about collective action, organising and how to contribute to strategies and structures within the Climate Justice Universities Union. This interactive session will explore how to build collective power and act in solidarity - facilitated by CJUU's coordinating team co-convenors John Barry and Jennie Stephens. All are welcome. The event will be online at 7pm Irish Time, 2pm EST, 11am Pacific. Please register here**.**

CJUU's North American Branch warmly invites everyone to hear presentations on, and to begin to plan, Climate-Oriented Faculty Learning Communities. Friday July 17, 12-1 pm Eastern time, Register here, and please share our flyer widely! Upcoming Flash Talks on the CJUU Events page.

Dear CJUU Ireland Members, The Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill, aka the State-LNG Bill, will be debated in the Dáil tomorrow on Thursday 25th June, with a possible vote, before going to Committee stage on Tuesday 30th June. The proposed Bill specifically disapplies the Climate Act and puts limits on public participation. **Join us tomorrow in protesting against this Bill at 1pm outside the Dáil** in solidarity with organisations including Not Here Not Anywhere, Extinction Rebellion Ireland, Stop Climate Chaos, and Friends of the Earth Ireland. If you are unable to join the protest, please consider signing this petition to keep Ireland LNG Free and to resist new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Flash Talk Recording: "How to engage in critical and productive conversation about AI: Tips for teaching, scholarship, service and beyond” Get access to the recording via the embedded video above, or by accessing the video on Peertube here: https://tubedu.org/w/n7Z2f3DK21Lu77bpoTQYfZ Mary's slides are also available to download below. CJUU-Flashtalk-1-Mary-Finley-BrookCJUU-Flashtalk-1-Mary-Finley-Brook.pdf13 MBdownload-circle This CJUU North America Flash Talk took place on Friday June 19th 2026 and addressed how and why we need to resist colonial AI as it unfolds around us globally and locally. Using international examples, Mary Finley-Brook, PhD (University of Richmond) reminds us of the risks of normalizing AI adoption and use. Discussion points will be relevant to classroom teaching, scholarship, campus governance and community engagement. This event is the first of a series of monthly flash talks - short presentations by expert-activists - organized by the CJUU North America branch.

Join an online discussion on June 25th on how to do climate justice work in universities under intensifying scrutiny and targeted punitive actions - especially in the US context. Hosted by Second Nature, Climate Justice Universities Union co-convenor Jennie Stephens will be one of the speakers discussing collective action and strategic approaches to global solidarity and transformative change. More info about the event here And REGISTER HERE

**Flash Talk: "How to engage in critical and productive conversation about AI: Tips for teaching, scholarship, service and beyond”** Join this upcoming CJUU Flash Talk on Friday June 19th that addresses how and why we need to resist colonial AI as it unfolds around us globally and locally. Using international examples, Mary Finley-Brook, PhD (University of Richmond) reminds us of the risks of normalizing AI adoption and use. Discussion points will be relevant to classroom teaching, scholarship, campus governance and community engagement. This event is the first of a series of **monthly flash talks -** short presentations by expert-activists - organized by the CJUU North America branch. **See you this coming Friday 12-1 pm (Eastern Time) on Zoom:** bit.ly/CJUU-NA-ZOOM**(case-sensitive).** Mary Finley-Brook_has taught Geography, Environmental Studies, Sustainability and Global Studies for two decades. She is a strong advocate for shared higher education governance and is concerned about how administrators adopt unproven AI without adequate involvement of faculty and staff in decision-making. Mary lives in Virginia where hyperscale data center development occurred rapidly and community costs and ecological harms are increasingly apparent,_ including in her county_. She serves on the steering committee of_ Data Center Defiance_, a new community-based regional coalition._ **Interested in joining the CJUU North America branch?** The North American Branch meets regularly on the third Friday of the month from**12-1 EST.** Register here_._ This branch also communicates on the North American Branch Channel on CJUU's Mattermost.

We are delighted to announce the launch event for a new CJUU Northwest England branch! Scan the QR code below or click here for more info and registration.

