We are a nation of storytellers, evidenced throughout our history and culture. Storytelling is a powerful way to make abstract facts more immediate for ourselves. In the Summer of 2021, we invited older citizens of Cork County to share their climate stories. This book recognises the unique knowledge, insights and wisdom older people have to share. It is a collaborative project between Cork County Council, the Cork County Age Friendly Programme and the Cork County Older Peoples Council. A climate story is an account of climate change from personal experience such as how a person may have noticed climate change in their own life, how a locality has been affected by climate change and what message could be given to future generations.
Many of these stories convey the emotional weight of personal experiences of climate change, such as loss of biodiversity, changes to the county's coastline and the impact of severe weather. Although climate change is often portrayed in terms of a bleak future, many of the storytellers in this book imagine ways of responding positively. Stories are approached not just with anger or fear but with wistfulness and a gentle nostalgia for what has changed. There are beautiful descriptions of honest moments and treasured memories from authentic voices which stop and make us think.
Right now, we have a multitude of scientific and technological tools as well as the knowledge we need as a species to change. The challenge remains in persuasion, emotional appeals, behavioural change and action. Of course, stories will never be enough but a problem this large requires a range of solutions from a multitude of diverse angles.
We are proud to share these stories in an effort to help kindle change and hope you enjoy the stories, poems and photographs from Cork's older citizens. Thanks to all who shared their story with us and we hope that you not only enjoy but are motivated to think about climate change.