How to have a climate conscious Christmas – with Cool Planet Champion Nuala Carr

Letterkenny woman Nuala Carr has been appointed as a Cool Planet Champion for Donegal. And with that, she is starting an informative new column series on DonegalDaily.com.

Cool Planet Champions is Ireland’s first national programme to appoint ambassadors to explain climate change in a way that everyone can understand and act upon.

As a Champion for Donegal, Nuala has received special training to spread the word in the local communities and to help educate, inform and inspire change.

Donegal Daily is delighted to introduce a regular ‘Cool Planet’ column from Nuala, beginning with top tips on how to have a climate-conscious Christmas:

Nuala writes: Most people have heard of climate change and global warming. Have you ever stopped to think about what it means, how it is going to affect you in the future, and is there anything you can do about it? Most of us haven’t. We are waiting for someone else to find the solution. What can I do to save the planet?

Well, we can all take ‘little steps’ together. In November of this year, I attended the Cool Planet Champion course in Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, to learn what I can do to help reverse the impacts of climate change and how I can help others to make little changes. Together we can start the journey of conscious decision-making towards a better future for everyone.

Christmas is fast approaching. The excitement is building, as kids (and adults) eagerly await Santa’s arrival. It is easy to get caught up in the commercialisation of Christmas without stopping to think about the true meaning of the festive season and the celebration of the birth of our Lord. It’s a time to spend with family and friends, to slow down and recharge our batteries!

This Christmas, if you are giving presents, think of gifts that can reduce the commercialisation of Christmas and reduce unnecessary packaging and waste. This may not work for all the presents you want to give, but it may work for some.

Why not try these alternative gift ideas?

Graph inspired by justlittlechanges.com – check out this website for many more tips. 

For sustainable Christmas present ideas, check out two great local companies – www.foresterproducts.com and www.thenaturalcompanyireland.com

Check out this two-minute video, summarising the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius:

Nuala Carr has many years of experience in industry as an environmental consultant, having trained as an ecologist in the University of Ulster, Coleraine. She has worked as a project manager for engineering companies, managing the environmental impact assessment and planning stages for infrastructure projects, such as onshore wind farm developments.

Nuala is now carrying out research on the social acceptance of marine renewable energy through Queen’s University Belfast.

Should anyone wish to learn more about climate change, please contact Nuala to arrange an informal talk or presentation for your local school, community group, business or organisation.  Email: nuala.carr@gmail.com