Reykjavík University will celebrate its Sustainability Day on October 29 in honor of the international Sustainability Day, which is observed annually on the last Wednesday of October.

A variety of exciting events will take place on Sustainability Day, including a lunchtime seminar where experts from both the university and industry will discuss Iceland’s key climate commitments, with a special focus on the role and responsibility of companies in addressing the climate crisis.

Þórhildur Fjóla Kristjánsdóttir, Sustainability Project Manager at RU, emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration on such a day, as well as increasing the visibility of the many excellent sustainability projects already underway at RU. She also highlights the importance of creating a space for people to come together on this occasion:

We also need to remind ourselves of how important increased sustainability is for us. For students, the day is also a great opportunity to get to know companies that RU actively collaborates with, such as Landsvirkjun and Landsnet, who work on sustainability every single day. In the coming years, we need to see real, positive change in society — moving from stress and unsustainable resource use toward a more sustainable and happier way of life.

Other companies showcasing their work in Sólin from noon and into the afternoon include Sorpa’s second-hand store Fríðbúð, Humble, and Festa. Additionally, the SIF Sustainability Fund will announce its grant recipients in Sólin, and there will be an event specifically for RU staff.

Þórhildur Fjóla encourages everyone to come to Sólin and take part in the day’s activities, as there will be plenty of exciting things on offer:

The treasure hunt in Sorpa’s Fríðbúð in Sólin sounds really exciting, and then taking part in the quiz hosted by Freyr Eyjólfsson — I won’t be missing that. It will also be great to hear what RU’s PhD students are working on in climate-related research during the CLoCCS lunchtime seminar.

When asked what we can do personally to promote sustainability in our daily lives, Þórhildur Fjóla responds:

Sustainability isn’t just about the environment and finances — it’s also about our wellbeing, both mental and physical. Studies show that spending time in nature has very positive effects on us. Being outdoors connects us more deeply with nature and with ourselves, and as a result, we become more inclined to support and care for the environment around us.