All welcome to join this hybrid event on Wednesday June 10th 2-3:30pm Irish time to discuss concerns about Research Ireland's new strategy and work plan. Discussion on the open letter and the work of CJUU's higher ed working group In person at Trinity College Dublin Davis Theatre and virtual attendance too. Register here. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/forum-on-the-future-of-the-irish-research-landscape-tickets-1991189803303 Open letter still open for signatures here. https://openletter.earth/concern-about-research-irelands-strategy-and-programme-plan-e6a2b138

DUBLIN Wednesday 24 June 2026 - join us for an IN-PERSON ONLY Open Space workshop to discuss and explore how to respond to AI, Misogyny and Climate Justice. Lunch provided. REGISTER HERE https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ai-misogyny-climate-justice-how-is-ai-impacting-us-how-do-we-respond-tickets-1989389415294?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU) fully endorses an open letter to the Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless expressing deep concern about Ireland’s new industry-focused public research strategy. All members of the CJUU are encouraged to sign this open letter and distribute it among other networks and communities. Members based in Ireland are encouraged to also forward the letter to their TDs and express concern. As an international collective mobilising for global solidarity, CJUU invites members outside of Ireland who are also concerned about the corporate capture of public research and democratic processes to support this campaign and also sign the letter. Corporate capture of public research in Ireland has broad impacts on the future not just for those in Ireland and not just for those working in universities. The open letter expresses deep concern about the commercial, profit-seeking priorities of the Irish research funding agency (Taighde Éireann / Research Ireland) in its recently published strategy. The strategy and its strong private-sector bias is an attack on research for the public good and other non-commercialisable research including the arts, humanities and social sciences. The strategy represents “an assault on Ireland’s research ecosystem”, that “weakens academic freedom” and “is a threat to democratic processes”. The CJUU thanks the members of its Irish Higher Education Policy Working Group for their involvement in drafting the open letter and appreciates the support of all members who have already signed the letter and distributed it among their networks. The CJUU also appreciates the broad coalition of support from other organisations, including trade unions and civic organisations, who are also encouraging people to sign this open letter. PLEASE SIGN HERE https://openletter.earth/concern-about-research-irelands-strategy-and-programme-plan-e6a2b138

