If you’re interested or curious about sustainability, come along to the People, Planet, Pastry event to meet like-minded business owners who are taking action on sustainability. Learn about what is going on locally, share insights on how to overcome barriers and make new friends!

This relaxed and informal event brings people together to learn more about sustainability and take action.

While we will mostly be discussing businesses, this is an open event where anyone is welcome, so if you’re curious about what’s going on, come on down!

Read more & register - Event

Join the Royal Society of Ulster Architects for a morning of thought-provoking discussions exploring how we shape Belfast’s future through design. We'll reflect on the creative potential of meanwhile spaces, imagine how we can build for a net-positive future, and examine what it takes to deliver sustainable homes and movement across the city in line with the ambitions of A Bolder Vision.

10-11am: Meanwhile for quite a while – What can we do with empty sites where development is years away?

11am-midday: Walk the talk -  What is needed to turn plans for active travel in the city centre into a reality?

Midday-1pm: Home time – How do we deliver sustainable homes in Belfast city centre?

Drop In Panels

Speakers:

Alex Knowles is an architect at FaulknerBrowns and currently chairs the Royal Society of Ulster Architects’ (RSUA) Early Careers Architect Forum (ECAF). RSUA has hosted several ECAF design competitions focused on meanwhile use in Belfast, aiming to activate more open space across the city. In 2023, Alex won The Architectural Review’s Future Projects student prize.

Fearghal Murray is the Director of MMAS Architects. MMAS are recognised experts in meanwhile use and temporary architecture, having led numerous innovative and award-winning projects. These include the Queen’s Quay Kiosk near Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and DRIFT, a floating pavilion on the River Lagan commissioned by Belfast 2024.

These are drop-in panels. Booking is not required.

Karen McShane is a Civil Engineer and Transport Planner and past President of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Technology (CIHT). Karen specialises in all aspects of transport planning, traffic surveying and assessment, and traffic engineering. Over the course of her 34-year career, she has contributed to numerous high-profile projects and now serves as a Transport Advisor to the Northern Ireland Strategic Investment Board.

Olivia Laughlin is a Project Architect at Samuel Stevenson & Sons and currently chairs the Royal Society of Ulster Architects’ (RSUA) Women in Architecture Group. A certified Passive House Designer, she specialises in sustainable design. Olivia has experience across a range of sectors, including private residential projects (extensions, refurbishments, and new builds), social housing, healthcare, and education.

These are drop-in panels. Booking is not required.

James Grieve is Director of James Grieve Architects and President-Elect of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA). James, previously of Consarc Design Group, is a Specialist Conservation Architect well known for restoring key buildings in Northern Ireland. In 2023, he was awarded RSUA’s ‘Project Architect of the Year’ for his work on Belfast’s Grand Opera House. James also lectures at Queen’s University.

Lisa Park is a Founder and Partner of Studio PARK Architects. A Certified Passive House Designer, she specialises in sustainable building design. With over 20 years of experience working on a wide range of projects both in Northern Ireland and internationally, Lisa was previously an Associate at PTW Architects in Sydney before returning to Belfast in 2018.

These are drop-in panels. Booking is not required.

Join Kelley Hann from Wild Life on this Kombucha & Kefir Masterclass

You will have the opportunity to make some delicious fizzy ferments and make kefir overnight oats to take home.

Book Now

Join SONI for a conversation on the challenges and opportunities of reshaping Northern Ireland’s energy grid. As we transition toward a cleaner, more resilient system, this session explores the innovations, infrastructure, and big decisions needed to meet our climate targets while keeping the lights on for everyone.

Gerard Carlin (Director of Networks and Innovation, SONI)
Karen O’Doherty (Future Systems Manager, NIE Networks)
Jamie Delargy (Independent Chairperson, EnergyCloudNI)
Gawain Morrison (Co-founder/Director, Brink!)

This session is supported by SONI.

Drop In Panel

To explore practical pathways for integrating a range of renewable energy solutions across urban and rural settings in Northern Ireland, evaluate their respective pros and cons, and discuss how to harness recent investments in the electricity grid to accelerate adoption at both commercial and domestic scales.

Drop in Panel.

Gawain Morrison (Co-Founder/Director, Brink!)
Marty Doherty (CASE Centre Director, Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy, Queen’s University Belfast)

In partnership with QUB Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy.

Participants will learn the basics of fermentation, as a natural process that preserves food and increases the presence of gut-friendly bacteria. There will be an opportunity to taste at least five seasonal ferments and participants will make a classic sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) to take home. 

Book Now

Exploring the role of local energy projects in a fair and sustainable transition with Action Renewables.

Join us for an energising afternoon of festival panels exploring how cities can power a more sustainable future. We’ll dive into upgrading urban electric grids for the renewable age, explore the potential of community-led energy programs, and discuss how city operations can evolve to be smarter, greener, and more resilient. It's about shifting systems and sharing solutions — together.

David Maze (Senior Project Manager, Action Renewables)
Tiziana O’Hara (Cooperative Alternatives)

This session is supported by Action Renewables.

Drop In Panel

Pop down to your local People Planet Pint meetup to find more about what's going on locally with sustainability and how you can get involved.

No pitches, powerpoints or panels. Just People, Planet, Pint/s.

Your local meetup is a great place to start your journey or continue learning, and meet diverse people to chat about life and how we can sustain it. Every job is a climate job, so come along and learn about how you can take action, as well as what is going on locally.

We welcome everyone, regardless of their experience or background. People Planet Pint is a space where everyone can feel comfortable learning about sustainability and sharing their ideas.

Afterall, creating a sustainable future requires connected communities. And what better way to bring everyone together than over a drink?

Read more & register - Event

Native Coffee are about more than just serving coffee, they host a variety of independent businesses and artists from Belfast and across Northern Ireland. They have built their community on coffee, connection and creativity - check out their Climate Cafes & Sober Socials.

They’re going to be serving hot drinks through the day.

Bakari Bakery are a family-run artisan bakery in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Inspired by Scandinavian baking traditions, we strive to bring the people of Belfast delicious baked goods using local, organic ingredients where possible and imported organic where necessary.

They’re supplying our beautiful pastries each day.

Rather than bringing food trucks onto our site, we would love if you would support our food neighbours - the local businesses who serve up amazing food from pizzas to bagels, from lebanese to cheese - we’re spoiled, so please support them.

Deerah, The Boxing Hare, Bodega Bagels, Mikes Fancy Cheese .. don’t forget the Watson food hatch!

Our favourite bar in Belfast just happens to be our neighbour too & have been an important part of our events during our time on the Belfast Stories site. During the festival the Sunflower Pub will be our bar partner during the evening events on the site.

http://www.sunflowerbelfast.com/