CONFERENCEWhat is the UL Eco-Council?
The University of Latvia Eco-Council is a consultative and coordinating collegial body that supports the University's Head of Sustainable Development and management in advancing environmental sustainability, and serves as the University's Eco-Committee within the international Eco-Campus/Eco-Schools framework.
The Eco-Council was established as a joint initiative of the University of Latvia Student Council, the LU Study Development and Governance Improvement Programme, and the LU Academic Centre Development Programme - meaning the Council's creation was, in part, the Student Council's own decision and initiative, not something introduced to students from outside. Under the Council's founding statute (Nolikums, approved by Rector's order No. 1-4/457 of 29.10.2025), the Council is responsible for the implementation of the Eco-Campus programme's steps, and for promoting environmental and student interests at the University in cooperation with the University of Latvia Student Council.
The Council's tasks are to:
- promote the development of environmental sustainability measures and initiatives at the University of Latvia;
- promote the University of Latvia's participation in the Eco-Campus programme and other equivalent sustainability certification and assessment systems;
- submit and advance proposals to the LU Head of Sustainable Development and University management regarding sustainability priorities and strategic issues in the field of environmental sustainability;
- provide proposals and opinions on existing draft documents, regulatory enactments, reports, plans, strategies, project and programme plans and reports, as well as any other available documentation related to the work of the Council.
The Council also has the right to invite experts and to form commissions and working groups, and to review and prioritise proposals relevant to its work.
Composition
The Council consists of no more than 15 members. The composition of the Council and its Chair are approved by the Rector of the University of Latvia with an order. The composition of the Council includes:
- a representative of the Infrastructure Management Service;
- a representative of the Institutional Development Centre;
- a representative of the Communications Department;
- a representative of the Infrastructure Development Department;
- representatives of the University of Latvia's academic and general staff;
- five student representatives put forward by the University of Latvia Student Council;
- the Head of Sustainable Development.
Candidates for membership - whether students or staff - must have no disciplinary or academic ethics violations, and student representatives must additionally be in good academic standing.
Students elect their own representatives and made the Eco-Council student led society whose purpose is to engage with sustainability.
The five student seats on the Eco-Council are not filled by appointment from University administration: electing Eco-Council representatives ("Ekopadomes pārstāvju vēlēšanas") is a standing agenda item and formal vote at the General Assembly (Kopsapulce) of the University of Latvia Student Council, meaning students themselves deliberately choose who represents them on the Council each year.
Current members of the Eco-Council:
- Chair – Renārs Kairis, Head of Sustainable Development, University of Latvia
- Vice-Chair – Adrians Zutis, Head of Social affairs of the UL Student Council
- Agrita Briede, Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Iveta Šteinberga, Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Jānis Brizga, Leading Researcher and Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Kitija Balcare, Leading Expert, Institutional Development Centre
- Guntars Greters, Director, Infrastructure Management Service
- Ieva Stare, Director, Communications Department
- Līva Rutkovska, Project Manager, Infrastructure Development Department
- Marta Estere Skrābāne, student, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Kārlis Bergs, student, Faculty of Science and Technology
- Raitis Riters, student, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences
- Gustavs Nagainis, student, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences
The University of Latvia is open to cooperation in the field of environmental sustainability. All members of the University of Latvia community are invited to approach the Eco-Council with initiatives, proposals, and an interest in active participation.