TCD's climate chair sponsored, brand sponsored, by CRH, the Irish head-quartered global cement manufacturer, that is busy buying up cement assets around the world, leaves the head spinning.
Cement and concrete accounts for 8% of global emissions, three times aviation, and CRH is a multi-billion corporation with quite the history here in Ireland. It was Ireland’s third largest industrial emitter of carbon dioxide last year, its two plants in Limerick and Drogheda between them producing more than 1.7 million tonnes of carbon. Only Ryanair and ESB’s five power stations combined emitted more.
if CRH wanted to support research it could have made a quiet donation but when it sought a name branded climate chair, excuse me for thinking this looks a lot like facilitating corporate greenwashing?
When cement manufacturers get this access it is little wonder that Ireland still has regulatory and planning barriers to the use of alternative materials, like timber or hempcrete, compared to other EU countries (Paris uses hempcrete in public housing and Scotland has 75% timber framed housing compared to 25% here). Of course we need concrete/ cement - but Ireland remains slow to implement mandatory embodied carbon measurement or mandate use of low carbon concrete - so TCD facilitating a big polluter to look like a climate activist - seems odd. Would they take an oil company ?
Worth noting this report from just two years ago when CRH was challenged on the reality of its climate goals and emissions by shareholder investors https://lnkd.in/e5qiEJ2v
Of course CRH has a sustainability plan and the new European building regulations will move to decarbonise building and gradually force an EU-wide mandate on measuring embodied carbon emissions, life-cycle assessments and low carbon materials; but this seems opportunistic by CRH (no matter how much research independence is given in the commitment). Scientists and research, and the public, deserve better. It's wonderful to see this outstanding scientist joining TCD, but where the funding comes from does matters.
Multi-millions of public money is being put into the new climate co-centre, headquartered at TCD, yet it is a cement producer that ends up, through a small stream of funding, getting a brand name on the first climate chair in TCD.
The balance is wrong and prompts a false public impression. It is not a good governance look that the Chairman of CRH Board is on the #TCD Provost's Council. Academia taking commercial sponsorship without a detailed analysis of the true cost and value of that benefit is a dangerous ethical minefield.
TCD Students took action earlier in year https://lnkd.in/eWYAKhCH
Good also to see how Irish Independent's Caroline O'Doherty reported it : https://lnkd.in/eh-uw_Xu - She reports CRH pays TCD €1.5 million over 10 years. Works out about €150,000 annually - pittance in advertising spend. DRH closed 2023 with net cash, on operating activities, up 32% at $5 billion dollars.
We are delighted to welcome Professor Karen Wiltshire as the inaugural CRH Chair of Climate Science at Trinity College Dublin School of Engineering.
With a distinguished career in marine biology, climate change, and ecosystem research, Professor Wiltshire brings a wealth of expertise that will strengthen our climate research initiatives. Her leadership will drive innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.
This prestigious appointment, made possible by the generous support of CRH marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to climate action, sustainability, and research excellence.
Join us in celebrating this significant milestone! 🌍🌱
Read more here: https://bit.ly/3X7pQ97
#ClimateScience #Sustainability #TCD #Engineering #ResearchLeadership
Independent Professional Training & Coaching Professional
8moJanice and the conveyors a question: Am I assumed to be BLACK or a PERSON OF COLOUR. Reason being, Climate Change affects us all irrespective of Race, Colour or Creed or Ethnic Origin or Gender.