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Piecing Hope Together: EU GREEN’s Symbolic Flower Joins Ireland’s Climate Quilt for COP30 in Brazil
From Ballina to Belém, a patchwork quilt hand-stitched by climate and nature groups across Ireland has travelled all the way to the COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil, carrying a shared message of hope and unity.
EU GREEN’s presence in the quilt appears through a circular flower emblem at the heart of one patch, brought to life by Dr Sarah Berthaud, whose exceptional craft transformed the symbol into a striking visual motif.
The idea came from ATU PhD researcher Beth Brown, who recognised the quilt as a meaningful way to highlight the alliance’s commitment to collaboration, creativity, and community. Together, their contributions made EU GREEN’s presence a distinctive symbol within this global tapestry of climate action.
The EU GREEN flower was placed at the centre of our patchwork to embody the spirit of our alliance:
A shared commitment to sustainability and climate action, radiating outward from a unified centre
Collaboration across borders, bringing nine universities together
Diversity of perspectives, with each petal representing a unique partner
As Margaret Mulchrone, Project Manager for EU GREEN University Alliance, explains:
“The patchwork format, combined with our flower emblem, symbolises how nine universities – each different and unique – come together as a unified community working towards the same purpose. It felt like the ideal way to represent EU GREEN within a global quilt that showcases sustainability and community-driven climate efforts from around the world”.
“In essence, EU GREEN’s contribution to the COP30 quilt is a symbolic gesture of hope, unity, and collective responsibility, expressing our belief that meaningful change is built piece by piece – and together, in our communities,” says Margaret
Through this project, the quilt shows that climate action is not only scientific or technical, but also rooted in community efforts, nurtured by creativity, and guided by care..
The quilt, titled Interwoven / Fite Fuaite, is a joint initiative of the Mary Robinson Centre in Ballina and Project Dandelion. 51 organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland, including environmental advocates, women’s groups, and national organisations such as Birdwatch Ireland and the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, created individual squares for the project.
Reflecting on its significance, Former President Mary Robinson said:
“Each quilt square carries the story of a community working for climate justice and for nature, forging a message of hope as the quilt begins its journey from Ireland to Belém.
As we gather at global events like COP, we must remember that behind the negotiations and policies are real communities doing the work every day. This quilt reminds us of that and that we are stronger together.”
EU GREEN extends heartfelt thanks to Beth Brown, whose curiosity first brought this inspiring project to the team’s attention, and to Dr. Sarah Berthaud, whose skill ensured the EU GREEN flower could shine within this global symbol of unity.
