Eco-Unesco Director is new Chair of National Dialogue on Climate Action

Published by Lia Flattery on October 6, 2017October 6, 2017

October 6th, 2017

Minister for Environment Denis Naughten has appointed Elaine Nevin as the new Chair of the National Dialogue on Climate Action Advisory Group.

Ms Nevin has been the National Director of ECO-UNESCO Ireland, a leading Irish environmental education and youth organisation, since 2002. She has worked in the field of environmental education since 1995.

Ms Nevin replaces former Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy, who resigned as chair last week.

The Department for Environment established the National Dialogue on Climate Action earlier this year to encourage public engagement with the issues of climate change.

In July, the Advisory Group was created to advise Minister Naughten on the strategy, structure and operation of the Dialogue.

Minister Naughten said that he was “extremely pleased” to announce Ms Nevin’s acceptance of the role.

He commented: “Elaine brings many years of experience in public engagement on environmental issues, particularly with young people, to her new role.”

“I am confident she will make a significant contribution to ensuring the Advisory Group provides the best possible advice on the implementation of the National Dialogue,” he added.

Ms Nevin said that she is looking forward to working with the Advisory Group to ensure the success of the Dialogue.

She highlighted the importance of the Dialogue as “a significant opportunity to engage with society on how best we can work together to address the defining challenge of our generation”.

The Dialogue aims to facilitate community engagement and action in relation to the challenges of climate change on local, regional and national levels.

It will also be used to build public support for and awareness of the government’s action plans to tackle climate change.

To achieve its aims, the Dialogue will establish networks for citizens to meet periodically to investigate the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.

Among the National Dialogue initiatives already announced for 2017 are the Climate Ambassador Programme, launched earlier this month, and the Green Schools National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme. The Green Schools Climate Expo is planned for February 2018.

Climate Change has increasingly been in the public eye in Ireland in recent months, with the Citizens’ Assembly holding its first meeting to discuss how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change last weekend.

[x_author title=”About the Author”]