A toolkit has been launched with the aim of building peace through community-led climate action with six communities surrounding the MacNean loughs.

The Border Transition was launched by the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) and TASC, the ‘Think-tank for Action on Social Change’.

Following the presentation of the toolkit to the communities of Belcoo, Blacklion, Cashel, Glenfarne, Killesher and Kiltyclogher towards the end of last year, at the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance in Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim, the Border Transition report is now being launched to the wider public and stakeholders.

The Border Transition project began in January, 2022 and was delivered by the ICBAN and TASC, working with the communities of the Lough MacNean area which traverses Cavan, Fermanagh and Leitrim.

Róisín Greaney, Climate Justice Researcher at TASC, said: “We are delighted to launch this toolkit for the communities of Lough MacNean.

“It has been a pleasure meeting with so many people across the communities of Belcoo, Blacklion, Cashel, Glenfarne, Killesher and Kiltyclogher.

“We hope that the solutions developed, as well as the process itself, has provoked thought into how climate action can address local development needs.”

Andy Hallewell, Innovation Officer at ICBAN, said: “This project has been a unique journey, where all of us – citizens, stakeholders, TASC and ICBAN – have been learning as we go about the many ways in which climate change can be tackled by fresh, new ideas, inspired by local people, that can bring future benefits to local communities, and the environment.”

With funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund, the project provided the opportunity to initially listen to, and learn from, the community’s needs and abilities, and then begin to identify climate solutions that could address a number of the main development priorities for the area.

Following extensive community dialogue and engagement, a number of solutions have been researched and developed, varying from community energy cooperatives to hemp farming and sustainable tourism.

These climate solutions respond to the appetite for cross-community collaboration and the need for sustainable local employment and community ownership over local development opportunities.

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