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)