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What is Sustainability Week?
Each year, the Environmental Committee at The Graduate Institute brings sustainability to the forefront through a week-long series of impactful events. As part of the Swiss Sustainability Week, a nationwide initiative driving environmental action, we create opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussions, explore innovative solutions, and take hands-on action for a greener future. This commitment to sustainability has earned widespread recognition, including the Award for Excellence in Student Leadership from the International Sustainable Campus Network. We have also been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative, UNEP Green Gown Awards, and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit for our efforts in fostering environmental awareness and action. Join us to learn, connect, and take tangible steps toward a more sustainable world. Together, we can make a difference!
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THE EVENTS BEGIN
Day 1 – Monday, 16th March 2026
Beginners Workshop to Balcony Gardening
Join the EC to explore the basics of home gardening and prepare for the upcoming reopening of the Community Garden this April! We’ll meet at the Jardin Botanique for a hands-on workshop where participants can learn how to start their own small garden at home – even on a balcony. Together, we will exchange gardening tips, plant seeds to take home, and build excitement for cultivating our shared green space behind the institute later this spring.
🕐 14:00 – 16:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Entrance Petal 1
Decolonizing Sustainability
[The North-South divide] from Corporate Greenwashing to Environmental Justice
Sustainability is often presented as a universal good, yet its dominant models frequently shift environmental and social costs onto the Global South. This panel critically examines corporate greenwashing, extractivism, and the politics of “green” transitions through perspectives from anthropology, sociology, and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL).
Join Prof. Lys Kulamadayil, Prof. Mark Zeitoun, Prof. Shaila Seshia Galvin, and Camille Delgrange for a discussion on what a truly decolonial and justice-centered approach to climate action could look like.
🕐 16:15 – 18:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Auditorium A2
Film Screening: Trop Chaud
In collaboration with the Festival du Film Vert, we present a screening of the documentary Trop Chaud. The film will be followed by a guest discussion with Ms. Anne Mahrer, one of the senior plaintiffs who led the historic climate lawsuit featured in the documentary, offering a firsthand perspective on strategic climate litigation.
🕐 18:30 – 20:30
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Auditorium A2
Day 2 – Tuesday, 17th March 2026
Women in the Green Economy Fair
This interactive exhibition highlights how women-led businesses from the Global South are advancing sustainable development. Attendees are invited to walk through the showcase, explore demo products, and learn about the diverse initiatives directly from the founders through in-person discussions, live sessions, or recorded stories.
🕐 10:00 – 14:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Petal 2 Reception
Info: No registration, just come over to join the exhibition!
Farm Visit to Jardin des Jeunes
Step outside the city to explore the realities of local food systems. Join us for a field visit to Jardin des Jeunes, a productive permaculture site managed collaboratively on leased agricultural land. A guided tour will highlight biodiversity practices, followed by an informal discussion circle to reflect on moving from awareness to active environmental engagement.
🕐 13:00 – 16:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Entrance Petal 1
Day 3 – Wednesday, 18th March 2026
Clothing Swap
Refresh your wardrobe in a sustainable way through our barter-based clothing swap. Instead of discarding unworn garments or constantly buying something new, take part in the exchange and give pre-loved pieces a second life. It’s a simple and practical way to reduce fashion waste while discovering items that match your style.
On the day of the swap, it’s pay as much as you can. All proceeds go to La Farce, so you can shop sustainably while supporting a good cause at the same time.
🕐 12:00 – 17:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Cafeteria Entrance
Drop-off: Bring up to two items in good condition to the GISA Office on Wednesday, March 4 / 11 (2–4 PM) or Friday, March 6 / 13 (1–3 PM).
Info: No registration, just come over to join the swap!
Career Event: Alumni Roundtable & Networking Apéro
Sustainability is a critical focus across diverse sectors. This panel and networking apero brings together alumni who have built impactful careers in international organizations, NGOs, and private enterprises. Join the conversation to explore interdisciplinary career pathways and real-world applications of sustainable development.
🕐 12:30 – 14:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Room S7
Emotions and Sustainability
Between environmental law, food systems, and ecology; why should we care?
Challenging strictly rationalist approaches to climate action, this interdisciplinary panel intertwines environmental psychology, law, and anthropology to examine how human emotions shape local and global decision-making. Through a dynamic discussion featuring Prof. Tobias Brosch, Prof. Anne Saab, Prof. Christophe Gironde, and Prof. Liliana Andonova, the event will explore consumer behaviors, relational responsibility, and regulatory practices across sectors like renewable energy and global food chains.
🕐 16:15 – 18:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Auditorium A2
Day 4 – Thursday, 19th March 2026
Custodians of wildlife
NGOs and IOs in the shadows of biodiversity, law and action
Conservation actors are on the frontlines of protecting endangered species, tackling illegal wildlife trade, habitat destruction, and human–wildlife conflict. Yet gaps persist between conservation promises and realities on the ground.
This panel will spotlight the work of NGOs and international organizations while examining whether current legal frameworks, advocacy strategies, and enforcement mechanisms are truly fit to safeguard biodiversity. Moving beyond critique, we will also explore concrete reforms and practical solutions for stronger wildlife protection in Switzerland and beyond.
Confirmed panelists include representatives from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Oak Foundation, Vulture Conservation Foundation, and Fondation Franz Weber.
🕐 18:00 – 20:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute, Auditorium A2
Day 5 – Friday, 20th March 2026
On the occasion of the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Sustainability Week 2026, Graduate Institute Students are invited to participate in a comprehensive series of learning sessions, hosted by 2050Today – the Geneva Climate Action Forum, dedicated to exploring the intricacies of measuring greenhouse gas emissions.
These two sessions offer a unique opportunity to delve into the fundamental aspects of “How to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions” and equip yourself with practical skills for addressing climate change challenges.
🗓️ Friday 13 March and Friday 20 March 2026
🕐 14:00 – 16:00
📍 Geneva Graduate Institute
Kitchen Battle
Watch creativity and low-waste cooking in action. Three teams will compete to transform “rescued” ingredients from La Farce into a full three-course menu. The dishes will be evaluated in a blind tasting by guests and a professional chef, with the winning team earning a zero-waste dinner at Refettorio Geneva.
🕐 16:30 – 20:00
📍 Grand Morillon Common Kitchens
Closing Apero
Celebrate the conclusion of Sustainability Week! Following the Kitchen Battle, join fellow attendees and organizers for a festive wrap-up featuring a DJ set, drinks, and a relaxed environment to reflect on the week’s events.
🕐 20:00 – open end
📍 Grand Morillon Restaurant
The GISA Environmental Committee 
