Newspaper Articles
Planning a Sustainable Athlone in the midst of Climate Change
Article with Westmeath Independent by Triona Doherty
Participants sought for community engagement on climate
If you would like to be part of a conversation about Athlone's future, particularly when it comes to concerns around climate change, an event taking place in the town this June may be of interest. Imagining2050, is a research project at University College Cork, is planning a 'community engagement' event to take place in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel on Saturday and Sunday. June 8 and 9, and the organisers are looking for individuals to take part.
Researcher Alexandra Revez from UCC says they are particularly interested in hearing from students and young people farmers, senior citizens, people with disabilities, those with young families, or anyone else with an individual perspective on the challenges facing the town and region.
"This is a community with highly interesting characteristics ... Athlone is a hub of employment, tourism, industry and farming activity, said MsRevez.
"This will be a community-focused event looking to develop shared ideas and visions for a sustainable life in Athlone for 2050. The idea is to develop a community-based vision for the future in terms of the environment and climate change, that takes into account community concerns such as housing, farming and flooding. For example, we would like to include farmers as there is a lot of discussion around beef farming in terms of the environment, so this is something that aJfeas livelihoods. That is why we want to bring everyone together and tty to reach agreement. It's about working together," she added. The Athlone event is the first of three community engagement events to take place across the country. The events are modelled on the Citizens' Assembly, and anendees will have the opportunity to engage with experts in climate change, as well as graphic designers and 3D modellers to create a concrete and locally grounded vision for Athlone.
A second community event will take place in Athlone in October. The findings from both events will feed into the work being carried out by the Imagining2050 research consortium, and will also be presented to local groups and political representatives in Athlone later this year.
"Every local authority is supposed to have its own plan in terms of climate adaptation. It is no longer just an issue for Government or the Department of Climate Action,· says Ms Revez.
"The outcome from these events will be very visual and very approachable. We want to engage with Irish society in all its richness and diversity, and to explore and develop in a collaborative manner visions and pathways to an environmental and socially inclusive future.·
Anyone who is interested in taking part in the Athlone event on June 8 and 9, or would like more information, is asked to contact Alexandra Revez at 021490 3503 or email alexandra .revez@ucc.ie. Further information is available at lmagining2050.ucc.ie.
