Climate ambassadors honoured
Cork can claim not just one but two new awarding winning climate ambassadors.
An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit announced twelve Climate Ambassador Awards for Outstanding Achievement recently.
Two of the awards went to UCC, recent graduate Sarah Bryant, and current student Sophie O’Callaghan.
The awards are an annual opportunity for climate ambassadors to connect and reflect, to recognise and celebrate their fantastic achievements.
Selected as Country Coordinator for Ireland with the 16th United Nations Conference of Youth Global Affairs Unit, Sarah Bryant campaigned for climate justice at home and abroad. Involved in many projects with UCC Dance Club, the highlight was a four-day environmental campaign as part of National Tree Week where fundraising resulted in over 500 native trees being planted.
Sarah also co-spearheaded the UCC Fighting World Hunger Student Coalition. Since moving to Edinburgh for her masters, she has held a vegetarian come dine with me with her new course mates. All of this (and more!) while submitting her final year dissertation answering the question ‘Whether sustainable food security can be achieved and if so, how?’.
Meanwhile, Sophie O’Callaghan was an integral part of a small team of committed climate ambassadors, formed from a love of bogs, with the aim to produce a documentary about Irish peatlands.
Their project came together very quickly, to an extremely high standard, while managing to capture unique and diverse perspectives from all over Ireland.
Sophie has a gentle tone that begs to be listened to, with incredible ideas, all about inclusion and fabulous branding.
Their completed ‘Bog Standard’ Film Project is a brilliant insight into community activists working today to protect and restore our native peatlands, with incredible storytelling and impeccable production throughout - an absolute must watch!
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, acknowledged the commitment of all climate ambassadors and their valuable work in communities, colleges and schools across Ireland.
He said: “Climate ambassadors are taking practical actions and inspiring others. Through their actions and communications, they demonstrate an extraordinary depth and diversity of knowledge and experience in their chosen areas.
“Change is happening, to give hope - thank you to the climate ambassadors for giving us that,” the Green Party leader added.
Initially due to take place in Dublin, the ceremony was shifted online due to current Covid-19 precautions.