Climate & Biodiversity: Why Ireland Must Tackle Both Crises as One | Prof. Yvonne Buckley

In this vital session of E3's "Balanced Solutions for a Better World" series, globally recognised ecologist Professor Yvonne Buckley (Professor of Zoology, TCD) presents the authoritative case for integrating the climate, biodiversity, and water crises into a single policy agenda.

Drawing on her roles with the Climate Change Advisory Council and the new AIB Trinity Climate Hub, Prof. Buckley shows how Ireland's climate action and biodiversity conservation efforts are fundamentally linked. She presents shocking data on declining habitats and water quality, and reveals her lab's finding that human land use is as powerful as climate change in influencing global ecosystems.

Key Takeaways:

The urgent need for integrated land-use planning in Ireland.

Why "climate action that degrades biodiversity is not a sustainable option."

The essential role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as restoring peatlands ("the superheroes of the carbon world").

Navigating the difficult trade-offs in forestry, sustainable food systems, and renewable energy deployment.

The session concludes with a strong call to action, emphasising that every individual's choice, from diet to civic engagement, is crucial in pursuing a "climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, environmentally sustainable" future.

Presented by Trinity College Dublin's E3: Engineering, Environment, and Emerging Technologies.


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