Chamber calls on Government for Clear Pathway to Tackling Climate Crisis
 
 Sustainable Cork Fund awardees at impact report launch.

Dear member, 

 

I was delighted this week to announce the results of a community fundraising initiative created in partnership with Rethink Ireland. €100,000 was raised by Cork Chamber and the local business community, which was then matched by the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund. 

 

The fund of €200,000 which marked the Chamber’s 200th Anniversary in 2019 was allocated to three projects working across diverse social causes but which share a common vision of making Cork city and county more sustainable, both socially and environmentally. All three awardees - Nasc, NCE Outreach, and Refill Ireland, received cash grants and non-financial supports to the value of €50,000. Together the organisations reached 125 participants and delivered 918 workshops while the Sustainable Cork Fund itself directly supported 5 jobs in these organisations.  You can find out all about their progress through the initiative in this Impact Report. 

 

If we have learned anything through the pandemic, it is that when tackling our greater social and economic issues, and the environmental crisis now facing us, nothing short of a herculean, collective effort is acceptable. Through the pandemic Government provided clear pathways to progress and communicated what was needed from all of society. And now, in addressing our climate crisis the same model must be applied. Government must step into the position of leadership on these issues and drive an unrelenting agenda if we are to create change in our society and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

 

This fundraising initiative demonstrates that people are keen to take action for the betterment of our communities. Social innovation initiatives have the power to promote social cohesion and build more resilient communities, and we are delighted with the support that our fund received from businesses and individuals, whose donations all contributed to advancing this vision. Their work demonstrates how commitment, creativity and collective action can make Cork more resilient and a better place to live and work.

 

We must all respond together and ensure that future generations look back with pride and admiration on how we rose to the challenge to safeguard their futures.

 

Warm regards,

 

Paula Cogan,

President, Cork Chamber