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Lent

Climate Change affects everyone, but not equally

Trócaire launches its annual Lenten appeal in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Derry.

Trócaire supporter Marty Morrissey, Kurdish born hurler and author, Zak Moradi, and Trinity camogie players, Yvonne Stack (left) and Aoife Nelligan as they kick-off Trócaire’s annual Lenten appeal today at Croke Park. Photo Mark Stedman Trócaire supporter Marty Morrissey, Kurdish born hurler and author, Zak Moradi, and Trinity camogie players, Yvonne Stack (left) and Aoife Nelligan as they kick-off Trócaire’s annual Lenten appeal today at Croke Park. Photo Mark Stedman

Trócaire is fortunate to be one the GAA charity partners 2023/24. Both Trócaire and the GAA are iconic national organisations making a very positive impact on peoples lives. Aligning with Trócaire’s values, Croke Park continues to be a global sporting leader for sustainability standards.

As the worlds most vulnerable continue to pay the price for the global climate crisis, today Trócaire launches its annual Lenten appeal highlighting that it is the next generation who will inherit the climate crisis.

The devastating impacts of climate change are no longer predictions; they are reality. Over 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change. 2023 provided a stark picture of climate breakdown, from devastating wildfires in Greece, Hawaii and Canada, to a crippling food crisis due to drought in the Horn of Africa, and vicious storms, such as Cyclone Freddy that ripped through communities in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Pictured are sports commentator and Trócaire supporter Marty Morrissey, Kurdish born hurler and author, Zak Moradi, Trinity camogie players, Yvonne Stack (right) and Aoife Nelligan, GAA President, Larry McCarthy and Trócaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra. Photo Mark Stedman Pictured are sports commentator and Trócaire supporter Marty Morrissey, Kurdish born hurler and author, Zak Moradi, Trinity camogie players, Yvonne Stack (right) and Aoife Nelligan, GAA President, Larry McCarthy and Trócaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra. Photo Mark Stedman

This year Trócaire’s Lenten campaign is focusing on the people of Malawi who are suffering from repeated droughts, flooding and cyclones and while they try to recover from each devastating event they are then hit again and again, in turn suffering displacement and food shortages. This year, Trócaire is leading efforts to ensure that help reaches those experiencing the worst impacts of climate change. In Malawi 2.3 million people have limited access to food and more than 3.8 million (20% of population) face critical food insecurity in Malawi.

Caoimhe de Barra, Trocaire CEO, said, “It is deeply unjust that those who have done least to cause the climate crisis, and who have the least capacity to adapt, are suffering most severely from its impacts. In particular, marginalised groups such as women and indigenous peoples must not continue to pay the price for global climate inaction. We want to see a sustainable world, where people and the planet flourish and climate action is rooted in the principles of justice, human rights and gender equality, equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities, polluter pays principle and a just transition.”

Junior infants’ class from Scoil Eoin national school in Innishannon, Co. Cork learn about climate justice and receive their first Trócaire box. Photo Mark Stedman Junior infants’ class from Scoil Eoin national school in Innishannon, Co. Cork learn about climate justice and receive their first Trócaire box. Photo Mark Stedman
Junior infants’ class from Scoil Eoin national school in Innishannon, Co. Cork learn about climate justice. Photo Mark Stedman Junior infants’ class from Scoil Eoin national school in Innishannon, Co. Cork learn about climate justice. Photo Mark Stedman

Julius Ng’oma, National Coordinator for Trócaire partner ‘Civil Society Network on Climate Change’ said that climate change is having devastating effects on Malawi: “For the past two decades, droughts and flooding have become more intense and frequent. In the past four years alone, we’ve seen a new phenomenon of cyclones which are causing havoc. Thousands of people have died. Homes, schools and roads have been destroyed. Over five and a half million people have been displaced in Malawi by these cyclones in recent years. Cyclone Freddy which hit Malawi in February 2023 caused a dire food shortage as most people lost their livelihoods. The drought and floods are also affecting people’s access to clean water, which also has a knock-on effect on agriculture. These are the current lived impacts of climate change, but if we don’t act globally, it will get even worse in the future.”

For over 50 years Trόcaire has changed the lives of tens of millions of people around the world. Its annual Lenten Appeal sees the iconic Trócaire Box displayed in hundreds of thousands of schools, Churches, and homes all over the country in the build up to Easter.

Last year Trócaire improved the lives of 1.58 million people in 24 of the most fragile countries in the world.

Class P1 Blue, St. Brides PS in Belfast help launch the Trócaire Lenten Appeal 2024. Photo: Justin Kernoghan Class P1 Blue, St. Brides PS in Belfast help launch the Trócaire Lenten Appeal 2024. Photo: Justin Kernoghan
Class P1B, St. John’s PS in Derry receive their first Trócaire Box at the launch of the Lenten Appeal 2024. David O'Hare / Trócaire Class P1B, St. John’s PS in Derry receive their first Trócaire Box at the launch of the Lenten Appeal 2024. David O'Hare / Trócaire

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