People in Mountbellew have been invited to the Malthouse Bar in Mountbellew this Thursday at 7.30pm to discuss the town being chosen as Galway’s location for a community-led development project for climate justice.
The ‘People’s Transition, led by TASC, will help the Mountbellew community benefit from the transition to a zero-carbon society and leverage opportunities along the way.
In making the announcement, senior researcher of climate justice at TASC, Kieran Harrahill, said: “Having engaged with Galway Rural Development and the Smart Villages Mountbellew teams, we’re already delighted with the chosen location for Co. Galway and we are confident we can make a real difference together.”
He said that if climate action is to be enduring, then it must be inclusive and equitable.
“The People’s Transition aims to design climate solutions that give local communities, like those here in Mountbellew, ownership of assets of transition and thus enhance public support for climate action by tackling inequality and delivering on real opportunities for growth.”
Steve Dolan, CEO of Galway Rural Development, said that they are indebted to Kieran and the TASC think tank team for wanting to build on the great work going on in Mountbellew at the moment through Smart Villages.
“Together we share the values of wanting to reduce inequality and wanting to leverage climate action as an enabler of local development,” said Mr Dolan.
Marilyn Fleming, secretary of Smart Villages Mountbellew, said: “This is welcome news. Mountbellew People’s Transition will begin immediately.
“The intention will be to listen to, and learn from, the community’s needs and abilities and then design a number of solutions that will benefit the community and its main development priorities.”
“In terms of timing for the phases of the project, namely mapping, dialogue and solutions; the initial three months will involve desk-based research analysis.
“And in the new year, dialogue will begin in terms of speaking with people in interviews and focus groups, while the last phase will be developing solutions. We are excited about the potential in 2023 and beyond.”
