Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF ) has taken a significant step forward in its sustainability journey by completing, for the first time, a comprehensive assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG ) emissions generated across its operations.
The study, carried out by climate action and environmental consultancy Climeaction, provides the festival with a detailed understanding of its carbon footprint and identifies key emissions hotspots across its activities. The findings will form the foundation of a long-term strategy to reduce environmental impact while supporting the festival’s ambition to become a leader in sustainable event management.
Rather than serving as a one-off measurement, the audit marks the beginning of a multi-annual programme running from 2024 to 2026. Annual assessments will build upon previous findings, allowing GIAF to refine its methodologies, track progress against carbon reduction targets, and implement increasingly effective sustainability measures. The approach is designed to create a robust monitoring framework capable of delivering measurable environmental improvements year on year.
The project builds on research undertaken through GIAF’s participation in the European Pacesetters programme, which seeks to empower the cultural and creative sectors to become active contributors to climate action and societal transformation. In 2025, GIAF’s acclaimed Funeral for Ashes exhibition served as a research laboratory for the initiative, enabling the festival to pilot the measurement of the carbon footprint associated with a single exhibition.
GIAF is one of 15 collaborators involved in the Pacesetters project, alongside organisations from across Europe. Among them is the University of Galway, a long-standing education partner of the festival. The university, which hosts approximately 20 per cent of the festival programme each year, has established itself as a national leader in sustainability. It has been ranked Ireland’s number one university for sustainability for four consecutive years in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, while also holding a STARS Gold Rating and recognition as Ireland’s first university designated an SDG Ambassador.
Looking ahead, GIAF is partnering with Norwegian climate technology start-up Eventwood as part of the 2026 Pacesetters programme. Through Eventwood’s Eventpulse platform, the festival will analyse visitor movement patterns, dwell times and audience concentrations. These insights will help estimate visitor-related emissions while also measuring the festival’s social and cultural impact across communities.
In a further demonstration of its commitment to best practice, GIAF is working with Climeaction to pursue ISO 20121 accreditation, the internationally recognised standard for Sustainable Event Management. The certification provides a framework for managing environmental, social and economic impacts within major events.
Sustainability will also feature prominently within this year’s First Thought Talks programme. On 19 July, Bailey Allen Hall at the University of Galway will host a discussion titled Can Ordinary People Afford to Retrofit? featuring climate policy expert Sadhbh O’Neill and Professor Jamie Goggins of the University of Galway, examining practical pathways towards Ireland’s sustainability transition.
Across its 2026 operations, GIAF will continue to promote public transport and active travel, source renewable energy, expand its Green Ambassadors programme, enforce a single-use plastic ban at key venues, operate reusable cup schemes, increase material reuse in venue construction and set design, reduce printing and waste generation, and strengthen sustainable procurement practices throughout its supply chain.
These initiatives are supported by GIAF’s key partners, including The Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Galway City Council, University of Galway and Heineken®, whose collaboration continues to help drive the festival’s environmental ambitions forward.
