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This event will cover the six topics, I have included a summary of what will be covered below. We will need a room big enough to facilitate six tables. The participants will move to each table during the event where a facilitator on each table will have questions to ask and will coordinate the session.
About this event
Have you been thinking a lot about the climate crisis lately? Would you like to learn more but not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered! Join us in Kerry MTU for our World Café with Concern Worldwide.
A climate chat that will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take action. This is an amazing opportunity to discuss one of the biggest challenges of our time. You’ll have the chance to hear many different perspectives on a range of climate related topics including climate justice, eco-anxiety, climate action, and biodiversity to name a few. Whether you’re a climate scientist or just learning about climate change, this is an event for you!
Topic 1: Climate Action
The aim of this discussion is to look at what is currently being done in terms of climate action and what more the participants think needs to be done. According to a recent Ireland Thinks poll, almost 1 in 2 people (46%) think the Government “is not doing enough, fast enough, to cut Ireland’s pollution”.
This conversation will expand internationally, nationally and look at local level climate actions. Some participants will be involved in local groups working at community level to either lobby for a positive change or carrying out projects.
There is also room to discuss here climate activism in its many forms such as climate striking. It would be interesting to hear from participants if this type of action makes them feel empowered, do they think it's working and where do they draw the line in terms of what they think is acceptable actions to take for them? E.g. is direct action going too far?
Some current climate issues which might come up are potential LNG terminals in Shannon and Cork, data centres in Ireland, the rights of nature bill, upcoming elections, the EU Green deal, recent farming protests across Europe.
Topic 2: Climate Justice
This discussion will focus on climate justice from a global standpoint e.g. how the Global North is responsible for the majority of emissions, but it is parts of the Global South that will experience the greatest impacts and have done the least to cause the problem. Issues such as climate finance and loss and damage will be discussed.
At a more local level we will take a look at inequalities within Ireland and how many other social justice issues are interconnected with the climate crisis. Topics such as the just transition and how this can be achieved in Ireland can be discussed. Participants might also like to share what climate justice means to them.
Topic 3: Eco-Anxiety
Eco-Anxiety is a term becoming increasingly popular as more people worry about the future due to climate change. The mental health impacts of this crisis are often talked about in relation to the younger generations as they will experience the greatest impacts. This has seen many young people standing up for their future and demanding action through groups such as the Fridays For Future youth striking movement started by Greta Thunberg.
Participants might like to share their own experiences of eco-anxiety but also what they do to manage and cope with this. For many people this can fuel them to join local groups and take action.
Topic 4: Climate and the work of Concern (Climate and Conflict)
This discussion is going to focus on how climate change relates to the work of Concern. The facilitator for this table will give a brief overview at the beginning of the discussion on the work of Concern and how the impacts of climate change are being considered in the work Concern does e.g. climate smart agriculture.
The specific topic for this discussion will focus on is the link between conflict and climate. This discussion will look at the role that conflict plays in furthering the climate crisis. It will also look at the impacts of conflict on people’s ability to be resilient to the impacts of climate change e.g. if there’s already a shortage of food supplies due to the conflict and then a heatwave or drought hits due to climate change, this further exacerbates the problem. In this situation people living in an area impacted by conflict could find it more difficult to ‘bounce back’ from this. There is also a bigger climate justice issue with conflict which some participants might raise as climate justice also requires social justice. But can there be social justice without peace?
Topic 5: Climate and the upcoming elections
This topic is going to get participants thinking about the upcoming general election. Participants will discuss the role they think climate change will play in these elections and if they think it will be a topic of concern for voters.
In 2019 there was a big push for climate action with the public being very concerned about this topic. Participants can look at how the situation has changed since then and if they think climate is still as important a topic to the public now as it was back then. If they feel this has changed, they could look at why this has happened. Also discuss what they feel are the most prominent issues for voters ahead of the upcoming election.
Topic 6: Biodiversity Crisis and the Climate Crisis
This topic is going to look at the interconnectedness of the biodiversity and climate crisis. The climate crisis is having a devastating impact on the natural world. Species are becoming increasingly threatened and some already extinct while ecosystems around the world are being wiped out at an alarming rate. This in turn is further increasing the speed of climate change.
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