Courtney McGrailShankill parish in Dublin has formed a new climate change initiative which seeks to raise awareness of the threats posed by climate change and to try to lower the carbon footprint within the area.
Shankill Action for a Green Earth (SAGE) was formally launched in the Resource Centre, St Anne’s Church at a meeting attended by nearly 60 people.
The chairman, Justin Kilcullen, outlined the objectives of the action group and Fr Seán McDonagh addressed the group on the recent papal encyclical Laudato Si’ in which he outlined the causes of climate change both natural, and more importantly, man-made.
Ruth Buggie of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) followed with a talk on practical measures which can be taken to reduce our carbon footprint. The role of the SEAI is “to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices”. It encourages energy efficiency and the development of low carbon energy sources in the home, businesses, schools and the community by providing advice, practical tips and grants.
Charlie Roarty then gave a short talk on Energy Action Ireland, whose main objective is to alleviate fuel poverty by providing insulation in the homes of older and low-income people. Diarmuid McAree spoke briefly about the importance of planting trees to offset carbon emissions and finally Pat Davey outlined the Carbon Calculator produced by Friends of the Earth by which means individuals can calculate their carbon footprint.
SAGE is supported by a range of organisations within Shankill, including the three churches, the Tidy Towns Committee and Shankill Business Community.