By Barry Coughlan
Education is a key ingredient for those trying to get the message across to the public of the dangers associated with climate change in all of its guises.
In Ireland, one of the efforts to educate centers on a program known as Linte na Farraige (Lines of the Sea) that connects the public visually and tangibly to the risks from future sea levels, through a series of light installations across Irish coastal locations and heritage sites.
The light installations are designed by Finnish artists, Pekka Niittyvirta and Timo Aho.
Línte na Farraige is a recipient of the inaugural Creative Climate Action fund, an initiative from the Creative Ireland Program, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications that supports creative, cultural and artistic projects that build awareness around climate change and empower citizens to make meaningful behavioural transformations.
Speaking of the project, Councillor Mary Hanafin, Chairman of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said: “The Línte na Farraige project is a unique, yet stark reminder, that our seas are silently rising, and will continue to do so, undetectable to the naked eye.
“The Government’s national Climate Action Plan 2023 speaks to ambition that will only work if we all come together in a strengthened ‘social contract’ for climate action, working towards real solutions that are meaningful, inclusive, fair and accessible.
“By working together, we can all help ‘lower the line’. I wish to thank the Artists, the National Monuments Service, the Creative Climate Action program and the wider project team, for bringing this installation to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.”
The art installation at the Martello Tower in Blackrock Park, consisting of a solar powered horizontal LED line of light, shows the future risks of rising seas and storm surges, in the year 2100 and under a high-risk scenario, where ice loss from Antarctica is greater than expected. The installation is based on future predictions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report AR6, and historic storm surge data in Dublin Bay.
Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it was hugely important to work a way towards climate action programs planned by Ireland in the present and coming years.
“I am delighted that the Council is a local authority partner in the Línte na Farraige project. Climate action is central to the broad range of services that we provide to our customers, including social housing upgrades, active travel, environmental awareness programs and our numerous strategic plans and policies.
“I believe that as we all work towards our 2030 and 2050 climate action targets, local authorities can be at the heart of this ambition, given our close links with local communities, our role in emergency response planning and our ongoing partnership with various Government departments and agencies.
“The installation demonstrates the need to collectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and adapt together to protect our coastlines and communities, from the effects of climate change. This public installation will run at the Martello Tower for a number of months. The Council is also running an associated outdoor, public exhibition on the Línte na Farraige project at Moran Park, Dún Laoghaire.”
Catherine Martin T.D. Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media highlighted the importance of public knowledge all subjects associated with climate change.
“I welcome the timely unveiling of this project. The future is still in our hands. By making key changes in our personal behavior we can mitigate against climate change and sea level rise and build a more sustainable and resilient future for us all.”
Línte na Farraige is a collaborative project, with a team including Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, scientists based at Trinity College Dublin, Maynooth University, University College Cork, the Dublin Climate Action Regional Office, Wexford County Council, Galway City Council, Fingal County Council, the Marine Institute, Irish creators and artists. The other installations are located at The Spanish Arch, Galway and Wexford Harbor.