_Dear Members,_ _With a disruptive heatwave in Europe, deadly militarised oppression and war raging in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and many other places, and the public mission of universities under attack around the world, our May monthly newsletter aims to inspire global solidarity and collective action among our 2000+ members._ _In this newsletter we share one specific campaign – an open letter expressing deep concerns about Ireland's new industry-focused, profit-seeking strategy for publicly funded research and invite both our Ireland-based and international members to read and sign this letter in collective solidarity against the corporate capture of the public research ecosystem._ _The newsletter also contains updates on our latest virtual gathering on May 28th, 'AI, Misogyny & Climate Justice', upcoming events, launches and recent initiatives from our CJUU working groups and branches, news on the first meeting of the CJUU Virtual Book Club, as well as interesting publications and new resources._ _In solidarity ~ The Climate Justice Universities Union Coordinating Team_ ### **Open Letter to Irish Minister about the future of Ireland's Research Funding** Open Letter initiated by CJUU Working Group on Irish Higher Education Institution (HEI) Policy The Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU) fully endorses an open letter to the Irish Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless expressing deep concern about Ireland’s new industry-focused public research strategy. All members of the CJUU are encouraged to sign this open letter and distribute it among other networks and communities. Members based in Ireland are encouraged to also forward the letter to their TDs and express concern. As an international collective mobilising for global solidarity, CJUU invites members outside of Ireland who are also concerned about the corporate capture of public research and democratic processes to support this campaign and also sign the letter. Corporate capture of public research in Ireland has broad impacts on the future not just for those in Ireland and not just for those working in universities. The open letter expresses deep concern about the commercial, profit-seeking priorities of the Irish research funding agency (Taighde Éireann / Research Ireland) in its recently published strategy. The strategy and its strong private-sector bias is an attack on research for the public good and other non-commercialisable research including the arts, humanities and social sciences. The strategy represents “an assault on Ireland’s research ecosystem”, that “weakens academic freedom” and “is a threat to democratic processes”. The CJUU thanks the members of its Irish Higher Education Policy Working Group for their involvement in drafting the open letter and appreciates the support of all members who have already signed the letter and distributed it among their networks. The CJUU also appreciates the broad coalition of support from other organisations, including trade unions and civic organisations, who are also encouraging people to sign this open letter. ### **Virtual Monthly Gathering on AI, Misogyny & Climate Justice, May 28th** ****CJUU Virtual Monthly Gathering with the Feminist Communities for Climate Justice:****_****AI, Misogyny & Climate Justice: How is it Impacting Us & How do We Respond?****_ As part of a series of events on **AI, Misogyny and Climate Justice** , the Climate Justice Universities Union co-hosted its virtual monthly gathering with the Feminist Communities for Climate Justice, on May 28th. This interactive session facilitated by Open Space explored how AI, misogyny and climate justice are linked, what the impacts are, and practical collective actions we can all take. Building on this event, there will be a related in-person-only session held at Trinity College Dublin on June 24th, 10.30am - 3.30pm IST. All those able to attend in-person can register here. ## Working Group & Branch Updates ### **Northwest England Branch Launch - Save the Date 9th September** Calling all our Northwest England members! A new regional branch of the CJUU will officially launch on the 9th September 2026. The hybrid event will provide a space for colleagues across the region to meet, network and discuss regional collaboration opportunities. **When:** 9 September, 14:30 - 16:00 BST **Where:** University of Manchester (hybrid), Humanities Bridgeford Street building, room 1.69/70 Registration and online details to follow. If you would like further information please contact Dr. Heather Alberro at heather.alberro@manchester.ac.uk ### **North America Branch 6-Week Reading Group** CJUU North America branch member Dr. Mary Finley-Brook is co-hosting a 6-week virtual reading group with Virginia Interfaith Power & Light on Karen Hao’s The Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's Open AI. This book is a journalistic investigation into one of the largest AI companies, OpenAI, which owns ChatGPT. Hao examines OpenAI's interworkings, the human and environmental costs of AI, and ethical and intellectual property concerns with AI usage and development. Through seizing resources, exploiting labor, and harming our environment, all in their quest to put profits, prestige, and power above all else, "Empire of AI" argues that OpenAI and the AI industry are **modern-day empires.** The 6-week reading group began last Tuesday May 26th, and will join each subsequent Tuesday until June 30th, from 6.30 - 8.00pm Eastern Time. Register here! ### **Trinity College Dublin Branch - Sustainable Catering Policy** Students protesting at Trinity College Dublin. Image via Plant-based Universities The **CJUU branch at Trinity College Dublin** have endorsed the Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences proposed **Sustainable Catering Policy** for a vegan - and vegetarian-first policy to catering for events in the university, along with sustainable practices in terms of food waste, a ban on single-use plastics, with shorter and local supplier systems that engage in ethical agri-ecology practices. This catering policy is an exemplar that can be replicated across universities in the island of Ireland and internationally. Support is growing from the Trinity Sustainability Office, Healthy Campus, the Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action and the Student Body. The CJUU Trinity College Dublin branch continues its advocacy efforts to bring this policy into a reality. Read more here. ## CJUU Book Club Meeting 9th June The first virtual meetup of the CJUU Book Club is on **Tuesday 9th June at 19:00 Dublin/ 14:00 New York**(find your local time conversion here),**** where we will discuss**** The Mechanic and the Luddite - A Ruthless Criticism of Technology and Capitalism, by Jathan Sadowski. This short book demystifies how the two systems of technology and capitalism work together and equips readers with practical tools to dismantle them and build a better world, bit by bit. You can also listen to the author's podcast here. * To join the CJUU Virtual Book Club, please subscribe to it here. * Log-in details for 9th June: https://tcd-ie.zoom.us/j/95394275283?pwd=7s1yMmKOCUnhEkUbDSaIpeBWq30qOC.1 Meeting ID: 953 9427 5283 Passcode: 097586 ### **Hybrid Event 22nd June: "Who Owns the Transition?" - All Welcome!** Register for this hybrid event**co-hosted by the CJUU: WHO OWNS THE TRANSITION? Energy Democracy and the Power of Community and Cooperative Renewables** , in-person at Maynooth University or online, 22nd June from 2pm - 4pm IST. ## News, Publications & Podcasts **Publication:** Erasing critical scholarship: How attacks on academic freedom undermine democracy. In this recent publication, Susanne Täuber explores how academic freedom is being granted to and withheld from scholars at the discretion of university managers. **New Podcast:** Feeling Climate Change**.** CJUU Alberta-branch member Dr. Debra Davidson has a new podcast.**** The series explores the role of emotions in shaping how societies respond to the climate emergency, and reflects on how emotional dynamics influence climate action, behavior, and public life more broadly. **Research:** A tale of two discourses: fossil fuel funding in UK and US university policy vs. Public debate**.** Read this recent publication by Camilla Ceccon, Truzaar Dordi, and Jennie C. Stephens. This research examines the complex interplay between fossil fuel funding, corporate capture, and academic integrity in higher education, uncovering how public discourse frames industry funding as a mechanism of climate obstruction and delay. **News Article: Artifical Intelligence Spells a Climate Disaster.** In this recent article for the Irish Times, Jennie Stephens articulates the drastic impacts artificial intelligence and data centres are having in accelerating climate chaos, as well as the growing resistance to AI expansionism from communities and organisations across Ireland, including the ongoing work of the CJUU. Irish Times Artificial intelligence spells a real climateIrish Times Artificial intelligence spells a real climate.pdf3 MBdownload-circle

