The Climate Ambassador Podcast

It was such an honour to chat with Professor Mike Berners-Lee, of the Institute for Social Futures at Lancaster University and director and principal consultant of Small World Consulting. Mike is the author of environmental books including The Burning Question, How Bad are Bananas?, There Is No Planet B, a contributor to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, as well as numerous speaking, radio and TV appearances.  We covered a lot of ground, with brilliant insights all the way. Topics discussed include carbon footprints, carbon-offsetting, Greenwashing, the rebound effect - and more - with Mike always delving into the reasons why things are so and what solutions are required, as well as how having a change of mindset and a real look at our values are much more important than any of the global decarbonising efforts underway. This is an entertaining chat, honestly looking at where we are, while offering valuable insights for lasting and meaningful change. Links: https://www.sw-consulting.co.uk https://howbadarebananas.com There Is No Planet B (theresnoplanetb.net) www.burningquestion.info https://theclimatebook.org https://twitter.com/MikeBernersLee

Laura Burke is the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency Ireland. Laura is also the chair of the European Environment Agency and member of the Climate Change Advisory Council. In this wide-ranging discussion, we cover many environmental themes – including how Ireland is performing, the issues and solutions. With agriculture, we discuss the importance of looking at the ‘how’, as well as the significance of the Food & Drink industry’s emissions. Laura calls for the ceasing of continued illegal industrial peat extraction, alongside the need to speed up and scale up the reduction of carbon emissions across every sector. With transport, adding to the mantra of avoid, shift and improve, Laura discusses the importance of looking at freight transport, which will have different requirements to travel solutions. In regard to thoughts and opinions in Ireland, we explore some surprising results, while links are made to what we can do and how action leads to hope and well-being. A thought provoking and inspiring chat with Laura, a very experienced leader of climate action in Ireland. Links: EPA Ireland website: https://www.epa.ie Twitter: @EPAIreland Instagram: @epaireland YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/epaireland EPA Ireland on LinkedIn: search “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland” EPA State of Environment Report (2020): State of Environment Report | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) Climate Opinion Maps | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) Climate Change in the Irish Mind | Environmental Protection Agency (epa.ie) Laura Burke - Session 2: Climate Change in a broader Environmental Context - EPA Ireland - YouTube European Environment Agency European Environment Agency's home page (europa.eu) Climate Change Advisory Council Climate Change Advisory Council (climatecouncil.ie)

Looking at ways to enhance, restore or rewild our biodiversity, although crucially important for many ecosystem services that we depend upon for survival, they should not be seen as separate issues to actions to adapt or mitigate against any impacts of climate change. In this engaging discussion from two very experienced, passionate and eloquent voices, we hear from Ray O’Foghlu, a Nuffield scholar, Wild Atlantic Rainforest Project Lead & Farm Programmes Coordinator at Hometree. We are also joined by Rob Gandola, a Legacy4Life Pond Development Officer, Senior Science Officer of The Herpetological Society of Ireland, Wildlife Consultant and occasional TV presenter. In this open and honest discussion, Ray spoke about the need of getting communities on board with any work on land to enhance, restore or rewild it and listen to their genuine concerns. Also, the need for getting the basics rights, enacting and enforcing what we should be doing now, is a crucial first step in improving our biodiversity in Ireland. Rob also spoke about the importance of getting buy-in from all stakeholders, through awareness raising, while listening to the concerns of the local people impacted on any biodiversity enhancements or rewilding, thereby building trust and enabling a much better outcome for all concerned. Both Rob and Ray would love to see a National Wetland Restoration Scheme set up, which could go a long way to restoring lost wetlands, while providing many ecosystem services, such as improving habitats and enhancing our carbon sink capabilities. Links: Hometree website - https://www.hometree.ie Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/hometreecharity/ Twitter – @hometree__ Instagram - @hometreecharity Legacy4Life website – https://www.antaisce.org/legacy4life Facebook – Legacy4Life_An Taisce Twitter – @Legacy4LIFEAnT Instagram - @legacy4lifeantaisce The Herpetological Society of Ireland website -  https://thehsi.org

