Our Mission
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little. Do what you can."
– Sydney Smith
The Mainstreaming of Low-Carbon & Sustainable Lifestyles through Green Regeneration Initiatives
Green Offaly has a mission to work with all sectors of our local Communities to assist in lowering our County’s Greenhouse Gas emissions and to preserve, restore and increase our Biodiversity. We know that we are not going to achieve this without our Communities benefiting in a tangible way from the changes in lifestyle that Climate Change will incur. As such we are embracing a dual process that implements both Environmental and Economic renewal for our Communities through the Development Trust Model.
By advancing Green Community Regeneration as the solution to empowering our Communities to address Climate Change, we will work with our Communities to co-create a new identity for the region via Green Offaly Projects (Social Enterprise) and Green Futures (Education & Training).
Green Regeneration is at the Heart of What We Do
The aim of regeneration is to enable communities that have experienced economic, social and environmental decline to be able to rebuild their own communities. Green Regeneration occurs when we place People and Planet as equal partners in that process. Effective regeneration requires that we engage the entirety of what makes a place healthy and that includes the biosphere (the parts of the land, sea, and atmosphere in which organisms are able to live).
“If you plan for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places”. –Fred Kent (Project for Public Spaces)
Green Regeneration happens all over the planet. If we leave a field alone for a year or two it quickly becomes a meadow which is buzzing with wildlife. Earth is the ultimate regenerator. Renewal occurs if we allow what is sleeping in our Communities the space to come forward. Rehabilitated wetlands, hedges full of fruit and wildlife, river banks which are home to birds and wildlife, local towns and villages full of nature, life, families and businesses. Repurposed and restored passive and low carbon buildings which house income generating green enterprises, education and training.
"Being at the heart of a regeneration scheme means being at the heart of a new community"
– Stephen Wilkinson (Knowledge Buildings)
Sustainability - Our Guiding Principle
As a Sustainable Development Trust, Green Offaly is looking seven generations ahead!
“Sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Definition by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development).
The Three Strands of Sustainability are Environment, Economy and Everybody. When all three elements are strong, people live in a system where a high quality life is the norm. They have a clean healthy environment, a satisfactory level of economic well-being, and a robust level of social fulfilment. No one aspect of living is given more importance than another. All things balance. (For more information please see the Sustainable Communities section)
Sustainability is so important to us that we have created our Sustainable 5 Index to guide us in our work.
| The Sustainable 5 Index – Our Guiding Principles for Projects | |
|---|---|
|
1.DECARBONISATION |
Demonstrate the Ability to Achieve Low to Zero Carbon Emissions. |
|
2.GUARDIANSHIP |
To restore, preserve or increase the natural biodiversity of the area. |
|
3.REGENERATION
|
To create opportunities for premium long term economic prosperity and job creation specific to the area.
|
|
4.INTELLIGENCE
|
To demonstrate creativity, innovation, research and excellence in design.
|
|
5.SOCIETY |
Informing, educating, training. To incorporate education or training in green futures into our day to day operations. |
"Anyone who believes in indefinite growth on a finite planet is either mad, or an economist."
– David Attenborough
Mission Accomplished! What will Offaly be like when we reach our vision?
Offaly in 2040 is a Sustainable County, leading from the Heart of the Country. We have an abundance of Biodiversity, Green Social Enterprises and our Communities enjoy a qualitative living experience with high levels of local employment. We have achieved Biosphere Status for our Peatlands and we have reduced our GHG emissions in line with EU Targets. We are renowned nationally for our Excellence in Green Futures Education, Research and Training.