Date: 22-23 June 2015
This major international conference co-hosted by Trócaire, Maynooth University and St Patrick’s College Maynooth will bring together some of the world’s leading voices on climate science, climate justice and climate activism.
Climate change, and the injustice it represents, is one of the most serious challenges facing humanity. But while the evidence on human-made climate change is overwhelming, action to stem the rise in global temperatures lags far behind.
Through an interactive dialogue, the conference will examine how all sectors of Irish society can contribute towards building a low carbon future around principles of justice and equity.
Keynote speakers will include:
- Mary Robinson, UN Special Envoy on Climate Change
- Bill McKibben, environmental activist, author and co-founder of 350.org
- Professor Jean Pascale van Ypersele, Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Panellists will include:
- Bishop Theotonius Gomes, Auxiliary Bishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Dr. Áine Ryall, Lecturer in Environmental Law, University College Cork
- Fr. Sean McDonagh, Columban Missionary and activist
- Professor John Sweeney, Ireland’s leading climate scientist and Professor Emeritus at Maynooth University
- Dr David Mkwambisi, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- HE Jean-Pierre Thébault, French Ambassador to Ireland
2015 is a critical year in addressing the impending climate emergency and charting a path towards a more sustainable future, culminating in the UN Summit (COP21) in Paris in December.
The obstacles to progress are significant, and require new understandings and approaches to turn the evidence about human-made climate change into action.
This conference aims to:
- Inform, challenge and mobilise leaders and communities in Irish society around the science of climate impacts and the moral responsibility to address issues of climate injustice;
- Promote civic engagement on the issue of climate justice by linking evidence and policy to action;
- Inspire leaders with stories of transformative change in addressing sustainability and justice;
- Focus attention on the inter-linkages between religion, ethics and the struggle to climate mitigation and adaptation.
Conference Format
Monday 22 June – Registration from 15.00, conference opens at 16.00
The conference begins in the afternoon with a keynote address from Mary Robinson, followed by an examination of the meaning of climate justice, and closing with a networking reception and cultural event.
Tuesday 23 June – 9.00-17.30
The conference moves to an examination of climate science, the ethical imperative for action, with a strong focus in the afternoon on shifting from evidence to action.
Please register here to attend this event.
Please note the conference is open to the public but registration is essential.