Varied and interesting programme for Ballina Climate Action Weekend 2023
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and former President Mary Robinson in conversation at the Mary Robinson Climate Conference in Ballina earlier this year. Picture: The Commercial Photographer
This year’s Ballina Climate Action Weekend takes place on November 24 and 25. Now in its third year, it is a tactical weekend of meaningful climate action initiatives, aligned to and amplifying the work done at a grassroots level in Ballina. The aim is to showcase the great climate-positive work taking place in Ballina and engage a wider audience in these initiatives to build awareness, scale, and momentum in Ballina's bid to become Ireland’s greenest town.
Key priorities for this year’s programme include highlighting funding opportunities for businesses and communities and promoting responsible consumption and production via the circular economy. Events taking place over the weekend include a Sustainable Solutions for Businesses and Community Groups workshop, a swap shop for football boots, Christmas jumpers, furniture, bric-a-brac, records, and more, evening entertainment by climate comedienne Diane O’Connor and a Circular Economy Showcase, with €1,000 worth of vouchers up for grabs in Ballina’s circular economy businesses.
Announcing the weekend’s programme, Susan Heffernan of the Mary Robinson Centre, said: "The goal of the Climate Action Weekend is really to encourage local Ballina people to make more sustainable decisions, making it easier to do so by highlighting the local businesses and groups who can help. Money spent this way stays in our local community."
The weekend’s highlight is the culmination of Ballina 2023’s planting of 10,000 trees, with the final tree planted and dedicated to the children of Ballina born in 2023.
