CEU Hosts First Sustainability Festival

On September 19, CEU hosted its first Sustainability Festival, linking members of the University community with local environmentalist groups. Over 100 members of the CEU community interacted with local organizations that presented their own unique contributions to building more environmentally and socially conscious communities in Hungary. The festival also gave new arrivals to Budapest a better idea of how and where they could contribute to building a greener Budapest while living or studying here. The guest organizations specialize in areas such as: local and environmentally friendly food systems, sustainable transport and bicycle repair skill development, smart consumption, recycling and waste management, and green movements at local universities.

Festival attendees were given the opportunity to taste local and organic food items while learning how to find the products in Budapest. Participants could also take part in a bicycle repair workshop given by members of the Cyclonomia bicycle cooperative. Guests were also entertained by an acoustic music performance by local musician and singer Nia Gaal. Additionally, the fleet of bikes which can now be rented by members of the CEU community as part of a pilot CEU Bike Share Program were installed in the Nador 15 Courtyard.

The Sustainability Festival was organized by the Campus Services Office and supported by volunteers from the Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) and CEU Alumni Scholarship Recipients. The organizers hope to build on the success of the event and turn it into an annual CEU tradition.

For more information about Sustainable CEU’s future initiatives, visit www.facebook.com/sustainable.ceu or email sustainability@ceu.hu. To learn more about CEU’s bike share program contact bicycles@ceu.hu.