Climate Change for Beginners

We are facing an unprecedented global emergency. Life on Earth is in crisis: scientists agree we have entered a period of abrupt climate breakdown, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making. This is leading people more and more people to ask What can I do to stop climate change? About the author: Dr Ciarán O’Carroll is scientist turned activist. He was awarded a PhD in chemistry from Maynooth University, Ireland where he researched new green technologies to reduce pollution from agriculture. He has served as member of Amnesty International Ireland Executive Committee, Maynooth University Governing Authority and was a member of the first Extinction Rebellion Ireland steering committee and the first co-ordinator of Extinction Rebellion Dublin. He has appeared on BBC News, RTE News and on ‘The Tonight Show’ on Virgin Media Television. He also writes Op-Eds for ‘Green News’ in Ireland.

Join Dr. Ciarán O’Carroll on 'Climate Change for Beginners' for an eye-opening episode titled 'Why is Chocolate so Expensive?' Explore the intriguing world of chocolate production, uncovering the deep impact of climate change on cocoa prices, shrinkflation, and the livelihoods of West African farmers. Learn about the broader implications of our changing climate on global food supplies, human rights, and what it means for your favorite sweet treats. This fun, accessible podcast breaks down complex issues into beginner-friendly insights, making it the perfect listen for anyone looking to understand the environmental and economic forces shaping our world and our chocolate. Tune in to discover how climate action and sustainable practices can ensure the future of food and indulgence for generations to come.

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The Story of Just Stop Oil - In this episode, we delve into the disruptive tactics of the climate activist group, Just Stop Oil. From blocking petrol stations in Central London to scaling the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, and even spray-painting the exterior of Harrods, the group's bold actions have led to hundreds of arrests but have also sparked important conversations about the climate crisis. Learn about the group's origins, motivations, and how their guerilla tactics have been perceived by the public, the media, and academic experts studying social movements.

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Five years ago, the United Nations Paris climate agreement set a ceiling for global warming at well below 2 °C, ideally 1.5 °C relative to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this everyone from the United States, China, the European Union, to the technology firm Microsoft and even an alliance of European airports are saying they will achieve “net-zero” greenhouse gas emissions this century. But what is Net Zero? And is it the solution to global warming?

While the growth of global emissions has slowed in recent years, there is a large and growing gap between current commitments and what would be needed to avoid exceeding these global temperature limits. Carbon Brief has provided an analysis of when the world is expected to pass these limits in the absence of large future emissions reductions. Their analysis shows that: The world will likely exceed 1.5C between 2030 and 2032 in scenarios where emissions are not rapidly reduced The 2C threshold will likely be exceeded between 2043  in the highest emissions scenario In a scenario of modest mitigation – where emissions remain close to current levels – the 2C threshold would be exceeded around 2052.

On today’s podcast we will answer the question  is climate change getting better? While this year will be memorable for many reasons, it is now more likely than not that 2020 will also be the warmest year for the Earth since reliable records began in the mid-1800s. The first nine months of the year saw record concentrations of major greenhouse gases – CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide – in the atmosphere - driven by human emissions from fossil fuels, land use and agriculture.

Around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation. Together with other gases and the water vapour trails produced by aircraft, the industry is responsible for around 5% of global warming. On today’s podcast we will answer the question ‘’How bad is flying for the environment?’ Please subscribe to ‘Climate Change for Beginners’ and you can contact me on Twitter @ClimateCiaran.

On today's podcast we answer the question: "What is the impact of Covid-19 on the environment?" Follow the podcast on Twitter @ClimateCiaran

Is global warming is real? There is so much evidence that at least 97% of climate scientists agree that humans are causing global warming. It’s as settled as the link between smoking and cancer. So why do so many people still think it's a hoax?

On today’s podcast we will answer the question ‘What is the Green New Deal’? If you’ve heard a lot recently about the Green New Deal but still aren’t quite sure what it is, you are not alone. It has been trumpeted by its supporters as the way to avoid planetary destruction, and vilified by opponents as a socialist plot to take away your ice cream. So it’s bound to be somewhat confusing.  We explore its history and what it means for the climate crisis.

Extinction Rebellion have glued themselves to trains, blockaded major bridges, and chained themselves to government buildings. So who are Extinction Rebellion and what do they want?

On this special 2020 New Years Day podcast I will be discussing 3 facts everyone must know about climate change going into the new decade. Fact 1: 18 of the 19 warmest years have occurred since 2001. Fact 2: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Hit a Record High in 2019 Fact 3: Natural gas has become the biggest driver of emissions growth As we enter this new decade it’s clear: we need to shift decisively away from fossil fuels (including natural gas), invest in renewable energy and focus on developing shared community based solutions to adapt to a warmer world.

On today’s podcast we will answer the question Which gas causes global warming? Please subscribe to ‘Climate Change for Beginners’ and if you would like to submit a question for a future podcast  please visit climatechangeforbeginners.com.

Scientists predict we’re currently on track for a heating of somewhere between 3C and 4C for 2100 Four degrees may not sound like much – after all, it is less than a typical temperature change between night and day. It might even sound pleasant. However, if the entire globe heats by 4C it would render the planet unrecognisable from anything humans have ever experienced. So, what will happen if the world becomes 4 degrees warmer?

The melting of the ice caps is one of the best known of climate change’s many effects on planet earth. This year Arctic sea ice dropped to its second ever recorded level So why is the Arctic melting? Subscribe to ‘Climate Change for Beginners’ and if you would like to submit a question for a future podcast please visit climatechangeforbeginners.com

The world is in the midst of an unprecedented oil and gas drilling rush—brought on by a controversial technology called fracking. But along with rush have come reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, industrial disasters and explosions. So what is fracking and what damage does it cause?

Greta Thunberg is known to millions as the lead figure of school strike for the climate (also known as Fridays for Future). She’s also become famous for her short and scathing speeches about world leaders failure to act on the climate crisis. So who is she and where did she come from?

This year we’ve already seen fires in Siberia, the Amazon and across Africa. Now, Australia is enduring a bushfire crisis that has left three people dead, destroyed more than 150 homes, and prompted warnings of "catastrophic" danger. So what is causing Australia's bushfires?