Let’s Talk Climate Change Over a Coffee

Like many of my environmental-activist colleagues, I find that we talk about climate change in a bubble. We discover that family, friends and neighbours don’t generally bring up the subject – we find that we have to raise the topic. Maybe this is changing right now as Europe experiences its third heatwave of the year and temperature records are being smashed all over the place. I write this sadly as wildfires rage in Spain and France with multiple lives lost. 

For some years, Friends of the Earth have been asking supporters to run a Cuppa for Climate - it involves picking somewhere to have a Friends of the Earth fundraising coffee morning where you can also discuss climate change and its solutions in a congenial space. Various Friends of the Earth staff have been encouraging me to get something going. First it was Aaron, then Ruth Jedidja and more recently Claudia. I felt that I was not up to the organising of such an event, and if I did, that it would be unsuccessful. As a climate activist, and busy with several organisations including An Taisce, Dublin Friends of the Earth and Keep Ireland Open, I reckoned I was doing enough to address climate change and didn’t have the time to do more. But then I decided to take the plunge and plan a Cuppa for Climate where I live in Kimmage! I reckoned it would be a bit cowardly not to do it, given the urgency of the climate crisis. 

Eric speaking to his event guests. 

The Friends of the Earth team assured me that they would support me along the way. They were very helpful, and eased my nerves on the problems I envisioned might arise. Either have a small group in your own home, or if you have the resources, pick a community space for a bigger event. Having thought about it, I decided to go the community route in Kimmage/Crumlin and explored possible venues. I decided to have our morning in the Mount Argus community centre in Kimmage, which has a good central hall.  

Through Friends of the Earth I met other local residents, including David Russell, who hails from Northampton in England and Caroline Harding, an Australian from Melbourne living in Dublin. So we had a mini United Nations in place on our organising committee! David was very helpful with his IT skills in managing all our online meetings and electronic action plans & marketing. Caroline, despite a long spell in Australia during the planning period, was helpful with advertising the event and playing devil’s advocate with some of our ideas! We decided to hold it on Saturday, 11th. July from 10.30am to 12pm. 

Friends of the Earth provided a Cuppa for Climate toolkit which included a poster to print and use online as well as other materials for promoting the event and using on the day. 

I called on all the houses on my street and those near the venue in Kimmage. I got a decent response which made me hope that we would have a good attendance on the day. However, on the day, with all the tea, coffee and biscuits ready, very few people had arrived by 10.29 and I was getting edgy: I’m an awful worrier. Thankfully, the attendees all arrived in a bunch by 10.32! I was pleased to welcome our local Councillor Carolyn Moore, who I canvassed for at the last election. In the end we had about 32 people join us for our Cuppa. 

We were delighted to welcome environmental journalist John Gibbons as our main speaker, alongside representatives from the Kingfisher biodiversity project. Friends of the Earth staff and CEO Deirdre Duffy joined us too and spoke about their campaigns. 

From left to right: Deirdre Duffy, David Russell, Caroline Harding, Eric Conroy, Claudia Tormey and John Gibbons.

The heart of the event, however, was not the speakers but the conversations. Participants gathered around five tables to discuss topics including transport, biodiversity, renewable energy and how we communicate climate issues. People shared concerns, ideas and practical actions they could take in their own communities. 

The event raised €440, between the iDonate page and cash collected on the day, for Friends of the Earth and generated plenty of enthusiasm for future activities. There was strong interest in continuing the conversation through future community events.

I’m satisfied that I went through with this project with my colleagues, and came out the other end successfully. I would encourage other Friends of the Earth supporters to tackle their own Cuppa for Climate, no matter how small or large. Given the seriousness of what confronts us with climate change, we must strain every sinew to bring our family, friends and neighbours with us in this battle. 

Looking ahead, we have thought about running an evening meeting and inviting all the local politicians to address the voice of the people. Cuppa for Climate was a great starting point. 

Guest blog by Eric Conroy, a supporter of Friends of the Earth