Sustainable Cork Programme

Following the publication in 2020 of the Sustainable Cork Programme Report, Building Economic Resilience, Cork Chamber launched a hugely successful webinar series to align with a number of the key themes and discussion points raised in the sectoral Think Tank decisions held last June.

These discussions with over 100 business representatives, along with the public survey, ‘Imagineer Your City, Your County’, which captured the opinion of over 800 Corkonians, formed the cornerstone of the report, while also fundamentally informing and shaping the forthcoming programme of activities.

The initial webinar series invited an array of speakers offering the latest insights and perspectives, with the discussion deeply rooted in sustainability and resilience building. The series launched with an incredibly emotive and inspiring talk from Dr. Naomi Masheti, Programme Coordinator of the Cork Migrant Centre. Dr. Masheti spoke on the ‘Black Lives Matter Movement and the Pathway for Government and Business in Creating an Inclusive and Sustainable City Region’.

Following this, the series hosted Tony Reddy, Chair of Academy of Urbanism & Sean Kearns, Director of Reddy Architecture + Urbanism, with a webinar entitled ‘Living in the Heart of Our City’, effectively lifting the lid on the regulatory challenges which need to be addressed to effectively, and at scale unlock over-shop living and reinvigorate residential potential within urban centres.

In November, we were delighted to host Dr. Tara Shine, Director of Change by Degrees, to discuss ‘Business Resilience in an Uncertain World: How Sustainability Can Help’, presenting a framework for assessing business operations and charting a resilient pathway empowered by people, and a strong, progressive strategy and vision.

‘Exploring Climate Finance - What is it, and how to engage’ was the fundamental question addressed by Yvonne Holmes, Chief Sustainability Officer, AIB, David Looney, Senior Financial Advisor, Alpha Wealth Ltd and Nils Hums, Group Sustainability team, Deutsche Börse Group.

The December webinar explored ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing in current and future financial markets, the fundamental role of ESG-led investment decision making in tackling climate change and the wider sustainability agenda, and the overall increasingly important role of ESG non-financial factors in identifying risk and growth opportunities.

The current series concluded in January last with a webinar discussion dedicated to uncovering the crucial role of ‘Arts & Culture at the Heart of our City Region’. Enlivening a crucial discussion at a time when the Arts and Culture sector is being hugely impacted by the Covid pandemic, we were delighted to welcome Liz Meaney, Arts Director Performing and Local Arts, The Arts Council of Ireland, Lorraine Maye, Director, Cork Midsummer Festival and Shane O’Driscoll, Visual Artist and initiator of Ardú, Cork’s new street art initiative. Together presenting the many facets of our strong Arts and Culture tradition in the region, the role of arts and culture in nurturing a progressive, inviting and attractive city region and communities, and the resilience of the sector in meeting the ongoing challenges. The session delved into the influence of a thriving arts and culture sector far beyond its one sectoral footprint.

The Sustainable Cork Programme are delighted to launch the 2021 webinar series, sponsored by KPMG, Matheson and Gas Networks Ireland, with our first webinar in the series taking place on the 30th of April, addressing the concerning and growing trends in youth unemployment, and what business can do to take proactive action in this area.

CIRCUlAR ECONOMY TRAINING

Most recently in February, the Enterprise Europe Network and the Sustainable Cork Programme at Cork Chamber teamed up with *MODOS to deliver ‘Circular economy training programme to micro, small and medium sized enterprises.’ With the European Union introducing new policy and regulation for a low-carbon economy, Irish businesses need to adapt to the transition from a linear to a circular economy in as many operational areas as possible. In a circular economy, products, components and materials are kept in use for as long as possible. The principles of a circular economy and circular production models can be instrumental in exploring the opportunities to transform for example what might once have been considered as a waste material into a raw material, an approach that can increase efficiencies and even develop new product lines and market opportunities for businesses.

GREENING OUR CITY

Cork Chamber have also teamed up with SHEP Earth Aware, Green Spaces for Health, Cork Healthy Cities and the Environmental Research Institute, UCC for a hugely informative webinar series titled ‘Greening Our City’ to showcase examples from other countries and discuss the many ways we can make Cork a greener city! Exploring topics ranging from the transformative power of parks, to building with nature, and urban forests, this series delves into the opportunities for Cork to green from the inside out, to embed environmental resilience and nurture the quality-of-life attributes of the region for all to enjoy.

SME ENERGY CHAMPION

Cork Chamber’s Sustainable Cork Programme and Energy Cork launched a joint SME Energy Champion initiative in December. Through SME Energy Champion, Cork Chamber and Energy Cork are working with SMEs to identify how and where energy savings can be made. With the kick-off meeting held in February, we welcomed 12 SME participant businesses spanning a variety of business sizes, and sectors across food production, transport, tourism and manufacturing.

The 12-month pilot project will help tailor a workable means of enabling climate action by SMEs. The pilot is an opportunity for the participating SMEs to avail of targeted advice in understanding and managing energy usage and in planning and implementing energy saving interventions. This initiative is also focused on identifying the common barriers and challenges in addressing energy usage, and implementing interventions, and the supports and assistance that would be most beneficial for businesses.

*MODOS is a joint initiative of Dublin City Council and the Waste Management Plan Lead Authority (WMPLA).