Northern Slant GuestOn 10 October, TEDxStormont is set to host ‘Countdown’ – a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action. Kaja Choma, Programme Co-Ordinator of TEDxStormont, picks out five speakers to look out for.
Broadcast from Belfast, this TEDx event will be part of the global launch. Around 500 other TEDx events, taking place around the world, will highlight the need for greater action on the climate emergency.
TEDxStormont Countdown promises to be thought-provoking with a huge range of speakers looking for fresh ideas and thinking on how best to tackle the climate emergency.
Here are 5 speakers to look out for.
The Scott Sisters
Sophia, Georgia and Nina Scott share a lifetime of travel experience, and have lived and worked all over the world. Together, Georgia and Sophia have two decades of experience with their documentary film company GroundTruth Productions, working across the globe.
GroundTruth grew from the sisters’ shared belief in the power of collaboration, and their drive to protect and nurture the planet. The concept evolved through their experiences on the road, in the field and in business. Together, they saw the opportunity to design problem-solving travel goods that drive positive change. Sophia, Georgia and Nina have worked collaboratively drawing together their diverse skillsets to create a progressive, sustainable company and a unique range of products.
The sisters are expected to delve into how they used their experience of travel and research into climate change to design problem-solving travel goods to drive positive change, reduce plastic pollution and improve people’s lives.
Steven Agnew
Former North Down MLA Steven Agnew is Head of RenewableNI, the representative body for the renewable electricity sector in Northern Ireland. He leads on all policy and external affairs issues and works closely with members to promote the local renewables industry through policy development, best practice and public communications.
As one of Northern Ireland’s leading climate activists, Stephen is well placed to discuss the future of renewable energy, and the options that Northern Ireland could have to reduce emissions and ensure a cleaner, greener planet.
Steven will join Jo Aston, Managing Director of SONI, TEDxStormont Countdown sponsor for a live panel discussion.
Oliver Jeffers
Home grown talent and renowned artist and illustrator; Oliver Jeffers will join TEDxStormont Countdown with his incredible TED Talk ‘Ode to Living on Planet Earth.’
Oliver, who takes in the world around him to create his art and his world-famous picture books, will share with the audience his observations on the planet, highlighting some ideas he believes can help sustain and grow the world to be more climate conscious.
In a poetic effort to introduce life on Earth to someone who’s never been here before, Oliver wrote his newborn son a letter full of pearls of wisdom on our shared humanity. Alongside charming, original illustrations, he gives some of his best advice for living on this planet. Jeffers acknowledges that, in the grand scheme of things, we know very little about existence — except that we are experiencing it together.
Anna Kernahan
Anna is a climate justice and ecological activist from Belfast who solo strikes for the climate every Friday as a part of Fridays for Future.
Anna was one of the leaders of the Youth Strike for Climate which took place across Northern Ireland, and the world, in September 2019 and saw thousands of school pupils leave school to protest the lack of reaction by decision makers to the climate emergency.
Her enthusiasm and courage to take on leaders and fight for the planet has made her a rising star in climate activism and inspired the younger generations of Northern Ireland to join her in protest and hope for the future. Anna will make a Call for Action for the safety and longevity of the planet – the one she and her generation will inherit.
Professor John Barry
Professor of Green Political Economy at Queen’s University Belfast, John Barry is well versed in green politics, normative aspects of environmental and sustainable development politics governance for sustainable development; the greening of citizenship and civic republicanism; green politics in Ireland, and the Transition Movement; peak oil and climate change.
His expertise in the green economy, views on how business leaders can make more sustainable choices and as former leader of the Green Party means John is engaged at every level of climate activism. His ideas, opinions and knowledge will add to an insightful conversation with Sinead O’Sullivan bringing big concepts, debate and motivation to TEDxStormont Countdown and the wide climate crisis response.
