Climate Justice Day of Action: Uniting communities across Ireland in a powerful display for immediate climate action

And they’re off! Yesterday, we kicked off our general election campaigning with a nationwide Climate Justice Day of Action, uniting communities across Ireland in a powerful display for immediate climate action. With the general election approaching, participants from Dublin, Tipperary, Carlow, and beyond urged voters to make real and radical climate justice a central issue in the electoral conversation, pressing candidates to prioritise a sustainable future.

From canvassing to ‘Cuppas for Climate’ (climate conversations), activists from Inchicore, Carlow, Ballinteer, Tipperary and Galway, to name a few, went out into their communities to talk to neighbours, friends and wider community about the need to use our voice to demand bold climate action in the upcoming elections. Activists discussed the injustice of our Government allowing unlimited gas guzzling data centre growth, as well as the urgent need to rapidly expand retrofitting and insulation for all in our communities, not just those who can already afford it.

Members of the BOLD Climate Action Group of older activists took to Dublin City Centre Grafton at 1 pm for a visually striking stunt themed “Time is Running Out—Act Now.” In this event, one participant dressed as Old Father Time, and others wore large clocks displaying “5 minutes to midnight” as a symbol of the urgent need for climate action. Carol-Anne O’Brien, organizer for BOLD, noted,

Today, older generations have stood up as bold climate activists, showcasing that we’re ready to hold politicians accountable for creating a sustainable future for old and young. The same root causes that are harming the environment are the things that cause huge social inequality because wealth is not shared evenly.

This is the beginning of Friends of the Earth’s general election campaigning and further events are scheduled in the run up to polling day on the 29th of November. 

And there’s more to come! 

This weekend, Dundalk Friends of the Earth, in collaboration with CATU Louth, will hold a “Vacancy Walk” on Saturday, November 16th, at 11 am, starting from McDonald’s Car Park at Dundalk Shopping Centre. This event will highlight vacant housing as a solution for sustainable, affordable homes, encouraging the restoration of derelict properties in the town center. Participants will walk through areas with vacant buildings, advocating for housing policies that prioritise people over profit. A Friends of the Earth Dundalk spokesperson said:

We envision a future where homes are valued as spaces for communities to thrive, not just as investment properties. Inaction on sustainable housing solutions has locked young people out of the housing market, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Addressing the housing crisis by retrofitting leaky homes and dealing with vacancy in our towns and cities is a climate issue. We need to cut down emissions, recycle what exists, and build liveable communities so people can take public transport or choose active travel to get where they need to go.

Other events planned include public talks in Buncrana, leafleting in Skibbereen, Naas, and more. Get in contact for a more full list of events and activities!

Climate justice can’t wait. At Friends of the Earth, we want to empower and support communities to challenge candidates on their climate plans and hold them to account after the Government is formed. For decades, people across Ireland have shown that there is real appetite for a Government that values people and the planet over profit. Environmental and climate activists have paved the way for real, ambitious climate justice that can break down wealth inequality and ensure fairer, sustainable and properly managed distribution of resources. Climate action that tackles poverty and reduces pollution is urgently needed in order to protect the environment that we love . Action on climate is action in solidarity with communities across the globe who are facing the effects of climate breakdown now.

Friends of the Earth will also be organising a political party climate and environment' discussion about the next phase of Ireland’s climate action journey with The DCU Centre for Climate and Society, Friends of the Earth Ireland, and Stop Climate Chaos. This Climate Hustings will be on the 20th November at 9.30am at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin. Register now for the Climate Hustings!

~ Blog by Rosi Leonard, Network Development Coordinator