There was a buzz in Ballina earlier this week around the Mary Robinson Climate & Nature Conference, which brought together people deeply committed to climate action. As conference sponsors, we met many delegates at our exhibition stand where discussions covered every aspect of the climate issue.
The indomitable Mary Robinson addressed the audience with her trademark eloquence and passion. Her opening speech set the tone for the first session of the day, which hinged around the theme of "courage in crisis".
This was a conference with a genuinely personal touch: many of the speakers, including Hannah Daly and Elaine McGoff, referenced their children, their family and friends. The 'why' was clearly visible. Climate action is for humanity. It's about creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Here, the FuturEnergy Ireland team who attended the event share their highlights:
- Mary Robinson dancing onto the stage with Dr Omnia El Omrani to discuss the power of intergenerational wisdom in the climate justice fight. It showed her youthful spirit! - Anne Walsh
- Receiving a Project Dandelion pin from Laura Jessie Cook and being reminded by Mary Robinson that courage is not always loud and visible, "courage is quiet" - Aoife Mc Govern
- "We belong to the Earth, the Earth doesn't belong to us." A simple yet powerful reminder from Dr Elaine McGoff of An Taisce in her rousing keynote speech that was echoed throughout the day. Humankind is not in charge here! - Janine Thomas.
- "If children are the leaders of the future, where are the leaders today?". A powerful question asked by Dearbhla Nic Risteáird from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, whose speech received a standing ovation from the crowd. -Shannen Healy
- Meeting the highly motivated people from across civil society who were not afraid to engage in robust discussion, all working together to take collective action towards a more sustainable world – Niall Barrett
