Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action

28/10/2024

Dr. Brian Kelly, ‘‘We Are All Palestinians’: Why Gaza Matters in the Global North’

Wednesday 30th October, 7pm

Peter Froggatt Centre 02/017

Free and all welcome

11/10/2024

“Central banks and the climate crisis”

Martin Sokol (Trinity College Dublin)

Thursday 17th Oct (from 12 – 1.30pm)

Venue: Meredith Room, 23 University Square

Queen's University Belfast

As the climate crisis deepens and climate chaos around the world accelerates, the need for an urgent transformative action has never been greater. This talk will argue that there is one powerful climate actor that should be a focus of our attention and increased scrutiny - the central bank. On paper, central banks are public institutions in charge of monetary policy, simply maintaining the price stability by keeping inflation low. However, a closer look reveals that central banks play a much more important role in the financial system and the economy more widely. Indeed, central banks could be seen as central to the very operation of financialised capitalism. As such, they are also deeply interconnected with the climate crisis. The talk will discuss the role of central banks both as culprits of climate chaos (and powerful institutions of climate obstruction) as well as potential agents of radical socio-ecological transformation towards climate justice. Reimagining central banks so that they can serve both the people and the planet is a pressing political question and a crucial international relations issue.

All welcome

10/10/2024

Yet another scientific article (with 15,682 signatories) communicating the need for urgent and ambitious climate action and to address the root cause of the crisis by rich countries moving beyond ecocidal and endless 'economic growth'....

Starting point: "We are on the brink of an irreversible climate disaster"

Conclusion: "In a world with finite resources, unlimited growth is a perilous illusion"

Will our politicians listen? The media? The economics profession? Policymakers? Citizens? Trades unions? businesses? faith communities?

https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biae087/7808595

15/09/2024

Very important new paper 'A Just World on a Safe Planet: a Lancet Planetary Health–Earth Commission report on Earth-system boundaries, translations, and transformations' in the latest issue of The Lancet Planetary Health

My main take aways

We need to move beyond economic growth

"Economic growth trajectories (which dominate global economic policy) pose even greater risks through destabilisation of the global commons—ie, the biosphere, climate, and cryosphere, and nutrient and water cycles".

The current economic system is not compatible with all of humanity living with a safe and just space

"Under current social and environmental conditions, all humans cannot live healthy lives within the safe and just corridor".

Put justice (interspecies, intergenerational & intragenerational) at the heart of revolutionary sustainability transformations

There is no technological solution to 'greening business as usual' i.e. we cannot innovate our way out of the planetary crisis within the current socio-economic system...we need to decouple human and nonhuman well-being from that system rather than waste time and resources on seeking to decouple the negative ecological and climate impacts of the current economic system.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542519624000421

28/08/2024

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA has visited Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action Queen's University Belfast to discuss their work and also the new
Climate Northern Ireland

23/08/2024

A Gofundme has been started to help a local businessman whose restaurant was a target of racist hate crime in Newtownabbey.

Please support & share this fundraiser to help them rebuild their lives.

Every bit helps.

Our good friend Abjan was a target of racist hate crime and as a result … Caleb McCready needs your support for Helping Abjan and his family from Steam dining

13/08/2024

Art can be a powerful tool to communicate your message like here - An expression of Climate crisis through dance music and aerial arts by DU Dance (NI) in partnership with Music Generation and the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action of Queens University, with choreography by Southpaw Dance Company. Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action DuDance Southpaw Dance Company Music Generation Ireland

26/07/2024

19/07/2024

Palestinian scholar Ibrahim Aldalis, from Gaza City, has been offered a Copty Scholarship to undertake postgraduate study at Queen's University Belfast for the coming academic year, but the financial costs for his visa and living expenses are beyond his reach.

The Palestine Assembly at Queen's University Belfast, in cooperation with the Palestine solidarity movement in Belfast and beyond—is asking individuals and groups, trade unions and academic societies—to contribute urgently to raising the £6,700 necessary to allow Ibrahim to travel to Belfast for study.

Please donate what you can here -

Palestinian scholar Ibrahim Aldalis, from Gaza City, has been… Brian Kelly, QUB Palestine Assembly needs your support for Help Bring Palestinian Scholar Ibrahim Aldalis to Belfast