Join us for a virtual interactive discussion co-hosted by the Climate Justice Universities Union and the Feminist Communities for Climate Justice Ireland. As part of a series of facilitated Open Space sessions, this event will explore the gendered impacts of and societal responses to Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing particularly on generative AI - AI that creates text, images, videos, audio, and other forms of data by extracting content from across the internet. **When:** Thursday 28th of May 12:30-2:30 Irish Time, 7:30-9:30am EST. **Register here:** https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/ai-misogyny-climate-justice-how-is-ai-impacting-us-how-do-we-respond-tickets-1988476049392

### Join us for an interactive discussion sharing practical steps on how to resist big tech and AI and how to advance tech justice. All members welcome! **Thursday April 30 2026: 5-6pm (Dublin/London), 12-1pm EST, 9-10am Pacific** Register for the event here Will include discussion on our new Action Guide on Moving Away from Big Tech**** Action Guide: Moving Away from Big TechPreamble This document aims to serve as a conversation starter for members of the Climate Justice Universities Union to consider a progressive move to more ecologically and ethically conscious digital tools. It is written in good faith and directly acknowledges the complexity of technology, IT services, the internet, and howClimate Justice Universities UnionColm O’Neill

_During these disruptive and violent times, the Climate Justice Universities Union provides an international collective space to act in solidarity and connect across boundaries of all kinds. A special welcome to the hundreds of new members that have joined the Union this month, as the stewardship of the Faculty for a Future project has now been officially transferred over._ _In this April monthly roundup, we share updates on our first monthly virtual gathering (starting April 30th), membership resources including an action guide on moving away from Big Tech and tools for the Symbiocene, several working group and branch updates such as our first CJUU virtual book club and the launch of a new Irish Higher Education Policy Working Group, as well as news of external events and interesting publications._ _In solidarity ~ The Climate Justice Universities Union Coordinating Team_ ## Union-Wide Gathering 30th April __Theme: Practical Steps to Move Away from Big Tech__ Join us for a virtual **interactive discussion** on practical steps we can take **individually and collectively to resist Big Tech** and change the dominant narrative on AI on campus and throughout society. **Thursday April 30 2026: 5-6pm (Dublin/London), 12-1pm (EST), 9-10am (Pacific).** Register here**.** **As part of this discussion, we have created an Action Guide: Moving Away from Big Tech.** This new document sets out a practical guide for Climate Justice Universities Union to consider a progressive move to more ecologically and ethically conscious digital tools. **Read the Action Guide** here**.** ## Tools for the Symbiocene __Resources, readings and pedagogical tools for embedding transformative sustainability and multispecies justice in teaching and learning__ Intersectional forms of resistance are vital for building more sustainable and climate-just worlds. But, we must also have some inkling of where we wish to go, what kinds of worlds we wish to enact and sustain. Critique and imagination are two equally important engines of transformative socio-ecological change. Thus, we've compiled this list of materials and resources designed to nurture green hope and foster our imaginative capacities for building radical alternatives within and beyond capitalism. This list is necessarily a work in progress, so please reach out with suggestions from your own practice so that we can continue expanding it! Let's work together towards what philosopher Glenn Albrecht terms the 'Symbiocene' - a desirable, more liveable future of respectful conviviality with Earth others. **Check out our tools the Symbiocene** here**.** ## CJUU at No Kings Day Rally __March 28th 2026__ __Several members of CJUU North America branch and students from many colleges and universities participated in the third No Kings rally on March 28, 2026 in Boston.__ For the first time at No Kings, the Massachusetts climate movement (including 350Mass, Extinction Rebellion, Mothers-out-front, Third Act, and Massachusetts Climate Action Now) gathered at Copley Plaza as a “climate contingent”. About 300 climate activists marched to the Boston Common behind the banner “People Power for a Livable Climate”. On the Common, they joined with 180,000 protesters for several hours of speeches, music, and hands-on organizing at tables with signature collections for Make Polluters Pay petitions, and support for the “Save Money with Clean Heat” campaign, among others. In their kick-off speeches, representatives, including Sabine von Mering (Brandeis) and Parke Wilde (Tufts), highlighted the Trump regime’s disastrous climate legacy, and the importance of democratic institutions for climate action. ## CJUU Trinity College Dublin Branch at Earth Day Protest __Members of the CJUU Trinity College Dublin branch at the Earth Day Protest on 22nd April 2026, Dublin__ The Climate Justice Universities Union was well represented by the Trinity College Dublin branch at the Earth Day protest in Dublin on the 22nd April 2026. The protest, organised by a coalition of environmental-civil society organisations and political leaders in the opposition, called on the Irish government to recommit to climate action and prioritise more just, healthy and fossil-fuel-free futures. ## CJUU Virtual Book Club At the CJUU Annual General Meeting in March, there was interest in a reading group / book club, so we’re going to give