In October and November 2025, SECAD’s Climate Conversations workshops in Midleton, Macroom, and Millstreet supported community members in exploring practical ways to save energy, reduce waste, and take everyday climate action. The sessions offered a welcoming, hands-on learning environment that encouraged participants to make small but meaningful changes at home and in their communities. Read on to learn how the workshops unfolded and the impact they had. If your community would like to organise similar workshops in 2026, you can contact Karen Loxton at kloxton@secad.ie.
Empowering Cork communities through climate learning
As winter temperatures drop and heating costs rise, communities in Midleton, Macroom, and Millstreet have spent recent weeks discovering practical ways to stay warm, save energy, and protect the environment. The SECAD climate conversation workshops, delivered in October and November and supported by REACH 2025 funding, offered an inclusive and welcoming space for residents to explore simple, everyday climate solutions.
The workshop series focused on four key themes relevant to daily life: energy, the circular economy, biodiversity, and citizen science, as well as food waste. Each session combined accessible climate information with hands-on activities that participants could take home and share within their communities.
These workshops reached participants who often face barriers to climate information, including retirees, older residents, and people with limited abilities. Their reflections highlight the programme’s impact.
Helen, who attended all four workshops in Midleton, said:
“It gave me a lot of tips that are easy to implement — like always having a shopping list, using leftovers, and sharing meals with friends if there’s extra.”
Marian, another participant, shared her motivation:
“I worry for my grandchildren’s future. More people need to get involved, and I’ll talk to everyone I know about it.”
She also noted her plans to improve insulation at home and suggested bringing the workshops into schools with parents involved.
Understanding climate change and Ireland’s future
Participants were introduced to the latest climate research, including how global warming is expected to affect Ireland through stronger storms, coastal flooding, and pressure on farming and biodiversity. They also explored Ireland’s progress on the Paris Agreement and discussed realistic, local actions that communities can take.
One of the scientific insights that resonated with attendees was:
“Scientists warn that at current emission rates, humanity has only about three years of carbon emissions left to maintain a reasonable chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C; exceeding this budget would make severe climate impacts increasingly likely.”
Practical tools that build confidence
Hands-on learning was central to the Climate Conversations:
- The energy workshop equipped participants with Codema home energy-audit kits, helping them identify heat loss and make small, cost-effective improvements.
- The biodiversity and citizen science workshop provided citizen science kits, encouraging local wildlife observation and recording with the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Chris Gibbons, climate-related workshop facilitator at The Environmental Forum, emphasised the value of this approach:
“Most people want to take action — they just need the right information and a few starting points. Once you see where the heat escapes, it becomes empowering rather than overwhelming.”
Building momentum for local climate action
Karen Loxton, SECAD Development Officer, highlighted how the workshops helped residents connect climate issues with their daily lives:
“When people understand the ‘why’, they’re eager to learn the ‘how’. These workshops made climate action feel local, achievable, and relevant to daily life. Small steps really do add up.”
With strong participation in Midleton, Macroom and Millstreet, SECAD is now exploring opportunities to bring climate conversation workshops to more Cork communities in 2026.
Community groups and interested residents are invited to get involved. Visit secad.ie and use the get in touch form to express your interest in hosting climate conversations in your area.
If your community would like to organise a similar workshop, you can reach out to SECAD Partnership to explore possibilities at kloxton@secad.ie.
This project was supported by REACH 2025 funding, provided by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and facilitated locally by Cork ETB to support the most disadvantaged learners.
