“With 90% of the world’s urban areas situated on coastlines, cities are at high risk from some of the devastating impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and powerful coastal storms. Coastal cities such as Galway are on the frontlines of global climate change and are well-positioned to play a leadership role in driving global action to address climate change” – 2020 Galway Climathon Ideas Challenge
The Galway Climathon is built from the energy and dynamism of multiple innovators, groups and individuals to develop innovations towards a zero-carbon footprint horizon-point for Galway city districts, sectors and inhabitants.
Teams were challenged to identify innovations, business strategies that might be scaled up to address the challenges of climate change in Galway city. I was fortunate to be part of the winning team of 2020 with our idea of using sustainably harvested seaweed to produce a range of products (including beer!). We identified the need to protect Galway from sea level rise and reduce the carbon footprint of one of its biggest industries – Tourism.
As sea levels rise, many coastal areas of Ireland could soon find themselves at risk of severe flooding. The risk of seasonal flooding and storm surges is rising.
The expansion of seaweed farms along Galway’s coastline could help buffer the city against storm surges while simultaneously absorbing large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere.
The promotion of a locally produced ‘Seaweed Beer’ could help shorten supply chains, reduce the carbon footprint of tourism in Galway and increase awareness of the risks of climate change. Its a Win-Win!
