Mary Robinson Climate Conference in Mayo to highlight power of communities creating change
Chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, will formally open the Mary Robinson Climate Conference in Ballina next week.
The conference, which will take place from Wednesday to Friday (July 5 to 7) as part of the Ballina 2023 programme of events, features a packed programme that will bring together voices from all sectors of society and academia to share their climate experiences and discuss pathways for a sustainable future by further empowering communities under the theme 'Communities Creating Change'.
Over the three days, delegates will also enjoy topical sessions, a bike buffet led by Ballina Chamber of Commerce, a climate-focused art exhibition in Ballina Civic Offices entitled What we Stand to Lose, and a series of field trips showcasing local climate action projects, including the Enniscrone Dunes project, Oweninny Wind Farm, the Ox Mountains and the Ripple Ballina project, which explored how a community in Ballina transformed green space with the use of rainwater.
Susan Heffernan, project manager at The Mary Robinson Centre said: “This conference is a really important event for Ballina and The Mary Robinson Centre, gathering communities, activists, researchers and industry together to meet, engage and connect. This is a key step in creating a dynamic for community climate action and we’re excited to create this opportunity for Irish communities.”
Speakers at the event will include chairpersons Dr. Audrey Morley and Dr. Gordon Bromley from the University of Galway, Dr. Kevin Anderson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change at the University of Manchester, Adele Mealey of the Creative Ireland Programme, Dr. Raymond Flynn, senior lecturer at the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Ms. Saoirse Exton, the Secretary General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, Dr. Eimear Cotter, director, Office of Evidence and Assessment at the EPA, and Dr. Cathy Burke of Irish Doctors for the Environment.
On Wednesday, July 5, a gathering of young people will meet with Mary Robinson, US Ambassador Claire Cronin and French Ambassador Vincent Guérend, facilitated by University of Galway President Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh to discuss youth leadership for sustainability from a global and local perspective. Young people interested in participating in this forum are invited to contact info@maryrobinsoncentre.ie to express their interest.
PRIVILEGE
Looking forward to the conference, Ballina 2023 director and CEO of Moy Valley Resources IRD, Annette Maughan, said: “It is a huge privilege to host an event of this significance in Ballina as part of the Ballina 2023 programme of events, and we in Moy Valley Resources are also proud to support an event that highlights the power of communities to lead out on climate action.”
Leaders in the climate action space, conference partners Mayo County Council, were the first local authority in the country to employ a climate action officer and are the lead authority and host for the Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) for the Atlantic Seaboard North.
Conference sponsors IPB, the lead insurer to the Irish public sector, together with Mayo County Council and The Mary Robinson Centre have invited local authority climate action staff from around Ireland to a national, face-to-face facilitated networking event on Wednesday, July 5, where climate action officers can share their experiences and work together on developing new strategies to empower communities to address climate change.
Mayo County Council's climate action officer, Laura Dixon, commented: “Mayo County Council is delighted to be partnering on this important event, continuing the important work of Mary Robinson in relation to climate action and climate justice, and raising awareness of the importance of climate action at a local level.
“In 2022, Mayo County Council was named as the winner of the first Climate Change Award in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards for the Mayo Decarbonising Communities Network Project, and we look forward to continuing our work in this area.”
Head of sustainability at IPB Insurance, Laura Smith, added: “Insurance is about protecting your tomorrows, today. As a mutual insurer, IPB provides insurance to our members who, as local authorities, are dedicated to supporting their respective communities. Our commitment to supporting our members during this transformative period, as they lead the way in climate transition, is important to us. Our commitment to sustainability is not just a box to check, but a commitment to creating a better world for generations to come.”
Ballina is fast becoming a national leader on community climate action, with a number of community-led initiatives addressing climate action and sustainability, including the Ballina Green Town initiative, which has set an ambition for Ballina to become Ireland’s Greenest Town.
Elsewhere, Ripple Ballina recently became the first Irish winner of a New European Bauhaus Award in the Reconnecting with Nature category, and Ballina Chamber of Commerce has recently been recognised with the Sustainability & the Sustainable Development Goals Award in the National Chambers Ireland Awards.
In 2021, Ballina Community Clean-up Group with their ‘Beelieve in Ballina’ biodiversity initiative represented Ballina in the IPB Pride of Place Awards and took home the national award in the population category over 5,000.
The conference is also sponsored by Eirgrid Group, who operate and develop the electricity system in Ireland, and their radical transformation of power provision for future generations through renewable energy sources will also be highlighted during the event.
The Mary Robinson Climate Conference forms part of the Ballina 2023 programme of events and is a key component of the Ballina 2023 RISE Legacy Programme which, in keeping with the conference theme, aims to upskill, empower and build capacity within the community, creating a strong legacy that will keep delivering long after 2023 is over.
The Mary Robinson Climate Conference is open for registration, with limited spaces remaining. Tickets start from just €40 for two days and the event is open to the public. Visit www.maryrobinsoncentre.ie/climate-conference to register. For more information on the Ballina 2023 programme of events, visit www.ballina2023.ie.