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You are > Home > GAA aims to tackle climate change
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10 September 2008
GAA aims to tackle climate change
By Tommie Kenoy
Have you joined the GAA’s culgreen initiative? If not, you should. It won’t halt global warming but it is, nonetheless, a very commendable step aimed at helping GAA members tackle the real problem of climate change.
The scheme aims to make Croke Park carbon neutral by redressing the carbon balance sheet in its favour.
Through www.culgreen.ie it sets out to harness the Association’s greatest asset its huge base of members and supporters. The idea is that members will reduce their carbon footprint by making changes in their homes and businesses and “donating” their savings to the Croke Park initiative.
Members and fans who join the initiative are asked to pledge that they will take personal steps such as never leaving a light on when it’s not needed, never filling the kettle when less will do and never travelling to Croke Park by car when the bus or train are available.
Given that Croker produces 4,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, it would seem that a lot of lights will need to be turned off and hundreds of thousands will need to leave their car at home to help make Croke Park carbon neutral.
Yet the GAA is determined that the project will have a real impact, not just in respect of neutralising Croke Park’s impact but also in helping its members and supporters to become aware of the personal contribution they can make towards the reduction of global warming.
The reality is that it’s not possible to engage in any event, whether it’s having a shower, driving to work, staging a concert or an AllIreland final without causing pollution. The GAA’s initiative is aimed at making people aware of that and acting to redress the balance where ever and whenever possible.
Major events are valuable elements in our society. It is unrealistic to say that we can save the climate by stopping such events. Instead the GAA’s scheme aims to encourage its members to contribute elsewhere in simple personal ways.
Over two million people come to Croke Park every year, which is a massive audience for the GAA to sell its message to. Indeed the Association is pitting county against county in traditional style by offering €20,000 in grant aid to fund juvenile development in whatever county makes the most pledges per head of population.
Now that’s an All-Ireland Roscommon could win. All that’s needed is for Roscommon people to log on to www.culgreen.ie and make their pledges. Do it now.
New hurling championship format
Another change in the format of the All-Ireland hurling championships is almost ready for consideration by a special GAA Congress, the latest of many such proposals.
This one proposes to add a new tier to the structure, the Lory Meagher Cup and would move Antrim and Galway into the Leinster championship.
Kilkenny, as champions, would have a bye into the provincial semi-finals. The remaining six would play off with three winners joining the Cats in the semi-finals.
The other three would join a first round loser in Munster in Pool One of the qualifiers. Pool Two would consist of the semi-final losers in both provinces. The winners from the qualifiers would then play the Leinster and Munster champions in AllIreland semi-finals.
However, all is not well in Galway as Athenry has already mandated its county board delegates to oppose. If other clubs in Galway follow their lead, then the scheme is dead.
That would be a pity because while this is far from a perfect proposal, it’s a big improvement on the current system and should be adopted in the best interests of hurling.
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