Meath Climate Academy hosts inaugural community training event

Over 60 participants took part in the inaugural Meath Climate Academy training event which took place in Meath County Council's headquarters, Buvinda House.

The event was aimed at people concerned about the climate crisis and who want to take positive climate action as an individual and within their communities. The training aimed to give people the knowledge and skills to start their own climate conversation. The event didn’t just focus on the science of the climate crisis but covered a range of actions that can be taken to address the climate emergency and also covered the important topic of climate justice. 

It was opened by Meath County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Wayne Harding, who reinforced his and his elected members colleagues’ commitment to show leadership in climate action. 

A wide and diverse range of speakers participated in the event with keynote speaker Dr Cara Augustenborg explaining the science of climate change and the impact is it having on our world. Dr Augustenborg’s presentation detailed the urgency of the situation and painted a frightening picture of a very difficult world if we don’t take immediate climate action. However, there is hope, fortunately it is not too late to act and technology will play a huge part in solving the climate crisis, she stated.

Caroline Corrigan, Meath County Council Climate Action Officer and Cllr David Gilroy, chairperson of the Climate Action Forum (CAF) outlined the work of the Climate Action Team and CAF today and plans for the future.

The collapse of biodiversity was another area of huge interest to participants and Padraic Fogarty, campaigns officer with Irish Wildlife Trust, detailed the extent of biodiversity loss within Ireland and that up to a million species could be lost by 2030 if we do not take action to protect our wildlife. Biodiversity was a critical topic to cover as it is directly impacted by the climate crisis and must be considered as part of the climate crisis. Indeed back in July Meath County Council declared not just a Climate Emergency but a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.

Other speakers included Ali Sheridan, Gavin Harte and Heather Leeson who spoke about 'Sustainability, Sustainable Energy Communities' and 'Sustainable and Healthy Eating' respectively and outlined areas where individuals can have a direct positive impact on climate action. Bobby McCormack from Development Perspectives challenged our views on climate justice and equality and how we must embrace the Sustainable Development Goals. Finally, to break up a long day of training comedian and self-titled ‘Climate Worrier’, Colm O’Regan entertained through the mid-afternoon slump.

 Writer and illustrator Oisin McGann recorded the day through art work, capturing the salient points from the speakers and the speakers themselves. This art work will now go on permanent display around the council buildings.  

One of the highlights was the presentation made by Sarah Donnelly and Ava Tully from Duleek National School who, along with their classmates, wrote a book about climate change taken from the perspective of a koala.

Every effort was made to make the event as sustainable as possible including a vegetarian menu using local and in season produce, no paper handouts, no plastics, lanyards made for waste material that can be reused again and the small amount of leftover food was donated to a local charity. Environmentally friendly goodie bags were also distributed at the end of the event and included a number of books which could be read and re-gifted and a native Irish tree sapling. A prize draw was held at the end of the event with winners nominating schools to receive an Irish native tree.

Caroline Corrigan, Meath County Council Climate Action Officer said: “We were delighted with the attendance, it’s a big ask to expect people to give up their Saturday for a full day of training. Our speakers were very well received and it was great to have so many like-minded people in the one room, it was refreshing to see the passion the participants had for climate action, biodiversity and the environment”.

Meath Climate Academy plans a schools climate summit for 22nd February.