Ever wondered what actually causes our climate to change or what’s the difference between weather and climate? Head of Climate Services Keith Lambkin and Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly, whom you might recognise from RTÉ weather forecasts, join us to do what we all love to do – talk about the weather. We cover links of weather to climate change as you might expect and amongst other things, we debunk some of the common myths surrounding climate change and explore what work MET Éireann are doing to react to and prepare for extreme weather events. Links: MET Éireann website: Climate Change - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service MET Podcast: The Met Éireann Podcast - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service Twitter: @MetEireann Instagram: @meteireann The Great Irish Weather Book: Gill Books - Children's - The Great Irish Weather Book Science Blast: Home - ESB Science Blast Professor Brian Cox podcast: BBC Radio 4 - The Infinite Monkey Cage - Downloads

Informing ourselves is one of the most important and effective ways of figuring out what climate actions we can take, while also helping to understand the bigger picture and how we can hold decision makers to account. Niall Sargent is a very knowledgeable journalist, with compassion and a deep sense of fairness, which comes across in his work with Noteworthy.ie and also shines through in this podcast about some of the important work Niall and his team carry out. We cover a lot of the big-ticket items like agriculture, forestry, peatlands, land use, biodiversity, energy, politics and storytelling, with Niall sharing in-depth knowledge, insights and solutions across a wide range of topics. Links: Twitter: @Niall_Sargent & @noteworthy_ie www.noteworthy.ie www.kateraworth.com/doughnut/# https://degrowth.info/degrowth

In this air quality podcast, we first hear from Dr Clare Noone, Senior Postdoctoral researcher at ICARUS, Maynooth University, giving an overview of air quality in Ireland and the interconnectedness of air quality to other issues such as climate & biodiversity breakdown. Clare talks about her work with the EPA on Five-Year Assessment Reports for Ireland, the importance of Methane and how that could be the best way for some quick wins with air quality and climate action, while also sharing some of her approaches to communicating the science. In the second part, we hear about the incredible work Aileen Bright, Sabrina Moore and the GLOBE team are achieving around Ireland with air quality, through citizen science, measuring and communicating with local schools and communities. They share stories behind the statistics, highlighting some success anecdotes and the power that has for both themselves and the schools and communities involved. Links: Dr Clare Noone on twitter: @clarenoone Purple Air makes sensors that empower Community Scientists who collect hyper-local air quality data and share it with the public: https://www2.purpleair.com/ EPA Ireland 5-Year Assessment Report on Climate Change: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/5-yar/ Angry Weather book: https://earthbound.report/2021/06/07/book-review-angry-weather-by-friederike-otto/ Trevor Noah Tackles Climate Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PSR_OutuIw GLOBE Email: globe@eeu.antaisce.org GLOBE Ireland Air Quality Campaign https://www.globe.gov/web/ireland/home/overview-of-air-quality-campaign/about#:~:text=The%20GLOBE%20Ireland%20Air%20Quality,pollution%20at%20schools%20in%20Ireland. Clean Air Together: https://www.cleanairtogether.ie/ Twitter - @GLOBEIreland Instagram & Facebook – ‘GLOBE Ireland’ EPA: https://www.epa.ie/take-action/in-the-community/citizen-science/clean-air-projects/#d.en.90888 New Zealand’s well-being budget: https://www.centreforpublicimpact.org/insights/new-zealands-wellbeing-budget-worth-hype-contributor-michael-mintrom Bike2Work scheme: https://www.biketowork.ie/

