Cork environmentalist: I'm resilient, committed and ionate

“ACTION is the most important thing… we need to have action happening much more rapidly.”

You may not know Bernie Connolly, but you should. Her work as the Cork Environmental Forum’s Development Coordinator is focused primarily on advocating for sustainable development in Cork, something that concerns us all.

Time is running out, and so is any environmentalist’s patience for the empty promises and greenwashing that distracts from addressing the current climate crisis.

Bernie’s work is more important than ever at this critical juncture for the planet’s future. The inconvenient truth is that we are in the sixth mass extinction. At a national level, key environmental health metrics, including water and air quality, have deteriorated. Times have changed, and not for the better .

“In the 1970s, we had 500 pristine rivers; that’s down to about 20 now,” said Bernie.

Her career choice to shape a better and more sustainable tomorrow has, in turn, changed her. Her eyes have opened to the budgeting challenges NGOs face, with too much time, energy, and resources going towards securing annual funding, despite the longevity of the Cork Environmental Forums operations, 29 years and counting.

While the government may be quick to praise the work of NGOs, talk is cheap, and these words fall short for Bernie, who has to fight every year to receive resources to continue the crucial work of the Cork Environmental Forum.

They say diamonds are formed under pressure, and if so, Bernie is Cork’s crowning jewel, with a patient determination and grit forged under the significant weight of responsibility that lies on her shoulders in her role.

“I’ve realised that I’m very resilient, committed, and ionate,” she said, adding that she is surrounded by good, committed people in her work who help her retain her positive outlook.

Her love of nature was forged in the idyllic landscape of Glengariff during her childhood, Halcyon days, with a near pristine environment that she recalls with nostalgia. Summer visits to her grandmother’s farm, learning about nature from her uncle. She walked everywhere as her parents had no car, and had the seashore as a playground, along with the freedom to roam.

She reflected: “Through that, you’re just in touch with nature, and you’re not realising that it’s getting into you, you know, but it does.”

In the environmental landscape, where resources are few and challenges are many, there have been some positive changes along the way, among them the growing awareness of the environment.

Cork Environmental Forum started way back in 1995, and what has really changed since then is that environmental issues have become mainstream.

For all its drawbacks, social media has opened a new portal for connecting and expediting the latest news arrival to our devices, including environmental disasters.

Bernie is also quick to share the positive developments in local authorities, including that we finally have biodiversity officers in local authorities. Cork City Council has recently employed a landscape architect and boasts a Tree Officer among its staff.

“You’re beginning to see the right type of roles come in that can influence within,” she said.

Women have a pivotal role in solving the environmental crisis. Still, the gender gap in country-level power-holding positions on a global scale is a vast chasm, with a mere 30 women leaders out of about 250 countries. There is much to be done to address this, including gender-based quotas to bring about the representation needed to reflect our world’s population.

Bernie said: “We’re being dictated to by an old standard of ways of doing business that actually is out of kilter now with what we need, and we need more of that comion, that deep understanding.”

She added that until women are included at the higher levels of power and decision-making, we are going to get the same bad policies. The scope of work of the Cork Environmental Forum for 2024 is extensive, with a strong emphasis on influencing policy, ing emerging projects, and educational awareness.

Pesticide use is one of the areas the forum is interested in. While Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, just recently announced the disappointing news that they were withdrawing the Sustainable Use of Pesticides regulation, closer to home, there is a good news story, as Cork City Council has banned the use of glyphosate in its jurisdiction, except for use on the invasive alien species, Japanese Knotweed.

Light pollution is another focus for 2024, and Bernie shares her dismay that about 80% of Ireland can’t see the Milky Way properly due to us needing light 24/7.

This is felt acutely by not only nocturnal creatures but also humans, with research suggesting that artificial light at night can negatively affect human health.

Hydromorphology and water quality are critical concerns, with only 50% of Irish waters achieving ‘good’ status and a challenging target to bring them all up to this standard by 2027.

Bernie speaks with considerable expertise, having just spent six years on the National Water Forum. She also shares her ongoing interest in Irish coastlines with the Cork Environmental Forum’s involvement in Coastwatch.

Bernie bears the weight of her frustrations with the current systems and status quo that prevails, with remarkable fortitude, and recharges and restores her equilibrium in the environment she seeks to defend and protect.

She speaks with joy about how installing a pond in her garden several years ago gives her succour every day. This microcosm of biodiversity, bursting with the colourful vibrancy of all that nature has to offer - from dragonflies to frogspawn and birds - serves as a daily reminder of the significance and impact of small actions, actions that are within reach for us all.

Bernie offers words of encouragement about how we can all make a difference, “do the little you can in your own space.”

Her suggestions are simple and accessible.

Food is an area where people can create meaningful changes, as going vegetarian or vegan just once or twice a week greatly impacts a person’s carbon footprint.

Transport swaps can be considered for longer journeys, such as opting for a train or bus on some journeys rather than taking the car.

In Cork city, most of the green spaces are in our gardens, with Cork City Council only having authority over 17%. That means everyone has the potential and power to transform the urban landscape by planting native trees if space allows, plants for pollinators, or even just a window box with herbs like chives or rosemary.

As Bernie said: “Nature rebounds if you help it a little bit.”

And we can all do a little bit.

She encourages speaking up about environmental concerns that bother you when canvassers come knocking on our doors in the coming months. It’s important that politicians realise that, at the ground level, people are really concerned about these things.

All are welcome to the Cork Environmental Forum as a hip-based organisation, or keep up to date with their work via their website and social media profile on Facebook and X. The Forum is a regular feature at the Cork City Patrick’s Day parade, accompanied by the Mahon Youth Group and Cork Community Bikes, and welcomes all to in the fun each year.

Cork Environmental Forum’s work includes collaboration with various networks and groups, locally, nationally, and internationally.

It has outgrown its name of 29 years and is currently shaking off its ‘Cork’ title and rebranding as The Environmental Forum. However, Corkonians will be reassured that its primary purpose remains to foster, promote, and implement sustainable development locally in the Cork region.

While the title may change, Bernie’s focus will be anchored on what matters most: action.

Our Green Women column by Carmel Wright, will run in WoW! on the last Wednesday of every month.