In the past hundred years, the planet’s average temperature has soared by about two degrees. While this may seem like a small account, it is unusual for the planet’s history. Earth’s record, preserved in ice cores and coral reefs, clearly demonstrates that the global average temperature is more or less stable over time. The seemingly small change of two percent up could bring enormous changes to the environment. Already, we observe longer summers, shrinking glaciers and trees flowering sooner. The potential future effects of drastic temperature changes include rising sea levels, more droughts and heatwaves, and stronger and more intense hurricanes. All of these will bring water scarcity, increased flooding, extreme heat and more (lethal) disease. Conflict and human migration are also likely to exacerbate. Across Ireland, one sees overwhelming consensus on the threat of climate change and the desire for a nation-wide action. According to the “Climate Change in the Irish Mind” report conducted by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and Yale’s University Program on Climate Change Communications in the summer of 2021, a staggering 96% believe that climate change is happening right now, 91% say that the issue is of personal importance to them and 90% argue that it is a national responsibility to act on climate change. The majority believe that Ireland should step up and play its part, with a high 90% indicating that citizens, businesses and the government should be doing more on minimising climate change and bringing greenhouse gas emissions down to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This panel will focus on developing a productive dialogue between professors, researchers, civil servants, climate activities and people working in sustainable development. As an organisation with a strong focus on a two-way communication, we want to ensure that professionals and lay people know the facts, exchange old ideas and generate new insights as to what can be done before it becomes too late. In particular, we will talk about: 

• What are the main threats of climate change?

 • What role does the Irish government have in reducing greenhouse gas emissions? 

• How businesses in Ireland should steer towards a green future? 

• Is it hopeless for individuals to do little things to conserve the environment? 

SPEAKERS: 

Diarmuid Torney, Co-director of the DCU Centre for Climate and Society 

Marion Briggs, Sustainability Manager at HealthBeacon and Chair of the Board of Friends of the Earth, Ireland 

Sarah Elsaid, Public Policy Advisor, Strategist and Board Member