The third National Climate Stakeholder Forum (NCSF) has been officially opened today (10 May) at the Aviva Stadium by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan.

The National Dialogue on Climate Action (NDCA) is Ireland's national programme to engage, enable and empower stakeholders and citizens across society to take climate action. The NCSF is a central pillar of the NDCA and takes the form of a one-day workshop.

Today’s event, Chaired by Professor Alan Barrett, Director of the ESRI, will bring together nearly 200 stakeholders and policy makers – to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition to carbon neutrality.

The event will encompass a series of parallel breakout sessions, which focus on the following six Delivery Taskforces:

• Citizen Engagement and Climate Literacy

• Heat and Built Environment

• Land-use Review

• Just Transition Theme

• Sustainable Mobility Policy Leadership Group

• Offshore and Onshore Renewable

Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Ryan said: "The National Climate Stakeholder Forum is a vital way to bring policy makers, State agencies, regulatory bodies, representative groups, and community and voluntary groups together – from across Ireland to discuss our national approach to climate action. It is about identifying the most pressing challenges to our goal of achieving carbon neutrality, and putting forward the creative and practical solutions to address them to will ensure that no community and no place is left behind.

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"We have to address the climate challenge together. No one group has the solution. No one group is better, or worse, at climate action than another. This is not about blaming or shaming, but working collectively. Each one of us has a role to play and if we do work together climate action will present opportunities, not burdens, for every sector, every community, every business."

Professor Alan Barrett of the ESRI, added: "In 2022 I had the honour of chairing the first National Climate Stakeholder Forum. The forum provides an inclusive platform for considered debate among key stakeholders.

"We know from research that stakeholders and the public are aware of climate change, are supportive of climate action, and are eager to act. We also know that this transition is complex and challenging, and will require that we change many of the ways we work, travel, consume products and use services. This third NCSF is being held at a crucial time for Ireland, as we look to accelerate the delivery of our response to climate change – through the latest Climate Action Plan 2023. This forum represents a fantastic opportunity to identify challenges and co-create solutions to key climate challenges, and to take appropriate responsibility at all levels of society."

Participants at the forum will have the opportunity to examine key challenges in a way that is fair and equitable. Those present – from Government, State agencies, industry, the NGO sector, and communities and individuals – will aim to work together to deliver realistic but ambitious change.

The outputs of the day will be in the form of a short report – setting out the pathways to the delivery of climate actions for consideration by policy makers. This, in turn, will inform the next Climate Action Plan.