Food – it fuels us, can make us healthy & happy and is a great way of bringing people together, what’s not to like? To look at food through an environmental lens, we are joined by Tony Keogh, head chef of Cornucopia, Ireland’s longest running vegetarian & vegan restaurant, who’s cookbook won at the An Post Book of the Year Awards, along with Roisin Fitzgerald, a registered Associate Nutritionist and chair of sustainable diets at Irish Doctors for the Environment. In our broad discussion we talk about the links between human and planetary health, as well as the links between food, climate change and food security. We explore what exactly is sustainable food, why we should reduce our meat & dairy and what benefits that brings, along with advice on how to reduce our food emissions and how to run a business more sustainably. We hear lots of tips and swaps for more sustainable food approaches and favourite sustainable recipes, including how to please those fussy eaters in our lives. Links: Cornucopia & Tony’s Instagram: @cornucopia_restaurant / @plantplaytes Rosin Instagram: @roisin.fitzgerald Irish Doctors for the Environment Instagram: @irishdocsenv Irish Doctors for the Environment Twitter: @IrishDocsEnv Roisin’s email: roisinfitzgerald3@gmail.com Tony’s email: tonyokeogh@gmail.com The Green Cookbook | Cornucopia's Latest Vegan Cookbook Our Team – Irish Doctors for the Environment (ide.ie) The Danish Official Dietary Guidelines (fvm.dk) Veganuary 2023 | Home | The Go Vegan 31 Day Challenge Home - Meat Free Monday (meatfreemondays.com)

We are joined by Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and the Circular Economy, Ossian Smyth, who is also a Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire. Minister Smyth joins us to discuss the Circular Economy, which is gaining traction at European, national and local levels. Did you know for example by repairing items or buying second had are part of the circular economy? Did you know that businesses currently don’t have to segregate their waste, and don’t have green, brown and black bins unlike domestic waste segregation? Join us to learn more about the circular economy, anaerobic digestion, deposit returns for cans and bottles, the latte levy, incineration, waste management and what the government are doing to help make the circular economy become a stronger reality in our lives. Links: https://www.ossiansmyth.ie/ https://www.repairmystuff.ie/ www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/a7976-circular-economy/# www.gov.ie/en/publication/824c3-national-food-waste-prevention-roadmap-2023-2025/ Irish Men's Sheds Association | Mens Sheds Ireland

Comedian Colm O’Regan has a great balance of being honest, self-aware, insightful and funny all at the same time. Colm has a wonderful grasp of what it’s like to start on a journey to become more environmental, while appreciating he’s not perfect and nor preachy. This is a very honest and funny insight into one person’s journey on how to try to make the world a bit better, while negotiating being a parent, managing consumption, and navigating social media. Colm has lots of practical advice for how to build community locally and make positive changes while bringing people along with you, how to cope when he’s feeling hopeless and how to collaborate better with local authorities. Along with the wisdom of informing ourselves, having respectful conversations and debates, checking our privilege, leaning into joy and learning lessons from the good bits of our past. Essential listening for those who would like to share a podcast with their friends and families, to help them begin their journeys. Hopefully you’ll agree that this chat is also a great bit of craic! Links: Twitter - @colmoregan Insta -  @colmwriter Facebook - www.facebook.com/thecolmoregan/ Website - https://www.colmoregan.com/ Book - Climate Worrier. Publisher: HarperCollins Ireland. Podcast – The World Etc. With Colm O’Regan

We perhaps take our energy systems for granted a little but it permeates everything we do. Join us as we hear from Hannah Daly, Professor in Sustainable Energy and Energy Systems Modelling at University College Cork.  Hannah shares some of her wealth of knowledge on a wide range of topics, with insights on our energy systems, renewable energy and their benefits, what we need to deploy high scale offshore wind,  fossil fuels, the energy crises, why our household energy bills are so high - and some quick measures to help, links to the houses crises, blackout risk, data centres, energy targets, district heating, sustainable transport, the Climate Action Plan, what solutions we should enable and her vision for a post-fossil fuel society.  We also hear some of Hannah’s personal story of trying to live sustainably in her rural home with her young family. Links: Website: https://hannahdaly.ie/ Twitter: @HannahEDaly UCC: https://research.ucc.ie/profiles/D021/h.daly@ucc.ie MaERI: https://www.marei.ie/people/dr-hannah-daly/ SEAI home energy saving tips: https://www.seai.ie/home-energy/energy-saving-tips/ SEAI Home Energy Grants: https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/ Books recommended – Eoghan Dalton’s ‘An Irish Atlantic Rainforest’ and George Monbiot’s ‘Regenesis’.

