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Dr. Lorna Gold - OA Hall of Fame
On Monday, we welcomed our newest member to the OA Hall of Fame – Dr. Lorna Gold, who has been recognised for her outstanding commitment to climate activism and her work within the sustainability sector.
Dr Gold (class of 1990) is a social scientist and Climate Activist who has become known as an outspoken critic of inaction on climate change and an advocate for just solutions. She has written a book entitled “Climate Generation – Awakening to Our Children’s Future” which is about working to change environmental policy and what the consequences are if effective changes are not made immediately.
She began her professional career as an academic researcher, completing her PhD at Glasgow University in 2000 which focused on the area of “Sharing Economy” within the Department of Geography. Thereafter, she took up 2 Post-Doctoral positions at the University of York in the Department of Politics, and following this, she published her PhD as a book and several papers. From York, she moved to Ireland and left academic teaching and research to pursue a career in Advocacy, Policy Research and Campaigning in Ireland.
Dr Gold worked with Trócaire (the Irish Catholic Agency for International Development) for almost two decades, leading their work in the areas of Research, Policy and Advocacy until her departure in April 2020. Dr Gold was instrumental in the successful climate justice campaign led by Trócaire in 2016-2018, which led to the Irish Government becoming the first in the world to divest its’ sovereign wealth fund from fossil fuels. She has also played an important role advising the Irish Government on climate change, as part of the Ministerial Advisory Group on the National Climate Dialogue since 2018. She chairs the Irish Bishops’ Working Group on Laudato Si and is a member of the recently established Vatican Commission on the COVID Crisis. She currently lectures part-time in Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University and is chair of Laudato Si Movement, formerly Global Catholic Climate Movement. Her most recent project with UK based group FaithInvest is developing an online curriculum with the UNDP for Catholic business leaders on Laudato Sí and Entrepreneurship.
Dr Gold is the mother of two young children and she was recently named in the top 20 climate influencers in Ireland.
With the second week of COP26 well underway in Glasgow, now is an important time to recognise the amazing work of Dr. Gold, and to emphasise what must be done to protect our common home.
Talking about her time at the College, Dr. Gold commented;
“I feel very honoured to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of St. Aloysius College. Being back at the church and school brought back many happy memories – and such a powerful reminder of how lucky I was to have such a great education. I first learned of climate change in a geography class in St. Aloysius in 1985. I did a school project on it and I think never looked back from that moment. Perhaps I was not so aware at the time, but the education I received at the College, which was shaped by a deep Jesuit vision, really set the direction of my path in life. I now chair the largest Catholic environmental network, the Laudato Si Movement, and work with many faith groups, scientists and businesses to tackle climate injustice. It is wonderful to see the College so active on climate change and sustainability! I really hope to be back soon”.
Welcome to the OA Hall of Fame Dr. Gold!