16/06/2024

We want to start today with a big shout-out to each and every one of you. It's incredible to witness how people from all walks of life—regardless of age, race, religion, or political beliefs—can come together and make a meaningful impact.
Case in point: Pheme Glass, a force of nature, has single-handedly raised £683.10 at her garage sale yesterday for the Save Our Sperrins campaign. Pheme, you're an absolute legend!
In the battle against the mining Goliath Dalradian, every small action counts. Who knew a humble garage sale could pack such a punch? It just goes to show that with enough community spirit and determination, we can tilt the scales in our favour.
Let's keep the momentum rolling, folks. Whether you're baking buns , hosting a quiz night, running a car boot sale or a night at the races, running a marathon or simply spreading the word, your efforts in your community are vital. Together, we're building a movement that's impossible to ignore.
Thank you, Pheme, and thank you to everyone who's lending their support. Your contributions, big or small, are lighting up our path forward. Let's keep pushing ahead—together, we've got this!
And if there are some kind altruistic individuals out there who can see the possibility of leaving a world that we can all be proud of for future generation please consider donating to the crowd funder in the link in the first comment below .
One person can make a difference and everyone should try -J.F.Kennedy

13/06/2024

The Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action has just published a research report on the emotional and personal impacts of the ongoing ecological crisis in Lough Neagh.

'Paradise Lost: A Report on the Emotional and Personal Impacts of the Crisis at Lough Neagh'

https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/SECA/MediaOutputs/Outputs/Paradise%20Lost%20-%20The%20Personal%20and%20Emotional%20Imapcts%20of%20the%20Ecological%20Crisis%20in%20Lough%20Neagh%20-%20FINAL.pdf

Written by Dr Lou Solas Haven Dr Calum McGeown and myself

We will be holding a launch event for the report at Queen's University Belfast on Monday 24th June at 5pm.
Peter Froggatt Centre, Room 02/018
Queen’s University Belfast

Free and open to all
Registration here
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/qubseca/t-dvmgvpe

Tickets are now available for Launch 'Paradise Lost: A Report on the Emotional and Personal Impacts of the Crisis of Lough Neagh' at Room 02/0018, Belfast on Mon 24 Jun 2024 at 5:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

13/06/2024

Don't forget this is on . Garage sale Saturday 15th from 10.30am . Save Our Sperrins was around there yesterday and there is lots of interesting stuff . See photo below

05/06/2024

We are always profoundly grateful to those who step up and come forward to support the Save Our Sperrins campaign. Seeing the community rally to fundraise is like a beacon of hope that invigorates our ongoing efforts to defend the Sperrins . Every effort made and every penny raised brings us closer to preserving the natural beauty of the Sperrins for future generations. This incredible community spirit embodies a powerful commitment to environmental stewardship. Thank you to all the dedicated individuals whose actions inspire and drive meaningful change.

03/06/2024

Dalradian Gold closing their Gortin office......beginning of the end for them! Financial cutbacks as Oskar Lewnowski of Orion Mine Finance tries to entice Randy Smallwood of Wheaton Precious Metals to share a bigger slice of the increasing risks.
Park Against the Ruination of our Countryside
Dungiven Anti Mining Network
CAIM - Communities Against the Injustice of Mining
The Environmental Gathering
Protect Slieve Gallion
Treasure Leitrim
RARE - Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
Keep Tulla Untouched
Cavan mining objection group
Yes to Life No to Mining
Sent Campaign
Futureproof Clare
London Mining Network
MISN: Mining Injustice Solidarity Network

Slí Eile - Action for a Planet Beyond Capitalism

07/05/2024

‘The European Elections in Context: EU Complicity in Genocide in Gaza’

Niamh Ni Bhriain (Transnational Institute)

Wednesday 29th May

Great Hall from 3-5pm

Queen’s University Belfast


Niamh Ni Bhriain coordinates the Transnational Institute’s War and Pacification programme, which focuses on the permanent state of war and pacification of resistance. She holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG).

Before coming to TNI, Niamh spent a number of years living in Colombia and Mexico working with civil society organisations and the UN in the areas of peace-building, transitional justice, the protection of Human Rights Defenders and conflict analysis. She also spent some time in Brussels doing political advocacy before European institutions related to the conflict in Colombia.

This event is free and open to the public...

To register got to:

Tickets are now available for The European Elections in Context: EU Complicity in Genocide in Gaza at Great Hall, Lanyon Building on Wed 29 May 2024 at 3:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

05/05/2024

We are Experiencing the Longest Heatwave in 75 Years'

"climate change is making life impossible..as a country we emit less than 1% of global GHGs... We are paying a heavy price for the wrongs committed in other industrialized countries."

03/05/2024

PUBLIC INQUIRY SUSPENDED - more to follow:
CAIM - Communities Against the Injustice of Mining
Cavan mining objection group
Drumgossatt/Knocknacran Residents Group

Dungiven Anti Mining Network
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland

Futureproof Clare

Gweebarra Conservation Group

Iniscarn Forest Recreation

Keep Tulla Untouched

Love Our Lough
OLA Sisters - Irish Province

Park Against the Ruination of our Countryside

Protect Moylisha Hill

Protect Slieve Gallion

RARE - Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment

Inishowen from Gold Mining

Save Rural Ireland

Slí Eile - Action for a Planet Beyond Capitalism

Yes to Life No to Mining