Town warms to energy challenge

THE vast majority of climate scientists — 2,500 of them — agree that global warming is upon us, at least partly due to the release of CO2 into the atmosphere due to our consumption of energy which has been produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels since the start of the industrial revolution.

The evidence suggests we are facing a global crisis unlike any in human history. Scientists believe remedial steps are required urgently to prevent runaway warming that could be catastrophic for the world’s ecosystems upon which we all depend.

An additional problem is that we are rapidly approaching the end of cheap fossil fuels and we need to consider ways to proceed in our work and leisure while minimising their use.

It has been estimated that energy conservation measures could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40% without significantly compromising our way of life.

However, time is short. As a society and as a nation we, like the rest of the industrialised world, need to start to make changes immediately.

Clonakilty and Kinsale in Co Cork have taken the lead from many towns and cities throughout the world — most notably in Sweden — and are beginning to act to reduce energy demand as communities.

We believe that Bandon (and every other city, town and community in the country) needs to follow suit.

We can no longer afford to wait for central government to make the first move. Rotary and the Soroptomists believe the imagination, knowledge, skill and foresight required to implement this ‘energy descent’ resides in our young people — those who are going to experience the effects of the coming changes.

We suggest that transition year pupils in particular are ideally placed to conceive a strategy to be implemented in association with Rotary and the Soroptomists to achieve this aim in our area.

Unity of purpose and action is essential to achieve success.

We invite everyone to attend an information evening in the Munster Arms Hotel in Bandon on Monday, April 30 at 8pm when Graham Strouts, who lectures in sustainability/permaculture in the Further Education College in Kinsale, will give us some background information and hopefully point us in the right direction.

Dr Colin Sage, senior lecturer in Environmental Geography at UCC, and Alison Wickham, a leader in the Clonakilty group, will also be on the panel to answer questions.

Tony Cremin

resident-elect

Rotary, Bandon

Co Cork

Mary O’Farrell

President

Soroptomists,

Bandon

Philip Michael Foundation

Chairman

Rotary, Bandon