It’s not often that Tom Cruise and Cork City Council are mentioned in the same sentence, but as Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning lands in cinemas, promising “end of the world” narratives and nerve-shattering stunts, Cork has launched its own real world high-stakes mission: to cut one million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030. Cue dramatic music.

Cork recently received the EU Commission’s ‘Mission Label’ which recognises the city as one of 100 European cities leading the charge to a sustainable carbon neutral future. It’s an undertaking not for the faint-hearted. But it’s not entirely an impossible mission.

I haven’t seen the latest movie yet - but I’m guessing Tom Cruise saves the day as per his predictable plotlines.

It’s comforting in movies when the good and bad guys are easily differentiated, and the doomsday scenario is avoided by the heroics of just one man (and his motley crew of tech wizards).

Unfortunately, in real life, averting the worst of the climate crisis cannot be achieved by one singular effort, one magic bullet, or one climate leader. Disappointingly, for those of us raised on Hollywood blockbusters, climate action requires everyone to row in, and avert the worst of global heating.

None of us can spectate from the sidelines mindlessly eating popcorn, hoping someone else will do the hard work.

However, there is a happy ending in the offing. An ending where Cork aces the task, builds an........

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