it a go! **If you’re interested in joining the CJUU book club, please:** · Follow this link to update your email preferences and join the new **CJUU book club mailing list** · Go to this link to **indicate your preference for a date and book for our first discussion**. We also welcome your suggestions for other books for our first or subsequent discussions. We’ll read both fiction and non-fiction. We’ll keep the poll open until **Wednesday 29th April** , and will let interested members know the selected book and date by the 30th. The book club will meet **online** (Zoom, for now) and we’ll aim for 3-4 meetings per year, starting in late May or early June. We’re looking forward to meeting you online and sharing some interesting discussions! ## CJUU North America Branch __Monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of the month__ For all new North America-based members - join the CJUU North America branch monthly meetings held on the **third Tuesday of every month**! Register for our monthly Zooms, join our mailing list and/or share your interest in joining our working groups: _Addressing the Polycrisis, Campus Policies/Shared Governance, Resisting AI/Big Tech in Higher Education_. ## New Ireland-based Working Group on Higher Education Institution Strategy, Policy & Engagement __Online meeting, 6th May, 12pm -1pm.__ Join our first online meeting to discuss the establishment of an internal **Ireland-based CJUU Working Group on Higher Education Institution (HEI) Strategy/Engagement/Policy.** The purpose of the working group would be to identify how we can inform, engage, support and encourage our HEIs to do the ‘right thing’. The working group will discuss what the ‘right thing’ looks like right now and recognising that in this ever-evolving predicament we are in, the ‘right thing’ may not be entirely clear and will also continue to evolve. If you are interested in participating in this online (initially – we do hope to have some in-person sessions) please register here. The initial meeting is scheduled for **Wednesday 6 th May (12.00-13.00) online** – if you are interested but unable to attend at this time please do complete the registration form and we will keep you in the loop for future meetings. ## Membership News & Publications __Highlights of interesting publications, press releases and news articles by CJUU membership__ **Publication:** **AI and ED Tech as Climate Criminals.** Read this recent paper by CJUU Coordinator Colm O' Neill that investigates "the ecological implications of EdTEch, the excessive nature of modern digital technology, to examine the need for sustainable practices in the ICT sector and education's involvement therein". 190_GenAI-and-EdTech-as-ClimateCriminals (1)190_GenAI-and-EdTech-as-ClimateCriminals (1).pdf274 KBdownload-circle **Press Release: University of California Davis Academic Senate Passes Climate Literacy Requirement.** Great news from CJUU member Mark Huising - Just in time for Earth Day 2026, the University of California, Davis Academic Senate on April 16 adopted a resolution to add Climate Change Literacy to General Education requirements. The resolution was written by a group of faculty across different undergraduate colleges and endorsed unanimously by the Associated Students of UCD (ASUCD). **Recent Article:** Impactful publication in the Irish Times by CJUU**** Member Iris Möller highlights the need to consider relocation away from some coastal areas. Moeller 2026 Why some of Ireland’s coastal communities may need to prepare for relocation – The Irish TimesMoeller 2026 Why some of Ireland’s coastal communities may need to prepare for relocation – The Irish Times.pdf10 MBdownload-circle **News Article:** Read CJUU Coordinator Jennie Stephens' latest Irish Times column calling for a focus on "exnovation" away from fossil fuels highlighting the many costs and dangers of continued fossil fuel reliance. Stephens Apr 2026 Time has come for exnovation away from fossil fuels – The Irish TimesStephens Apr 2026 Time has come for exnovation away from fossil fuels – The Irish Times.pdf3 MBdownload-circle ## External Events & Resources * **Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels - First International Conference.** Over the next week, many members of the Climate Justice Universities Union will be watching what happens at the First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels**** in Columbia and the Netherlands starting tomorrow 24th April to 29th https://transitionawayconference.com/. Advocacy from members of the Climate Justice Universities Union Trinity branch earlier this year led to Trinity College Dublin's endorsement the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Campaigns to get other universities to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty are ongoing and inspired by this win. Photo from the Trinity College Dublin announcement * **DCU Climate & Society Annual Conference with President Catherine Connolly - Holding the Line: Climate action in a time of crisis** - Dublin City University, St. Patrick's Campus, Tue, 12/05/2026 - 08:45 to Tue, 12/05/2026 - 17:30 IST. Find more information here. * **Ecoversities Re-imagining Education Conference 5.0:** Watch the recording of the opening ceremony of the annual Re-Imagining Education Conference 5.0 with the Ecoversities Alliance * * * ** _Communications_** _Like the new look of our newsletters? As part of our commitments to move away from Big Tech platforms, we have migrated our communication tools from Mailchimp to our new platform privately hosted on Ghost.**You can choose how much or how little you want to hear from us via newsletters by clicking**_ here**_._** _Do you have news or updates you'd like to share with CJUU members in our monthly roundups?**Please get in touch with us at Climatejusticeuni@proton.me**_

