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Minister Joe O’Brien hosts Community Climate Action Showcase

  • over 230 delegates from the community, voluntary and youth sector attend the event in Dublin Castle
  • showcase of experiences and best practice on community based climate action
  • Minister welcomes opportunity to exchange ideas

The Minister of State for Community Development, Charities and Integration, Joe O’Brien, today (Tuesday 21 November) hosted the first Community Climate Action Showcase in Dublin Castle.

The event was held to recognise and promote the contribution of the community and voluntary sector in tackling climate change.

The event focussed on the pivotal role of communities in influencing behaviour around climate measures, the role of young people in driving community climate action and strategies for getting communities actively involved and raising awareness.

There were also a number of community projects presenting details on the innovative climate projects they’re delivering on the ground in their local communities, such as:

  • Bounce Back Recycling, a Galway based social enterprise involved in the recycling of mattresses and furniture. Martin Ward from the Galway Traveller Movement spoke about how Bounce Back Recycling is supporting the circular economy while providing employment to members of the Travelling community. The organisation is supported under the department’s Community Services Programme.
  • Aisling Maloney, Youth Work Ireland, Lilian Gleave, a Climate Ambassador from An Taisce and Adam Foley, Chairperson of Fingal Comhairle na nÓg gave a presentation about the National Youth Assembly on Climate which took place in March this year. The Assembly made recommendations to Government in relation to sustainable travel, circular economy, community engagement and public investment.
  • Abbeyleix was recently named as Ireland’s tidiest town. Mark Clancy from Abbeyleix Tidy Towns spoke about how their success was down to people of all ages bringing a variety of skills to implement local initiatives.
  • Volunteer Ireland, CEO Nina Arwitz spoke about how the Community Volunteers programme is helping to find nature-based solutions to climate adaptation.

Minister O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to welcome everyone here today. We have people from all over the country who are making a positive contribution to our national effort to address climate change.

“Over the past number of years I have been visiting community projects across Ireland and in many of them I have been impressed by the innovative climate initiatives they are delivering across many climate action areas including biodiversity, sustainable travel, energy efficiency and the circular economy.

“I wanted to organise today’s event to recognise that work but to also facilitate an exchange of ideas and to encourage all communities to look at how they might implement climate focused projects.”

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, addressed the Showcase, noting the impressive efforts made by all in attendance.

He and encouraged communities to continue to identify creative, practical and impactful actions to arrest harmful climate change.

Minister Ryan stated:

“There clearly is so much good work happening across the country to fight climate change — work being done by grass-roots, community and voluntary groups, by highly motivated individuals and clusters. You are the people driving action and bringing your neighbours, friends and families with you and I am very grateful for your dedication.

“From 2024, we are going to roll out a government communications and engagement campaign, which will be about hearing your climate story and listening to the climate solutions and ideas that you know will work best for your community. We are never going to address climate from the top down, or if we blind people with science or point the finger. We are only going to address it if we work together, if we listen to and learn from one another, ensuring that every place matters and every person matters in our responses.”

Notes

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities

The five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland sets out a long-term vision for our communities in Ireland. It sets a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the coming decade. The Strategy was co-produced by the Department of Rural and Community Development, Central and Local Government colleagues, and the community and voluntary sectors.

The event contributes to delivery of Objective 11 of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - supporting community development and local development to proactively engage with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

List of exhibitors at the Community and Voluntary Climate Action Showcase:

  • Department of Transport
  • Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO)
  • SEAI
  • ILDN
  • Youghal Blue & Green Community Network
  • East Cork – ‘Wild Work’ Helping People, Help Nature, Help People - A Local Development Led Initiative’
  • PPN Climate Champions
  • Young Social Innovators
  • Dublin Volunteer Centres
  • ECO-UNESCO

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