Do you know what is actually practically as bad as denying that climate change exists? Adopting and spreading a “doom and gloom” attitude regarding it – at a time when taking climate action couldn’t matter more.

Yes, things could turn nasty. Yes, things have turned nasty for too many already. Just listen to the statements being made during COP31 in Antalya, which is happening as I am writing this.

But no, all is not lost. No, we are not powerless. No, it is not hopeless. And we can learn from those who are taking the necessary action.

This was the strong message we took away from our October 2026 Skerries Climate Conversation event. We watched part of a hugely enlightening conversation with climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, who was talking to Jonathan Foley of Project Drawdown. You can watch it below, from where we showed it on the night, or directly on YouTube.

It was refreshing to hear about the many areas where things have gotten better – and sobering to learn about what still needs to happen.

The UN Environment Programme’s 2026 Emissions Gap Report expects global warming to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – a threshhold that the UN had hoped not to have to cross. The report describes a pathway that could bring warming back to 1.5°C by the end of the century. Getting there would take steep cuts in emissions and increasing amounts of carbon dioxide removal. Every fraction of a degree matters. Read the UNEP report.

So we have to find our way in between these less-bad worst-case and less-good best-case scenarios. And how? What can we do, as individuals? Aren’t we all very much powerless?

Maybe not as powerless as you would think, if you use a movie-culture-based idea: That of your own climate superpower. The idea is that everyone has something to contribute, a superpower if you will – being good with figures (could help doing the accounts for an environmental group). With children (spreading the word in primary schools). With online stuff (spreading the word online). With organising (bringing fun community festivals to the people, like the Skerries Mills Community Garden does). The list could go on and on.

Everyone has something to contribute. And everyone is needed. Eco Avengers, assemble!

There’s even a website that allows you to find out where your own powers might lie. The Super High-Impact Initiative for Fixing Tomorrow, SHIFT for short, allows you to take a quiz and see what you can do as citizen, professional, investor (many of us are through our pension funds!), consumers, and role models. Try it yourself and let us know how you got on! Email us! sustskerries@gmail.com SHIFT was created by Kimberly Nicholas, a professor of sustainability studies at Lund University, in cooperation with the non-profit Project Drawdown (an independent, US-based non-profit organisation which sees its role as being a global resource for science-based climate solutions – well worth checking out!).

There were people from very different backgrounds at this Skerries Climate Conversation, which made the chats so much more interesting and rewarding.

Here are a few thoughts that were shared in the video and during the discussions afterwards:

• We are not aware enough of positive “climate news,” information that can strengthen us in our endeavours, such as those which were shared in a New York Times series, 50 States, 50 Fixes, which highlights local, grassroots, and community-driven environmental and climate solutions across all 50 U.S. states.
• It is always better to do something that makes life better for someone else, than to just give up and do nothing.
  • We can visit someone who’d like a chat.
  • Tidy up some corner that has litter or needs other attention.
  • Even adopt a patch through Skerries Tidy Towns.
  • Cook one more plant-based meal.
  • Plan a holiday that is somewhat more climate-friendly.
  • Talk to a friend and let them know you care about eco stuff.
  • Tell a politician that climate and biodiversity are important to you as a voter.
  • Vote accordingly.
  • Join a group.
  • Learn about sustainable energy – Skerries Sustainable Energy Community Initiative (SSECI) have lots of information and even a very informative WhatsApp chat group. [Send us an email to sustskerries@gmail.com and we’ll forward it to them!]
• Did you know for example that smart devices are being installed in homes in Fingal to safely redirect excess wind energy (which would otherwise go to waste) into household immersion tanks when electricity supply exceeds demand? Funded by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and supported by electricity retailers, this automated process delivers up to 120 nights of free hot water each year without adding to families’ electricity bills. Currently active in 100 households in Tyrrelstown, the initiative plans to expand to over 500 local homes throughout 2026 to help tackle energy poverty. Source: https://energycloud.org/ireland/first-100-fingal-households-receive-free-renewable-hot-water-through-energycloud-aws-and-co-operative-housing-ireland-partnership/
  SSECI member Colm explained it to us on the night. Fascinating stuff.

There are so many more things that were mentioned – but this does give you a first taste.

And hopefully an appetite to join us for the Christmas-themed Skerries Climate Conversation on Wed 18 November 7.30 to 9 pm, Skerries Harps Clubhouse! Sign up here!