The Climate Justice Universities Union was well represented by the Trinity College Dublin branch at the Earth Day protest in Dublin. The protest, organised by a coalition of environmental-civil society organisations and political leaders in the opposition, called on the Irish government to recommit to climate action and prioritise more just, healthy and fossil-fuel-free futures.

In April 2026, the stewardship of the Faculty for a Future (F4F) project was transferred to the Climate Justice Universities Union (CJUU). This is not a merger or a partnership, but a structured handover of responsibilities, identity, and infrastructure, enabling the project to continue under the Climate Justice Universities Union’s wider organisational umbrella and strategic direction. Faculty for a Future and F4F and CJUU share a commitment to transforming the role of higher education in the face of global ecological and social breakdown. F4F was established to challenge the complicity of academic institutions in systems of injustice and ecological harm, and to support academics working for a reimagined, justice-centered education system. CJUU has emerged from a similarly urgent recognition of the need to restructure higher education to serve a just transition and advance climate justice. Like F4F, CJUU resists the corporatisation of universities and the dominance of extractive economic logics. It aims to activate collective action, build transboundary solidarity, and centre care, wellbeing, and plural knowledge systems within academic life. This transition enables the continuation and expansion of F4F’s original mission within a broader coalition-based structure. The alignment in purpose, values, and strategy makes CJUU a natural and trusted home for the next phase of this work.

