Case Studies
Learning from others’ experiences is a great way to start your sustainability journey. We are collecting case studies from individuals and communities that will tell you what they did and how they went about it. These case studies are full or information and resources for you to follow and apply to your own situations. Each case study is 2-3 pages long and are more detailed and technical than stories, but they easy for all readers to follow.
Our Latest Community Case Study
Use Your Mug Galway City
Use Your Mug Galway City
This was a campaign that lasted for 3 months in Galway City. During this time 9 cafes in the city did not sell coffee in paper cups. Instead you had to bring your own keep cup. The campaign was talked about all over the city and it helped get people into the habit of bringing their keep cups out with them. Once you pick up a good habit, it’s easy to keep doing it. This is a project that you could start in your town or village. Read more to see how they did it and how you can too.
Where?
Galway City
Who started this action?
Galway City Council
Fast Facts About the Project
- 81% of people in Galway city said they owned a keep cup, but HARDLY ANY use it!
- 9 cafes in the city agreed that for three months they would not sell tea or cofee in throw away cups. Instead the city council gave the cafes 1400 free keep cups that they could give to their customers
- The project got into all the local media by putting up a person sized keep cup (see the picture) in different places around the city.
- The council hopes that this will help get people to think more about using keep cups instead of throw away ones.
What makes this stand out?
- It brought local businesses, the city council and the city community together.
- The message was simple: it said you already have a keep cup, you should use it.
- Getting people to know that you can save money and help the environment at the same time is a great idea for everybody.
Highlights
- A big problem for the council is litter and waste from thrown away coffee cups and this campaign helps with that.
- The city council started the project. This helped get businesses to join in more quickly.
- An important lesson we learned was that we have the keep cups, we should bring them with us when we go out.
- The campaign didn’t have to go on forever. Once people get into the habit, they keep using their keep cups.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- SDG 12: Sustainable consumption and production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Community-Driven, Municipal, Waste.
Why This Matters
Throw away drinks cups are wasteful and cause litter. In Ireland, every year we throw away 200 Million coffee cups. That is the same as 560,000 each day! If we all only used keep cups, it would be the same as planting nearly 300,000 trees – that’s 208 Croke park pitches of trees.
Find Out More about the project
Galway City Council Use Your Mug Video
Resources from Climate Connected that you can use to do this campaign in your area
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Creative Climate Action: Art and Sustainability in Westside
Westside Resource Centre’s community-led projects combine creativity and climate action to engage residents in meaningful ways. Projects like “Painting the Planet” and “The Air We Share” use art and science to make sustainability accessible, spark conversations about environmental issues, and strengthen community connections. Read the full case study to learn more about these initiatives and their impact.
Location
Galway City
Initiator
Westside Resource Center
Fast facts about the initiative
- Established Initiatives: Over 40 local groups supported annually.
- Community Reach: Tens of thousands of annual visitors.
- Signature Projects: Westside Arts Festival, “Painting the Planet,” “The Air We Share.”
- Focus Areas: Climate awareness, community engagement, and creative solutions.
What makes this stand out?
- Integrates art, science, and climate action to engage diverse communities
- Addresses complex climate issues in an accessible, creative format
- Builds partnerships with local authorities, universities, and national partners
Highlights from the Case Study
- Westside Arts Festival: Celebrates sustainability through activities like upcycling, gardening, and pollinator talks.
- Painting the Planet: Art inspired by the UN SDGs, raising awareness locally and nationally.
- The Air We Share: Citizen science meets art to explore air quality and climate action.
- Community Engagement: Projects empower residents to connect global issues with local solutions.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 15: Life on Land
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Keywords: Community Art, Climate Awareness, Citizen Science, Sustainable Practices, Environmental Education
Why This Matters
Westside Resource Centre exemplifies how creativity can make climate action approachable and impactful. By blending art, science, and community collaboration, the Centre transforms complex challenges into opportunities for education, empowerment, and meaningful change.
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Westside Community Organic Garden: Growing Together for Sustainability
In the heart of Galway’s Westside, a diverse urban community has turned underutilized land into a flourishing hub for biodiversity, sustainability, and social connection. Established in 2011, this volunteer-led initiative empowers residents to grow local food, foster community collaboration, and promote environmental stewardship. It’s more than just a garden—it’s a thriving space where people come together to nurture both the land and each other.
Read the full case study to learn more about Westside Community Organic Garden’s journey and impact.
Location
Galway City
Initiator
Westside Resource Center
Fast Facts About Westside Community Garden
- Established: 2011
- Participants: 40+ local volunteers engaged annually
- Features: Polytunnel, fruit trees, vegetables, flowers, and herbs
- Infrastructure: Rainwater harvesting system and accessible paths
- Recognition: Galway City Mayor’s Award in 2022
What makes this stand out?
- Repurposes urban land to create a productive and inclusive green space
- Empowers residents through hands-on education and sustainable practices
- Serves as a model for year-round community engagement
Highlights from the Case Study
- How It Started: Addressing the lack of green spaces in an urban setting.
- Key Actions: Installing infrastructure, planting pollinator-friendly gardens, and hosting annual events.
- Challenges Addressed: Limited resources, volunteer retention, and navigating local bureaucracy.
- Impact Achieved: Strengthened community bonds, reduced food miles, and increased biodiversity.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Keywords: Urban Green Spaces, Biodiversity, Community Gardening, Local Food Production, Environmental Education
Why This Matters
The Westside Community Organic Garden shows how even small urban spaces can make a big difference. By creating a sustainable, inclusive environment, it empowers individuals, strengthens community ties, and inspires others to reimagine how green spaces can transform cities.
Explore the Full Story
The Westside Community Organic Garden shows how even small urban spaces can make a big difference. By creating a sustainable, inclusive environment, it empowers individuals, strengthens community ties, and inspires others to reimagine how green spaces can transform cities. Case Study Document
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Coill Chormaic: A Community-Driven Model for Sustainable Forestry
Discover Coill Chormaic, a standout cooperative forestry project inspired by the legacy of Cormac ó Braonáin, a passionate advocate for nature. This initiative brings together family, friends, and neighbors to establish a deciduous forest that promotes biodiversity and community engagement. It’s about more than just planting trees; it’s about creating a space where community collaboration meets environmental stewardship.
Read the full case study to uncover Coill Chormaic’s journey.
Location
County Leitrim
Initiator
Coill Chormaic Co-operative Ltd
Fast Facts About the Initiative
- Planted Trees: Over 5,000 native species.
- Community Members: 40–50 active contributors.
- Land Acquired: Parcels in Leitrim managed cooperatively.
- Biodiversity Features: Includes a wildlife pond for added ecological impact.
What makes this stand out?
- Combines community collaboration with environmental impact.
- Serves as a replicable model for collective land ownership.
- Pioneers sustainable forestry practices while fostering local engagement
Highlights
- How It Started: Turning a memorial into a living legacy.
- Key Actions: Forming a cooperative, acquiring land, and planting trees.
- Lessons Learned: Overcoming land access challenges and building consensus.
- Future Plans: Expanding the forest and improving public access.
SDG Alignment & Keywords
- SDG 13: Climate Action
- SDG 15: Life on Land
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Community-Driven Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, Collective Land Ownership, Sustainable Land Use, Environmental Collaboration
Why This Matters
Coill Chormaic is more than a forest—it’s a proof of concept. It shows how small communities can take big steps toward sustainability, inspire action, and strengthen local connections.
Explore the Full Story
Dive deeper into the project’s origins, impact, and what it takes to make an initiative like this happen. Find out more about Coill Chormaic.
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Aran Islands Case Study
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