Climate Craic

As a passionate climate activist, Jacinta Hamley works tirelessly for environmental sustainability in her job, and in her time off too. 

Jacinta started becoming aware of climate change in her teens, upon seeing so many pictures and videos online of mountains of plastic waste produced by humans, the poor treatment of animals in factory farming, and the impact of humans on the global climate.

She started Climate Craic in 2021 as a way to get people out of their houses and interacting again after the covid crisis broke community ties. She named the planned event ‘Climate Craic’ to give it a more celebratory and inviting tone, and the slogan 'There is Joy in changing the world.' Over the years, it has attracted many people who are not already tuned into climate issues and who come along with their families because it is designed to be a varied and engaging day of celebration and curiosity. They engage a range of creative arts to educate and involve people in climate and environmental action. They show that there is something for everyone and many different ways to get involved for people interested in anything from fashion to social and community justice. Their topics include, among others: local nature, food, health and innovative ways to use waste as a creative resource. 

The first event in 2021 was held in Stormont Estate, and the second ran in Ormeau Park, where there was a mixture of people who came along purposefully, and those who stumbled upon the event while walking through the park. This year, with the additional £2000 funding from Bank of Ideas, she grew the festival to run over three days, and she partnered with Brink! to deliver a collaborative Autumn Equinox Festival in the Brink! Community garden on the site of the future Belfast Stories Visitor Centre. 

As a volunteer, Jacinta led the event coordination with Gawain Morrison from Brink!, alongside Paul Kelly (Brink!) and Jessica McCourt (Climate Craic), with the support of Hannah Goodall, Marie Allen, Declan Owens and Anna Kennedy from the Climate Craic team. The event attracted 2000 people and involved nearly 30 volunteers from Climate Craic. As the event was held right next to the Sunflower Pub, many people not already tuned in to environmentalism still happened upon it and enjoyed what the festival had to offer. 

Jacinta said,  “The highlight of the project was seeing a wide variety of people engage positively in climate and environmental action and leave inspired. It created a space where participants connected through the arts, embraced discussions, and felt more hopeful about Belfast as a hub for community-driven climate, environmental and social action.

This year, there were many panel discussions, such as about Climate Justice and Lough Neagh, and workshops, such as "Artivism", where people made collective artwork to show what they care about and would like to see happen in the future. 

“It was well attended this year,” said Jacinta, “and we got great feedback from people saying it was insightful and interesting. There was a real air of excitement; people were happy that they had come across the event and many stayed for a good portion of the day. There’s just so much appetite in people for this type of thing. It was great to show that Belfast is a place where things like this happen, that there is enthusiasm for a social life beyond pubs and restaurants."

Keep an eye on Climate Craic social media in coming weeks as they release highlights from the festival.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/climatecraic/ - (Link opens in new window)

Website - https://climatecraic.com/ - (Link opens in new window)