We are honoured and delighted to have Dr. Renée Lertzman join us for this podcast on Turning Climate Anxiety into Action. Renée is a researcher, educator and engagement strategist who uses psychological insights to unlock action on global climate and environmental crises. A pioneer and leader at the intersection of psychology, climate and environment, Renée applies psychosocial insights to drive engagement and action on ecological issues. With over two million people and counting have watched her incredible TED Talk “How To Turn Climate Anxiety Into Action”. Delving deeper into Renée’s work and what lessons we can learn for our own lives to be more effective, we discover many insights from Renée’s research and practice. Translating psychology and social science best practices into tools, resources and guidance that unleash the potential for creativity and courage, to inspire action, ingenuity and resilience in facing one of the biggest challenges of our time. Renée’s message is one that we can all take some meaningful action with climate change, using this time as an opportunity to grow, while avoiding burnout and living purposeful lives with empathy and compassion. Links: https://projectinsideout.net/getting-started/ https://www.ted.com/speakers/renee_lertzman https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/26/how-to-discuss-climate-change-productively.html

In our twentieth Climate Ambassador podcast, we are joined by Minister for Environment, Climate & Communications and Transport Eamon Ryan, TD. In this discussion, we cover a wide range of topics including Ireland’s recently published Climate Action Plan, Ireland’s first carbon budget and how climate will stay central to all policy going forward. In agriculture we look at changes due to a revised EU Common Agriculture Policy, how Just Transition is being included with payment systems and the Land Use Plan that is currently being drafted, which will include new forestry approaches. With regards peatlands, we hear how farmers should be paid for rewetting bogs, to store carbon and we also cover how soil and grassland management will be central to agricultural approaches. With the continued ramping up of renewable energy, we hear where Minister Ryan envisions Ireland in 2030, including development of onshore wind and solar, offshore wind, and how with microgeneration in homes, schools, businesses and farms, we will soon see the ability to sell back to the grid any excess renewable electricity generated locally. We hear how this growth of renewables will be central to how the transport and heating sectors are decarbonised. Other topics such as data centres and progress at COP’s 21 & 26 are also covered in this open and honest discussion about opportunities that lay ahead of the Irish nation. Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/6223e-climate-action-plan-2021/

Have you wondered why there is not more culture and the arts used to engage people on climate change? Well, you might be happy to hear that there is indeed great work growing within this area in Ireland. We are talking to two leaders of this field - Chriszine Backhouse, Creativity and Change course coordinator at Munster Technological University and Tania Banotti, the Director of the Creative Ireland Programme. Chriszine and Tania share a wealth of information from their experiences and learnings, as they forge new paths of climate engagement and inclusivity in creative and thought provoking ways. We hear about new inclusive art projects - covering all art forms and across Ireland - taking place on the ground that centre on the importance of using local knowledge and community-led messaging; the need to move beyond raising awareness to behaviour change and the instrumental role of Local Authorities. We hear how the arts have the potential to support a sense of connection and inspire us to imagine alternative realities and to take action to make these happen.

Do you find yourself throwing out more food than you would like? Did you know that by addressing food waste in your life, you are enabling yourself to take climate action three times every single day! For this podcast our guests are co-founder & CEO of Food Cloud Aoibheann O’Brien and environmental scientist with EPA Ireland and manager for their Food Waste Prevention Programme Odile Le Bolloch. We are talking about one of our favourite things, food! In this discussion we hear of the amazing work that Odile and Aoibheann do and they share so many wonderful insights on focusing on food as opposed to food waste. We learn of the common issues shared across the globe, that local solutions are helping with a global problem, the connections that food brings. Join us to hear the inclusive and positive messages that our guests have, to help you join the food waste revolution!

