Council supports Climate Action Week

Waterford City & County Council is one of many local authorities across the country hosting a wide range of events for National Climate Action Week.

This year the event takes place throughout this week, until Sunday, October 19.

Nationally, Climate Action Week is coordinated by An Taisce’s Climate Action Team, who describe it as 'Ireland’s largest pop-up climate festival.’ 

Cian Gill, Climate Action Officer with Waterford City and County Council said: “We’re incredibly lucky in Waterford to have a number of very creative organisations who are taking this opportunity to offer the public a chance to try something new or learn something new."

“Quite often we hear that people aren’t sure what Climate Action means – it’s a term that can seem vague, or perhaps technical or scientific," he said.

"So, for this special week we’re showing what it can look like on the ground, at an individual level.” 

Cian went on to comment: “Many of the events focus on consumption, and changing our thinking on it. This is a very accessible way to get into thinking and acting on climate. How much stuff do we buy? Is there another way to swap, reuse, or cut down on consumption? It can be as simple as that. Swap shops and repair training sessions are taking place during Climate Action Week.’

For those who want to dig deeper? ‘Use Your Voice’ is an all-day event for schools – a media literacy conference to encourage young people to think critically in an age of instant -and constant - information. There will also be a film night of movies about fast fashion looks to connect our purchasing habits to larger-scale global problems.

A spokesperson for Waterford City & County Council said: "Our attitudes towards everything from nature to renewable energy are influenced by what we hear and read, often online. It’s important to think about where this information is coming from."

Also happening during the week will be clinics for learning how to reduce your energy use at home and webinars on how local groups can help to protect marine species.

For the most up-to-date information on Climate Action Week, visit www.waterfordcouncil.ie.

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)