Looking back at the Global Day for Climate Action

On 12th November 2022, we took part in a Global Day of Climate Action during the COP27 UN Climate Talks. Here we reflect back on some of the activities we took part in, and organised, on the day. 

Friends of the Earth were proud to contribute an exciting and varied line up - with lots going on throughout the day - from a photo action to a climate themed comedy gig with Colm O’Regan.

The Photo Action at the Famine Memorial

Our first activity of the day was a photo action with the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. We gathered at the Famine Memorial at Custom House Quay in Dublin’s North Dock for what became a sunny, colourful and powerful gathering of all kinds of people standing up for people and planet. The photos appeared across the Irish press including the Irish Times,  RTE, The Journal and more. The action made a clear call to the Irish Government to show climate ambition and global solidarity at COP27.

We remembered Ireland’s own history of famine and stood in solidarity with communities experiencing extreme hunger as a result of the climate crisis and its underlying drivers - namely colonialism and exploitative capitalism. 

During the photo action we also called on the Irish Government to support the establishment of a “Loss and Damage Finance Facility” at COP27.

“Loss and damage” is a term used to describe severe climate impacts to which people cannot adapt. Examples include the extreme climate exacerbated drought that is raging across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia at the moment - where someone is dying every 48 seconds from hunger. Or the loss of land and homes on island nations due to salt water flooding and rising sea levels.

The vast majority of loss and damage has been caused by the emissions of rich countries in the global North - who are responsible for 92% of the excess emissions that are fuelling the climate crisis. But to date rich countries have refused to provide Loss and Damage Finance to help climate vulnerable countries deal with the climate chaos they’ve caused.

Climate Worrier Comedy Gig

We lightened things up on the evening of the 12th and invited the Friends of the Earth community to join us for some laughter as we watched Irish comedian Colm O’Regan’s new comedy show ‘Climate Worrier’. Colm spoke about his show as being his way of contributing to the climate movement - he not only wants to make people laugh, he wants to inspire and activate people into doing something to help solve the crisis too. It was refreshing to see the community in real life after Covid and together we shared plenty of laughs and a great catch-ups before and after the show. 

Panel discussion with Colm O’Regan & special guests

The comedy gig was followed by a discussion with Colm and other special guests including:

• Ailbhe Smyth - feminist and LGBTQ activist in Ireland

• Colm O'Regan - comedian

• John Sharry - a social worker, child and family psychotherapist who specialises in climate anxiety

• Karen Aguiar - from Go Dance for Change which produces social spaces and movement for social change through dance

After the gig and panel discussion the community gathered for a drink and a catch up in the Smock Alley bar, making the whole day a special and impactful occasion for the growing Friends of the Earth community.