A Toast (or a Cuppa!) to Climate Action: Reflecting on a Powerful Earth Month

March and April were a whirlwind—in the best way. Earth Month gave us the perfect reason to gather and reflect, and it’s been truly amazing to see so many people open their doors (and kettles!) to climate conversations. I had the privilege of joining a few Cuppa for Climate’s, and what stood out most was the energy, warmth, and determination in the room—people of all ages coming together to chat about our beloved planet and how we can protect it, especially with everything that has been going on. 

If you haven’t heard of Cuppa for Climate, it’s a coffee morning with a difference. It's a way to bring together family, friends, neighbours or colleagues—over tea, coffee, biscuits to talk about our planet, what you can do while raising vital funds for climate action and build a stronger, more connected climate movement.

And wow, did it catch on! Over the past few months, Cuppa for Climate events popped up across the country—from Letterfrack to Dublin, and even as far away as Vancouver, Canada! These gatherings have done more than raise funds—they've sparked important conversations, planted seeds of hope, and reminded us that we’re not in this alone. Thanks to all those who hosted one and joined. Thank you as well for people who joined our Cuppa for Climate inspired event on Data Centres in Patagonia store, Dublin. 

We wanted to share a few highlights from this incredible journey:

🌿 Cuppa in Vancouver, Canada

Originally from Ireland, but having lived in Vancouver for the past few years, Hannah wanted to connect further with people in her area. Cuppa for Climate allowed her to do so. 

I gathered people in my community at VanDusen Botanical Garden Centre in Vancouver to help educate others about the power of eco-friendly buildings. We had a tour of the building and a fantastic discussion afterwards using the FoE conversation prompts. We talked about everything from environment, to class, to the decline of trade and crafts. Cuppa for Climate provided this platform, to create activist spaces that are local and in-person. It was a fantastic opportunity to do something for climate change that didn’t involve being online or campaigning, rather a cosy curious gathering.

~ Hannah, Cuppa for Climate host

📸 A Tipperary Gathering with a Buzz

In Cloughjordan, the Cuppa was combined with a local community event. It was a reminder that fun, creativity, and community can all be part of the fight for our future. Despite the rain, a group called  Nenagh Women and Friends Shed - Mna agus Cairde an T-Aonaigh had a great day visiting the Cloughjordan Ecovillage. On Earth Day they combined their Cuppa with a visit to the Community Soup Cafe and had a delicious sustainable lunch made with locally sourced produce directly from the Cloughjordan Community Farm.

We talked about the three leaf leek shown in pictures and how it's an invasive plant. Luckily, the entire plant can be used, as they had done in their cooking. It was on the soup, bread and that delicious spread on the table. When pulling up, you need to pull the entire plant including bulb. Also cut the flowers before they have a chance to go to seed, otherwise they get everywhere.

~ Anonymous, Cuppa for Climate participant. 

💬 Connecting with a local group in Skerries

For some people, this wasn’t their first Cuppa - Sustainable Skerries hosted another Cuppa in March after the positive experience in November. 

Climate change feels overwhelming—like a problem too big for any one person to solve. But while individual actions matter and global policies guide us, it’s the community-level solutions that often bridge the gap between ambition and impact. It was a Friends of the Earth Cuppa for Climate event in November, which led me to connect with people who care about climate in my local community, and eventually to join my local environmental group, Sustainable Skerries. Discussions that took place during our Cuppa for Climate event highlighted the power of individual and collective actions that we can take. Talking with friends, neighbours, and coworkers is a great way to spread awareness and find common ground. We did another Cuppa in March - it was a good mix of people who dropped in for a friendly chat. We’re looking forward to more such informal meet-ups, also at other times of the day, such as Pints for the Planet or Brunch for Biodiversity (working titles). 

~ Katie, Cuppa for Climate participant. 

💬 A Thought from Peter

Peter and his colleagues from Aquafact Environmental Consultants wanted to mark Earth Day by coming together to explore how they—and the company as a whole—could make a difference. They turned their usual Cuppa into a fundraiser and exceeded their fundraising goal!

I think people are always happy to have a bit of an event like that to break up the work week and have something to look forward to. And knowing that the money was going to a worthy cause meant we got a fair few donations. It was a great opportunity to informally review some of our sustainability policies and think what else we could do. And for me personally, it was really nice to feel proud of an event that I'd organised, and that my colleagues all enjoyed.

~ Peter, Cuppa for Climate host

📷 Dublin Climate Chats

One Dublin neighbourhood invited their neigbours for a coffee morning with tea, coffee and lots of sweet treats.

It gave a lot of inspiration and encouragement... people started to talk about what we could actually do in our own community. Some residents are starting to plant flowers more consciously…and they are cleaning up more. Personally, it gave me a lot of motivation. Now we are hoping to intensify the collaboration with Friends of the Earth for getting deeper into the issues of Climate change. There is a feeling, we want and need to know much more.

~Karin, Cuppa for Climate host 

📷 Atlantic Technological University bring students and staff together

A very enjoyable event and a great opportunity for staff and students to come together and discuss any concerns they had around the impact of climate change and also to reflect on some of the positive work being done here in ATU Connemara and suggest other possible projects we could consider going forward.

~ Jeanne, Cuppa for Climate host

A huge thank you to everyone who hosted a Cuppa, everyone who joined, or made a donation. You’re helping to build a more resilient and people-powered climate movement—one cuppa at a time. ☕🌍 I was reminded of something simple but profound: real change starts close to home. Whether it’s with a neighbour, a friend, or someone you’ve just met over a shared pot of tea, every Cuppa for Climate plants the seeds of connection, awareness, and action.

Together, we’re stirring up change.

Blog by Ruth Jedidja Stael, Supporter Care and Fundraising Officer