### 30th of April 2026 - Thursday 5-6pm (Dublin/London), 12-1pm EST, 9-10am Pacific Welcome all members to our new mailing and website system! As part of our efforts to move away from Big Tech, we have departed from Mailchimp and are using this new tool. We have a new Action Guide on Moving Away from Big Tech**** which we will discuss at our next Union-Wide Gathering on April 30th. Action Guide: Moving Away from Big TechPreamble This document aims to serve as a conversation starter for members of the Climate Justice Universities Union to consider a progressive move to more ecologically and ethically conscious digital tools. It is written in good faith and directly acknowledges the complexity of technology, IT services, the internet, and howClimate Justice Universities UnionColm O’Neill As we also welcome hundreds of new members from Faculty For a Future who are now part of the Climate Justice Universities Union, we invite everyone to select how much, or how little you want to hear from us. Please review your email and newsletter settings here. Pick what information you get by email To discuss all of this further, all members are welcome to join us for a vritual **interactive discussion** on practical steps we can take **individually and collectively to resist Big Tech** and change the dominant narrative on AI on campus and throughout society. **Thursday April 30 2026: 5-6pm (Dublin/London), 12-1pm EST, 9-10am Pacific** Register for the event here Below are some additional related resources. Hope to see many of you on April 30th! AI & EdTech as Climate CriminalNew publication by Colm O’Neill - the Tech Justice coordinator of the Union - highlighting the ecological destruction of AI and other EdTech used in education institutions. In Ireland, where public institutions are legally mandated to reduce their climate impact, the widespread promotion and use of AI can be consideredClimate Justice Universities UnionJennie StephensResisting GenAI & Big Tech in Higher EducationDATE: 25 Nov, 2025 TIME: 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM Virtual on Zoom 8 a.m. PST | 11 a.m. EST | 4 p.m. GMT | 5 p.m. CET Virtual on Zoom / Duration 90 min. Recording of the event: Generative AI is permeating higher education in many differentClimate Justice Universities UnionColm O’NeillArticle on how AI can’t replicate the messiness of learningA recent article published in the Irish Examiner on how AI is disrupting learning processes was co-authored by members of the Climate Justice Universities Union.Climate Justice Universities UnionJennie StephensResources: Resisting AI and Big TechThe Climate Justice Universities Union represents all those concerned with the powerful influence of Big Tech within higher ed and the uncritical adoption of AI tools in and out of universities. By promoting AI, we believe higher education institutions are failing in their public good mission to reduce ecological destructionClimate Justice Universities UnionColm O’Neill

New publication by Colm O'Neill - the Tech Justice coordinator of the Union - highlighting the ecological destruction of AI and other EdTech used in education institutions. In Ireland, where public institutions are legally mandated to reduce their climate impact, the widespread promotion and use of AI can be considered illegal and misaligned with the mission and purpose of higher education institutions. Out now in the _Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning_. Download article here

Members of the Climate Justice Universities Union based in the US will be joining the NO KINGS protests all around the country on Saturday 28th of March to defend communities against unjust and cruel acts of violence and ecological destruction. Find a protest near you! #NoKings #ClimateJustice No KingsAs the president escalates his authoritarian power grab, the NO KINGS non-violent movement continues to rise stronger. We are united once again to remind the world: America has No Kings and the power belongs to the people.No KingsMaking #NoKings Trend: Digital content, creators & you

To all Climate Justice Universities Union members, You are all invited to the first AGM (Annual General Meeting) of the Union which will be held virtually on **Thursday March 19 th**. Come learn more about our collective action, resources and local/regional branches. Please register here to get the link to attend The meeting will be from 5-6:30pm (Ireland and UK time), 12-1:30pm EST and 9-10:30 (PT). Below is the governance document – the Constitution for the Union – which will be discussed and voted on during the meeting. CJUU Constitution Revised Feb 2026CJUU Constitution Revised Feb 2026.pdf209 KBdownload-circle We hope to see many of you there! In solidarity, The Coordinating Team of the Climate Justice Universities Union