Join us for this Climate Ambassador podcast, with host Gary Tyrrell in conversation with Cathy Baxter, An Taisce Environmental Education Unit manager and Gráinne Ryan, Climate Action Officer working on both the Green-Schools and Climate Ambassador programmes. Cathy and Gráinne will share insights and stories from their wealth of experience of environmental education in Ireland. During this conversation, we hear about the history of Green-Schools, its mind-blowing impact and the huge amount of collaboration across Ireland, as well as connections internationally. We also hear about the Climate Action Programmes educational aspects and where we are with school curriculums. We will learn more about work they are both involved in, lessons they have learned and their visions for the future. As part of #ClimateActionWeek this podcast is also available on our YouTube channel as a video. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_v8IWWtSTBb7_lpl5GGLBg/videos

We are delighted to have Associate Professor Sarah Jaquette Ray join us for this podcast on Climate Well-being. Drawing on a decade of experience leading and teaching in college environmental studies programs, Sarah shares how she has created an "existential tool kit" for the climate generation. Combining insights from psychology, sociology, social movements, mindfulness, and the environmental humanities, Sarah explains why and how we need to let go of eco-guilt, resist burnout, and cultivate resilience while advocating for climate justice. Her book ‘A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety’ is at the core of this conversation, an essential handbook as we confront the greatest environmental threat of our time. Listen to help preserve yourself for a lifetime of thriving in a climate-changed world.

We are delighted to have Sinéad Mercier and Clodagh Daly join us to discuss climate justice. Sinéad Mercier is a lecturer on Environment, Sustainability and Social Justice in Maynooth University and a PhD researcher funded by the UCD Sutherland School of Law and European Research Council Project PROPERTY [IN]JUSTICE. Clodagh Daly is a research assistant with the Effective Nature Laws project and campaign coordinator for climate case Ireland. In this insightful discussion, topics tied to climate justice such as social justice, just transition and intersectionality are covered in depth and with compassion. Sometimes looking through a political lens, we hear the story behind Climate Case Ireland as well as a call for a Citizens’ Assembly on the biodiversity crisis. For more on Clodagh’s work, see here: https://effectivenaturelaws.ucd.ie/ & https://www.climatecaseireland.ie/ For more in Sinéad’s work, see here: https://www.landlawandjustice.eu/

For this podcast we are we are getting our crystal ball out and looking into the future. We framed this discussion around the work of our two fantastic guests – David Dodd, coordinator of Climate Action Regional Office (CARO) for the Dublin Region and Karen Deignan, co-founder & director of Sustainability Works. Drawing from their wealth of experience, we hear what risks and opportunities come with sustainable planning and what trends are emerging for local authorities and businesses. Our guests share their insights and vision for a sustainable future, with mitigation and adaptation as the cornerstones of the approaches required to ensure a healthy, thriving, connected and resilient future.

On this podcast we are discussing clothes or to be more specific, sustainable fashion. Looking at climate change and other related issues from a fashion point of view, we have super guests for you! We are chatting with sustainable fashion gurus, Geraldine Carton, co-founder of The Useless Project and Rónán Ó Dálaigh, founder & CEO of Thriftify. Sharing their passion for sustainable fashion, we hear how clothes tells a story about who we are and we learn of the emotional connections and bonds that are formed through sustainable clothing and communities that grow around it. Slow fashion is inclusive, communal and helps people connect the dots. Covering a wide range of topics, including tips to make your wardrobe more sustainable. So, settle in for a tour of all things connected between the environment and the clothes we wear. The Upcycle Movement - https://theupcyclemovement.com/ Jump the Hedges - https://www.jumpthehedges.com/ Adverts.ie - https://www.adverts.ie/ Oxfam Ireland - https://www.oxfamireland.org/ Daisy Blue Vintage - https://www.missdaisyblue.com/ Curiosity Cove - https://www.curiositycove.ie/

We are excited to have two very experienced professionals from the world of sustainable homes join us for this podcast on retrofitting homes. With decades of experience between them, Susan Andrews, Programme Manager of SEAI and Mike O’Rourke, Electric Ireland Superhomes senior engineer, share all you need to know about how to make your home more comfortable, healthy and energy efficient. Going through the grant procedures and what technologies are used, Susan and Mike explain with first-hand knowledge and experience how to make such upgrades as easy as possible. If you are considering retrofitting your home, would like to learn more before making any decisions or perhaps even sharing some of this information with your landlord, then this podcast will be of immense help. Websites: https://superhomes.ie/  https://www.seai.ie/