Game-Changing Conversations At Climate Cocktail Club’s Christmas Cracker
Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the Climate Cocktail Club Christmas Cracker: Game Changer event at The Sugar Club in Dublin. It was an evening filled with inspiration, creativity, and practical ideas for tackling climate challenges. From elite athletes to grassroots leaders, the message was clear: climate action is everyone’s game. We thought we would share some of our key takeaways.
To set a realistic tone to depict the state of the world we’re in, it was a reality check to see how climate change is also affecting sports. More prevalent extreme heat or water logged pitches are forcing an increase in sporting event cancellations. It is impacting athletes’ health with steaming astro turf pitches at times creating burns on players feet, recurring heat stroke and uncomfortable conditions attacking players’ effectiveness on their sporting stage. All of this also financially impacts clubs, stadiums, cooperatives, media, and so on.
Image Source: Climate Cocktail Club LinkedIn Page
However, lots is being done, and particularly at grassroots level which is hugely encouraging to see.
The climate cocktail club event explored how climate change is reshaping industries, particularly sport, and how collaboration can turn challenges into opportunities. Speakers like Linda Djougang, Irish rugby star, and Seán McCabe, Head of Climate Justice at Bohemian FC, shared powerful insights on leadership and community-driven action. Discussions ranged from surf culture’s role in environmental awareness to bold initiatives that empower local communities.
Key Takeaways That Resonated
1. Communicate Your Impact
Businesses need to be vocal about their sustainability measures. Green Hushing can sometimes nearly (nearly is a key word here) be as detrimental as Green Washing. Communicating your sustainability story educates, encourages, and inspires even more positive change. However, as almost each speaker said on the night, the tone matters: lead with authenticity, not preachiness. As Olympian Ben Johnson mentioned “we sometimes make sustainability a different language which doesn’t help us”, let’s speak to people in their language. Ben gave the example of the Paris Olympics as a sustainability case study. It was obvious to all attending and participating that sustainability was a priority, without it being too in your face.
Alice Ward, Creative Director of Sea Pea Films gave a wonderful example of how “film and storytelling can create immense change” giving ‘The Big Sea’ documentary as an example of how a flood of change followed it
We were delighted to see Seán McCabe take part in the night and got excited for the Inspiring Sustainable Tourism Conference to learn more from him then and of the fantastic work of Bohemian Football Club and Climate Cooperative, The Spark.
“Football is a connected fabric of a community. If we want to change the game, we need to change the behaviour of the fans”, Seán mentions, highlighting how the biggest footprint is the transport of their highly supportive fans. “We want the fans to see what we do, not tell them what we’re doing. If we make our story naff though, the fans will hate it. Listen to fans, engage with them.” We couldn’t agree more. As businesses, the burden can’t be put on our customers. After all, the majority of them tend to have a small footprint and potentially do not have the finances to engage in sustainability measures. We can however empower them with knowledge and show them that as businesses we practice what we preach (we’ll say it one more time though – let’s not preach!).
A clever approach at Munster Rugby was given by Sustainability Lead Laura Lahiff. “As a club, we need to bring joy, hope and belief – it’s not just about awareness. “We need to find emotional connection, a belonging.” At Munster Rugby they know their fans speak rugby, so they use rugby terminology to simplify terms such as carbon reduction and sequestration. “Sport can be a catalyst for cultural power. We must speed up the agenda and we can be a vehicle to drive that on.”
Alice, known for her storytelling capacities in film, gave a tip for telling your story. “Use feeling, think of your audience and how they can feel. That way we can create a ‘moth collective’”, allowing them to latch onto your story like moths to a flame.
2. Learn And Share
Find role models, join collectives, and exchange ideas. Collaboration accelerates progress and makes sustainability feel achievable.
“Education opens up opportunity”, says Irish rugby star Linda, “being part of a community makes you feel part of something. The more you know, the more you know what’s happening and what you can do.” Linda also encourages everyone to “dream big, have a role model.” Be it a role model in business or in sport, you can learn from their lessons and grow through their inspiration. You and your business can then in turn be that for another.
“Embrace our culture, our heritage and our community, this can only help our climate.” says adventure athlete Daragh Morgan. “Immerse yourself, gain an appreciation of the beauty that we live in. That will be your motivation.” You can do this with your business teams also, be it through nature bathing experiences, team bonding hikes, tree planting or litter picking days, to name a few examples.
3. Act Where You Can
Whether big or small, every action counts. Start with what’s within your capacity and build from there. As Linda says, “no matter who you are, where you’re from there’s a place in sport for you”, the same goes with sustainability. From inclusivity and accessibility, to biodiversity conservation; from internal and external community engagement to waste, water and energy management; you can find your area. You can find the interests of your team to push any sustainability agenda.
There are many facets to sustainability, we can demand for everybody to take action in any area of sustainability. Wherever their passions, abilities and sports lie.
Why Being Part Of A Network Matters
One theme that kept coming up was the power of community. This is where the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) shines. SBN is more than a membership – it’s a community that helps businesses turn sustainability into a strategic advantage. Here’s what makes it valuable:
- Visibility & Credibility: Showcase your sustainability credentials and amplify your brand through tailored promotion and social media support.
- Networking & Collaboration: Access events that connect you with like-minded professionals, decision-makers, and innovators. These relationships lead to real business opportunities.
- Education & Training: Unlock free workshops, webinars, and eLearning courses designed to make your business future-ready.
- Shared Purpose: Join a community committed to reducing impact, protecting the environment, and driving positive change across sectors.
SBN’s ethos is simple: making sustainability strategic, scalable, and practical for modern businesses. It’s about turning good intentions into measurable impact while growing your business responsibly.
Final Thoughts
The Christmas Cracker event reminded us that sustainability isn’t a solo journey – it’s a collective effort. By sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and acting with purpose, we can create a future where businesses thrive and communities flourish. Keep an eye out for their upcoming events in the new year here.
If you’re curious about how to make sustainability part of your business strategy, consider exploring the Sustainable Business Network. It’s a step toward being part of something bigger – a network that educates, connects, and empowers.
