The Minister of State for Community Development, Charities and Integration, Joe O'Brien TD has hosted the first Community Climate Action Showcase in Dublin Castle.

The Community Climate Action Showcase focused on the role of communities and young people in influencing behaviour around climate measures as well as the strategies for getting communities actively involved and raising awareness. This event recognised and promoted the contribution of the community and voluntary sector in tackling climate change.

There was a number of community projects which presented details about the innovative climate projects they are delivering in their local communities, such as:

• Bounce Back Recycling , a Galway based social enterprise involved in the recycling of mattresses and furniture. Martin Ward from the Galway Traveller Movement spoke about how Bounce Back Recycling is supporting the circular economy while providing employment to members of the Travelling community. The organisation is supported under the Department’s Community Services Programme.

• Aisling Maloney, Youth Work Ireland , Lilian Gleave, a Climate Ambassador from An Taisce and Adam Foley, Chairperson of Fingal Comhairle na nÓg gave a presentation about the National Youth Assembly on Climate which took place in March this year. The Assembly made recommendations to Government in relation to sustainable travel, circular economy, community engagement and public investment.

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• Abbeyleix was recently named as Ireland's tidiest town. Mark Clancy from Abbeyleix Tidy Towns spoke about how their success was down to people of all ages bringing a variety of skills to implement local initiatives.

• Volunteer Ireland , CEO Nina Arwitz spoke about how the Community Volunteers programme is helping to find nature-based solutions to climate adaptation.

Minister O'Brien said: "Over the past number of years I have been visiting community projects across Ireland and in many of them I have been impressed by the innovative climate initiatives they are delivering across many climate action areas including biodiversity, sustainable travel, energy efficiency and the circular economy."

Mr O'Brien said he wanted to organise the event to recognise the work of community projects but to also "facilitate an exchange of ideas and to encourage all communities to look at how they might implement climate focused projects."

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, stated:

"There clearly is so much good work happening across the country to fight climate change — work being done by grass-roots, community and voluntary groups, by highly motivated individuals and clusters. You are the people driving action and bringing your neighbours, friends and families with you and I am very grateful for your dedication.

"From 2024, we are going to roll out a Government communications and engagement campaign, which will be about hearing your climate story and listening to the climate solutions and ideas that you know will work best for your community. We are never going to address climate from the top down, or if we blind people with science or point the finger. We are only going to address it if we work together, if we listen to and learn from one another, ensuring that every place matters and every person matters in our responses."