Climate Cocktail Club's ninth Dublin edition hosted a superstar panel of leading nature voices to speak truth to the scale of nature restoration required across Ireland and beyond. The tapestry that is nature and our human connection with it provided the backdrop to a thought- and emotion-provoking night, blended with the usual level of entertainment and networking (fuelled by delicious foraged Irish fruit cocktails).
"All the pieces of the jigsaw were in the room, participating, engaging, listening, sharing. The event was accessible, immersive and informative, bringing landowners and farmers cheek-and-jowl with financiers, corporates and activists. The format of the Climate Cocktail Club provides a space to break down perceived barriers and connect changemakers on meaningful actions, on immediate next steps, all on an even-keel." Ray Ó Foghlú
"There is no opportunity without the root challenge, no radical solution without the chronic problem. The devasted baseline of nature today provides the inspirational opportunities for urgent action at scale tomorrow." Tom Popple
Kicked off by our own Tom Popple, framing the challenge and opportunity of nature restoration at scale, and optimistically positioning the increasingly populist and protectionist governments across Europe (and incoming US) as a chance for bold and radical private sector action. Pointing to the surge in corporate net zero commitments during the last Trump-era and the meteoric rise of nature on the corporate risk register.
The audience were transported to the heart of rural Ireland through an immersive experimental audio-visual performance by Heather Griffin and Patrick Mulvihill of Living Rhythms that explored the past, present, and regenerative futures of rural Ireland. Part of the Dinnseanchas project, this piece is inspired by the Atlantic uplands and the community of Lyreacrompane in North Kerry. Through a collage of sound, visuals, and narrative, Living Rhythms invited the audience to tune into the subtle rhythms of place and reconsider their relationship with rural spaces.
"Our first Climate Cocktail Club was a real pleasure. We were delighted to showcase our evolving Living Rhythms audio-visual piece. Created as part of the Dinnseanchas residency programme, which brought the sights and sounds of rural north Kerry to a Dublin audience. This work, along with the variety of speakers on the night, reflects the urgent need to embrace different view points and perspectives to navigate towards more just and regenerative ways of living in harmony with the natural world. We appreciate the Climate Cocktail Club for making space for these conversations." Heather Griffin
"It was amazing to have such a genuine and engaged platform to speak to a group already well-versed in the general challenges and familiar with some of the suggested solutions. This gave us the chance to really dig into the nuanced, complex issues we’re facing. It was also a great opportunity to meet new people in the space, connect with like-minded organisations, and speak with potential funders. Ultimately, finance is critical to supporting the recovery of natural systems and nature." Matt Smith
The event was curated in partnership with Hometree, an Irish charity based out of Clare with a bold ambition to lead the protection and regeneration of Wild Atlantic Rainforest across Ireland. Taking us through their journey, Matt Smith Co-Founder and CEO of Hometree, presented the devasting reality of the status of natural spaces in Ireland. Putting an emotional and honest take on the well-trod statistic of Ireland being the most nature-depleted country in Europe with the third-lowest forest cover (under 12%, only behind The Netherlands and Malta, further over 98% of Irish trees are non-native species). The visionary leadership of Hometree came to the fore as Matt invited us to pause, reflect and connect with how we feel about this truth and the meaning it has to drive us all to take positive action. Ray Ó Foghlú, Development Lead at Hometree, hammered home the reality of wild natural and ancient forests in Ireland, as they exist now only in places too difficult for farmers to reach or at least too uneconomical to convert to productive land. In crags and gulleys, lonely ridges and upland parcels, to isolated islands and fragmented fields. But it was not without hope, an open welcome for all to join Hometree, local communities and farmers, to collaborate, finance and regenerate Irelands' lost Rainforest.
Diving deeper into the solutions that exist to mobilise, finance and scale nature restoration globally, Dr Dan Exton, Director of Strategy at rePLANET, shared insights and perspectives with Tom Popple. Recognising that "nature" as a metric or indicator needs to be on the reporting roster for all organisations, Dan took us through the value of undertaking materiality assessments, nature and biodiversity footprints, setting ambitious nature restoration targets, and exploring nature financing across value chains. rePLANET combine decades of experience leading academic expeditions across global biodiversity hotspots through Operation Wallacea with innovative business-focused solutions on nature financing. Pioneering a new nature and biodiversity uplift methodology for the nascent voluntary nature credit market.
Tackling the climate and biodiversity crises is a long fight, we need head, hand and heart involved to figure out solutions, put them into action and persuade people to join in. The climate cocktail club had all three. Yvonne Buckley
Ray took the reins again to the lead the panel discussion, alongside Dan, Yvonne Buckley, Co-Director of the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water; and Professor of Zoology, Trinity College Dublin, Marina Conway, Former CEO, Western Forestry Co-op, Thomas Duffy, Former Macra President & CEJA VP; and Dairy Farmer. A real-who's-who of subject matter experts, blending forestry with farming, academia with business. The panel unpacked the complexity of what it really would take to have meaningful restoration and what trade-offs exist. Recognising that landscapes in Ireland are a woven blend of people, communities and culture, as well as economic, productive and worked. The challenge of often perverse incentives were explored, such as the subsidy-sustained sheep and livestock (beef) sector, whilst dairy could thrive financially. The overwhelming bureaucracy and unresponsiveness of government bodies and incentive programmes - including forestry. The crucial oversight of listening and including the myriad of local perspectives (and histories) in the tapestry that is rural Ireland. Finally, that there is no Curlew Equivalent, when we need or want to value nature or its loss, to drive meaningful protection and financing of restoration.
The cheek-and-jowl panel was a refreshing and welcomed debate on what and how nature restoration at scale could be achieved and Ray's excellent moderation showcased the inspiring array of opportunities for overcoming these perceived challenges (full recording of the panel to be uploaded shortly).
The event was expertly wrapped up with closing remarks from Shane McGuinness Founder of Peatland Finance Ireland, who have pioneered the development of Ireland's first environmental impact standard - The Peatland Standard of Ireland - to drive new and additional funding into nature restoration projects.
Huge thank you to all the partners of the Climate Cocktail Club, without their sponsorship and support these events would not happen.
Official Cocktail Partner: Irish Distillers
Supporting Partners: ERINN Innovation, Peatland Finance Ireland, KPMG Ireland, Ballintubbert Gardens & House, and BE IMPACTFUL
The Climate Cocktail Club operates on a voluntary basis and needs the support of partners to ensure the events are a success - please support our future events and become a sponsor.
See you next time.
Tom
Climate Cocktail Club
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