SUSTAINABLE STORIES AND CONVERSATIONS FOR A LOW-CARBON GALWAY CITY
Thursday 21st – 19.30 – 21.30 – PorterShed, Galway
cohosted with Cultivate as part of the Nationwide Convergence Festival 2017
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT * WELLBEING * COMMUNITY RESILIENCE * GREEN COMMUNITIES * LOCAL FOOD * SOCIAl ENTERPRISE * ZERO WASTE & CIRCULAR ECONOMY * SUSTAINABLE CITIES * LOW CARBON TRANSITIONS * THE COLLABORATIVE ECONOMY * CO-HOUSING & GREEN BUILDING * COMMUNITY ENERGY * ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION * SOCIAL INNOVATION * LOCAL CULTURE * PERMACULTURE * SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS * CLIMATE ACTION
This evening event aims to be inspired from increased engagement in community-led initiatives, social enterprises, climate actions, health and wellbeing projects in Galway City and County. A scene-setting presentation framing local action in the Sustainable Development Goals will be followed by a number of local projects telling their own story. A facilitated cafe conversation will be hosted to bring a deeper understanding of common ground and actions that might enable more local initiative.
The final element of the evening is a presentation from Paul Allen, a Director at the Centre of Alternative Energy in Machynlleth in Wales and the editor of Zero Carbon Britain report, who will share their lessons and explore how we might empower citizens and catalyse change here.
This event is organised in partnership with An Áit Eile, Collaborative Ways, Post Carbon Galway. Galway City Community Network and supported by the EPA, An Taisce, Galway City Council, Galway County Council and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
For more information on Nationwide events.. please visit http://www.cultivate.ie/convergence-festival
Galway engagement will continue with a
“Climate Change and Health” on Friday 22nd September at NUI Galway:
The Challenges and the Opportunities”, a conference hosted by NUI Galway and partners. The conference will take place at the Institute for Lifecourse and Society on Upper Newcastle Road, featuring discussions on the impacts of climate change around the globe, as well as highlighting responses to protect and improve human health. Diverse local and international speakers include the Lancet Countown’s Dr. Nicholas Watts; UNICEF UK’s Joni Pegram; the Government of Ireland Department of Communications Climate Action & Environment’s John O’Neill; and the HSE’s Dr. Ina Kelly. Conference partners include the Irish Forum for Global Health, the Development Studies Association of Ireland, Trócaire, the Ryan Institute, the Irish Forum for International Agricultural Development, Galway City Community Network, the HSE, and Irish Aid. For more information on the conference please visit https://climatehealthirl2017.eventbrite.ie
– the annual Convergence Community Harvest Dinner will take place this year as part of the European Sustainable Communities Initiative – http://www.ecolise.eu
on Sunday Oct 1st from 1-4pm Venue Arus na nGael
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/only-60-years-of-farming-left-if-soil-degradation-continues/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/25/treating-soil-like-dirt-fatal-mistake-human-life
http://www.fao.org/soils-2015/events/detail/en/c/338738/
http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/bees-facing-threat-of-extinction-457412.html
The aim of Convergence is to…
- Illuminate the potential of community-led action on climate change, wellbeing and sustainability
- encourage public participation and increased citizen engagement in local community initiatives
- listen for stories that help inspire a community led approach and make pathways visible for others to follow
- develop the capacity of ‘community champions’, ‘green ambassadors’, ‘place makers’ and ‘social innovators’
- build bridges and strengthen partnerships between sectors as well as increasing cohesion between all stakeholders
- promote Irish community projects across Europe
- raise awareness and localise the Sustainable Development Goals and climate targets
Convergence brings people and ideas together. Since its beginning in 2000, the festival has featured some of the most inspiring thinkers and doers both from Ireland and abroad, and championed the changes needed to create a sustainable economy, a healthy society and a flourishing environment.
This fortnight of workshops and conferences held across the country sets out to inspire a cooperative and commons approach to job creation, building and stewarding shared resources, strengthening resilience and transforming our local communities.
This will be the third year that Third Space Galway have cohosted Convergence in Galway in partnership with Cultivate, which aims to develop the competencies of citizens to better engage in local projects. ‘We believe this will lead to healthier and happier communities, as well as being a major driver of success in reaching climate targets and Sustainable Development Goals. Our hope is that communities might also be better positioned to benefit from the deep economic and social changes that will take place as we make the transition to a low carbon society.’
Convergence 17 is supported by the EPA, DCU and the Environmental Pillar. Galway City Council and Galway County Council and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment are supporting this programme through the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund.