Climate solutions identified

Climate change and the environment were the topics of in-depth discussion at a recent climate action seminar in West Cork.

The event, held in CECAS in Leap, saw speakers from community groups along with interested individuals come together to share knowledge and identify solutions based on the challenges they have encountered in their search for sustainable and regenerative solutions.

During the morning, presentations on the Sustainable Communities and the Wildwork biodiversity projects in South and West Cork were shared along with reflections on the challenges faced by people living on Cork’s offshore islands.

Details were also shared about Community Water Biodiversity Training from North Cork and from environment and climate projects from Cork’s Finnish EU project partners. Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West, and spokesperson on Environment, Climate Actions and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, delivered the keynote speech during the morning session and emphasised the importance of agencies and local authorities engaging in a social dialogue with local communities.

Joining via Zoom was Amelie Krug, Policy Officer from ECOLISE, who spoke about the Community Led Local Development (CLLD) and the Green New Deal which commits Europe to becoming a climate neutral continent by 2050.

Davie Philip of Cultivate.ie and eco-village Cloughjordan Ecovillage facilitated the afternoon seminar which was developed as part of an EU funded, LEADER Transnational Co-operation project, in conjunction with partner development companies in Finland, France, North Macedonia and Moldova.

The event was organised and hosted by SECAD Partnership, Avondhu Blackwater and Comhar na nOileán.