In 2022, Climate Ambassadors completed 661 climate actions, directly engaging over 274,000 people, creating 2,671 climate communications, and reaching an estimated 5.6 million people.
The Climate Ambassador Awards were held on Friday, 18 November, serving to recognise the tremendous effort and dedication demonstrated throughout the year. 191 citizens from a wide range of backgrounds including Primary School teachers, Post Primary School students and teachers, university students, academics, farmers and businesspeople were all chosen to be Climate Ambassadors in 2022.
We asked two of the winners what they think of COP27.
COP has potential to transform climate negotiations
Criomhthann Morrison says the Taoiseach talked about legacy in his speech to COP27 attendees, and while Ireland has notable climate commitments and achievements, our country remains among the worst performers in the EU in the latest 2023 Climate Change Performance Index published during the conference.
Meanwhile, the majority of countries haven't brought forward their COP26 commitments yet, timelines are too long, financing is too low, accountability is too low, and we're still not getting fair representation for everyone who needs to be in the room - indigenous communities, women, LGBTQIA+ people, young people, disabled people, and other marginalised groups.
So, while COPs are important events for climate action, they still have a massive hole in meaningful dialogue and government action.
COP needs to consider agriculture and food systems
Ailbhe Gerard thinks we can resolve farming and our food system; not with big agri-business and GM technologies; but by decoupling agriculture from deforestation; empowering and engaging farmers, livestock keepers, fishers, aquaculturists, forest and woodland growers.
This means embracing both traditional good practices and innovations, while building on science-based evidence. Organic farming is acknowledged as a strategy of climate and diversity friendly agricultural practices.
COP needs to address and support these positive approaches; summarised by an 'agroecological approach' based on enriching soil, bringing communities together, planting diverse crops, considering if farmed animals are part of a sustainable food system; which species and how do they fit? In the Irish context, the role of grazing ruminants in contributing to, or mitigating climate change.
The Climate Ambassador Programme is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce and is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The programme trains and supports individuals to become climate leaders in their community. The programme has trained over 800 Climate Ambassadors since 2018.
The Environmental Education Unit operates all FEE programmes in Ireland – (Green-Schools, Green-Campus, Blue Flag, LEAF, YRE) along with national education and awareness raising programmes such National Spring Clean, Clean Coasts, IBAL, Climate Ambassador, GLOBE and Neat Streets.
Find out more at www.climateambassador.ie
This episode of Ecolution tells us how you can join the fight to save the planet.
Ecolution: How to become a Climate Ambassador
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