Social enterprises can be powerful drivers of climate action

In an era of increasingly severe storms, social enterprises are reusing, repurposing, and recycling resources in innovative ways — while also reinvesting back into their social cause

President Catherine Connolly working with instructor Cian Corcoran assembling a cabinet during her visit to Common Knowledge, the award-winning social enterprise in Co Clare earlier this month. Picture: Eamon Ward

Storm Bram earlier this month again reminded us that our island of Ireland is especially vulnerable to extreme weather patterns. We are all too aware of how Ireland’s climate is changing but it hasn’t translated into action beyond grim statements, finger pointing, and blame.

Yes, Ireland has astutely declared a climate emergency and, yes, there are policies to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030, but we find ourselves in the troubling nowhere land between climate action and climate inaction.