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2024 Dóchas Conference

Dóchas at 50: Sustainable Development in a Time of Climate Crisis

Our 2024 Conference, Dóchas at 50: Sustainable Development in a Time of Climate Crisis was held on Thursday 9th May at Royal College of Physicians, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

This year we celebrated five decades of collaboration amongst International development and humanitarian organisations in Ireland, and our collective vision for a just, equal and sustainable world. Climate change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. At this year’s conference, we explored climate adaptation, anticipatory action, and how we can work together towards a just transition.

Keynote Address

We were delighted to be joined by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins who delivered the conference's keynote speech.

You can watch his speech below.

Panels

Panel 1: "What does a just transition look like in the Global South?"

Panelists

Prof. Attiya Waris - UN Independent Expert on Foreign Debt, Other International Financial Obligations and Human Rights

Ms. Karol Balfe - CEO of ActionAid Ireland

Mr. Zachary Lager - Global Carbon Coordinator at Self Help Africa

Moderated by Ms. Sadhbh O'Neill, Senior Climate Advisor at Friends of the Earth Ireland

Panel 2: "Adapting Humanitarian Action in a Climate Emergency"

Panelists:

Dr. Hugo Slim - Senior Research Fellow at Las Casas Institute for Social Justice at the University of Oxford

Mr. Paul Knox Clarke - Principal of the ADAPT Initiative

Ms. Nishanie Jayamaha - Co-lead at the Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations

Mr. Maurice Sadlier - Programmes Director at World Vision Ireland

Moderated by Ms. Réiseal Ní Chéilleachair, Head of International Advocacy at Concern Worldwide

For more informations on our panellists click here

Sponsors

We were thrilled that the UCD Innovation Academy supported this year’s Dóchas conference. The UCD Innovation Academy is currently offering funded places on their MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability, starting September 2024. This is a unique masters programme that bridges sustainability knowledge and skills, ensuring students are ready to quickly transition to new roles and opportunities upon graduation. Offers are made on a rolling basis until the programme is full but early application is advised.