Malachy Hand, a local candidate for the upcoming local elections in South Roscommon, numbered amongst a large crowd in attendance at an information evening on ‘Our Changing Climate’, at Athlone Institute of Technology, on Thursday evening last, organised by Fianna Fáil Deputies Eugene Murphy TD, Robert Troy TD and Barry Cowen TD.
Keynote speaker on the night, Dr. Conor Murphy of the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units (ICARUS ) at Maynooth University addressed the gathering, outlining findings from recent studies which identified natural and human factors contributing to climate change.
Panellists Emer Burton, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI ), Thomas Ryan of the IFA and Siona Cahill, President of the Union of Students of Ireland later joined Dr. Murphy in addressing the gathering from each of their perspectives and debating man’s contribution to the problems presently experienced with climate. In terms of the Paris Agreement on emissions, Ireland is sorely behind with a potential of €600 million in fines which could be better spent elsewhere, they argued.
Attendees were invited to examine their own role in contributing to what has become a worldwide crisis, culminating in unusually hot spells such as that experienced last Summer and increased rainfall.
Malachy unites with the emerging voices of young people who are calling for immediate action worldwide to change our lifestyles which are having a detrimental effect on climate.
“As a voice for our young people, I feel that our youth must have a stronger say in implementing the recommendations of the Paris Climate Change agreement, as their futures are directly impacted by climate change such as the heat and drought experienced in Ireland last summer and the flooding witnessed over the past number of winters,” the local election candidate emphasised.
