Addressing climate change a marathon, not a sprint - Mayo Changemakers

THE increasing focus on solving the climate change crisis has seen an urgency to bring new solutions and innovations to market that must be tempered to allow new developments the time to be amalgamated into broader supply chains or larger businesses, so says Claremorris native Barry Dixon, head of decarbonising finance for Davy Group in Dublin.

Speaking at the inaugural Mayo Changemakers event of the Mary Robinson Centre, he highlighted that private capital investment has an important role to play in funding and developing the technologies and innovation required to create sustainable energy, and in ensuring food security.

His childhood in Mayo has been formative in shaping Dixon's views on sustainability.

He explained: “As the youngest of eight growing up on a farm outside Claremorris, I knew all about circularity and renewables from an early age, in a home that was largely self-sufficient in terms of food.”

Growing up on a farm has shaped Dixon's views on the importance of farming in combating climate change too: “Protecting the environment is all part and parcel of farming life. In many ways farmers are the guardians of our rural environment - but they are not a charity and need to be adequately supported to fulfil this role.”

Barry’s exploration of how private equity companies are providing solutions to the climate crisis was part of Mayo’s first diaspora gathering themed on climate change and biodiversity.

Taking place in Ballina, the event brought together those with Mayo connections working globally to address climate change and the biodiversity crisis.

Speakers included Vice Admiral (Rtd) Mark Mellett of Castlebar, Ballina’s Kevin Loftus of ACT-Studio, named one of the ’50 young people to watch in Ireland in 2022’ by The Irish Times, and Westport-based Orla Murphy, who is a member of the EU’s New European Bauhaus initiative.

The day’s discussion explored themes including leadership in local and global communities, innovation and research, as well as a showcase of Mayo Changemakers and the work they are doing on the global and local stage in addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis.