Climate Conversations - Session V:  ‘The Call to New Horizons’  – Abbey Theatre
Channel: justmultimedia
Date: 2015-05-11

The Climate Gathering is working with Christian Aid, Ibec, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, The Environmental Pillar and Trócaire to stage a series of conversations, lectures and debates in 2015 with the theme “Bringing people together for a new understanding on climate change”.

Programme

18 March 2015 Launch Event: ‘Communicating the Challenge’ - Liberty Hall

26 March 2015 Session II: ‘A New Economy’ - The Stanley Quek Hall, TCD Biomedical Sciences Building

8 April 2015 Session III: ‘The Sustainable Use of Our Land’ - Guinness Storehouse

20 April 2015 Session IV: ‘Prophetic Voices’ - Christ Church Cathedral

10 May 2015 Session V:  ‘The Call to New Horizons’  – Abbey Theatre

Live web cast

Each of our Climate Conversation sessions is being broadcast live on the web. The next web cast will be available here from 19:00 GMT on Wednesday 8th April.

Webcast viewers can submit questions on Twitter using the hashtag #ClimateConversations – a selection of questions from tweeters will be put to the panel on the night.

Background

Following publication of the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) there can be little room for doubt about climate change and the long term risks that it brings for all our people.  Despite that clear message from the scientific community there is a lack of public confidence regarding our ability to play our part in addressing this challenge.  There is a need for greater collaboration and regulation at an international level but we also need a better understanding of what we can do in Ireland to reduce our emissions and what the implications would be for our country in adopting such an approach.

A number of organisations have come together to organise a series of conversations and debates in the early part of 2015 to try and promote greater understanding of what a low carbon future might bring for Ireland.  The collaboration between organisations focused on economic development, labour rights and social and environmental justice is symbolic of the greater cooperation we will need to change our response to the issue.  We seek to understand what cultural and social changes are needed, what costs and opportunities may arise and what economic model will best serve all our needs in making this transition.

This is why everyone needs to be in the conversation, not just the institutions supporting this initiative but every institution and every citizen with an interest in the future of this island and this planet.  We want to provide a safe space where different views can be expressed and shared.

The debates will be held at a time when our Government has to frame its own policy approach as part of the collective European position in the upcoming UN Climate negotiations in Paris in December 2015.  They could also be part of a wider national conversation as we emerge from the economic crisis and consider the future direction of our country, one hundred years on from the founding of our state.

This initiative has been prompted by a group of participants at previous Climate Gathering events, bringing on board a number of partner organisations. It is open to other interested organisations to join the process.  It is hoped that we can bring the public and the members of each of the participating organisations together at each venue. The events will be live streamed and the output shared in an open way.