The Climate Ambassador Podcast

Daithí is joined by Áine May Hughes from Native Events to discuss sustainability in festivals and events and bust some myths around where the biggest impacts really lie. We learn all about how Native Events are working to lower emissions, reduce waste, and make events more circular through their consultancy, event production and eco event hire. Áine walks us through the key impact areas, underscoring transport and food & beverage as being overlooked for their impact as opposed to energy or waste and we gain insight into how Native Events tackles the challenges of each impact area in a way which caters to the specific needs of each event, from its size to its audience, to its location. We uncover the truth on the reusable versus single-use plastic cup debate as well as finding out if biodegradable serveware is as sustainable as we think. Whilst Native Events works with local authorities to offer sustainability guidelines, Áine describes events like festivals as being ‘like their own little townships’ and explains how commitment and action from both attendees and organisers is required to create an effective shift in attitude and behaviour. Whether you’re attending this summer’s biggest music festival or organising a small community event Áine’s advice is sure to leave you with the knowledge and inspiration to make a change! Thanks very much to Emma Sheridan for support with research, design and promotion. Links 1. Native Events: https://www.nativeevents.ie/ 2. Sustainability at Shambala Festival: https://www.shambalafestival.org/sustainability/ 3. Killarney Coffee Cup Project: https://killarney.ie/killarney-coffee-cup-project/ 4. Laois County Council Green Your Festival Kit: https://laois.ie/climate-action/community-climate-action/green-your-festival 5. MIT Climate Machine analysis of 80,000 live shows across the US and UK: https://climatemachine.mit.edu/ 6. Sustainability at Coldplay Music of the Spheres World Tour: https://sustainability.coldplay.com/section/power/ 7. Fáilte Ireland Sustainable Festivals Guidelines 2023: https://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/Product_Development/Festivals_Events/failte-ireland-sustainable-festivals-guidelines-2023.pdf 8. Guide to Plastic Free Festivals & Events: https://mywaste.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Guide-to-Plastic-Free-Festivals-Events-April-2024.pdf

To kick off season 6 Daithí is joined by ornithologist and wildlife sound recordist Seán Ronayne, otherwise known as ‘Nature Boy’. Seán is an award-winning author for his memoir ‘Nature Boy’ and is well known for his mission to record the calls of every regularly occurring species of bird in Ireland, as captured in the RTÉ documentary ‘Birdsong’. Seán reflects on his lifelong affinity with wildlife recounting how his relationship with nature played a pivotal role in his youth both providing him with a calming safe space as well as positioning himself as different from his peers at school. We gain insight into how Seán adapted to lockdown measures during the pandemic by bringing nature to him through his recordings and how he feels his autism diagnosis is linked to his work. We also explore how bird habitats and species are affected by climate change and human interference and how the work done by people like Seán can be effective in reaching people and inspiring conversation about climate change. Thanks very much to Emma Sheridan for support with research, design and promotion.

Join Daithí as he speaks to the inspiring Seán McCabe, the world's first Climate Justice Officer in a football club. Seán talks us through the work being done in Bohemians Football Club in Phibsborough, Dublin, where community and climate justice is being put right at the heart of things. With impacts of the climate crisis and transition being felt unequally across communities, the Climate CoOp at Bohemians has set out to address the issues faced by their own members, playing to their strength as a tight knit and inclusive community. Seán talks us through the different projects at Bohemians, such as their 'Library of Things', and supporting people serving prison time in Mountjoy to upskill in bike maintenance, as well as some of their aims for the future. His words of advice – dream big! Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: 1. The Spark https://www.thespark.coop/ 2. Bohemians Football Club Website: https://bohemians.ie/home/ 3. UN Sport for Climate Action: https://unfccc.int/climate-action/sectoral-engagement/sports-for-climate-action 4. Mary Robinson Climate Justice Foundation: https://www.mrfcj.org/ 5. Think tank for Action on Social Change (TASC): https://www.tasc.ie/ 6. Qatar World Cup Controversy: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/19/qatar-working-conditions-world-cup-guardian-reporting 7. Friends of the Earth - 'Still Left out in the Cold' Report: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/warm-homes-for-all/resources 8. Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions explained: https://www.grantthornton.ie/insights/factsheets/sustainability-scope-1-2-and-3-emissions/ 9. Seán and Leo from Bohs F.C. on The Book of Leaves Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-sport-clubs-can-take-climate-action-bohemian-football/id1460583049?i=1000638902017

Daithí is joined by not one, but two special guests this week! Climate Ambassador Alumni Claire Romito and Alex Reilly share their experiences of being in the programme and the changes that it brought about in their lives. Though Alex comes from a background in television production, and Claire is a primary school teacher and entrepreneur, they share a lot of the same sentiments and thoughts around community climate action, offering up many wise words for current Climate Ambassadors and general listeners alike. From career pivots to tackling climate anxiety and the power of finding your own strengths and community, this episode takes an honest look at the imperfect, yet inspiring nature of individual climate action journeys and the ripple effects they have on our wider communities. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: Thanks its vintage – Alex’s Fashion Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/thanks_its_vintage/ Teachingplans.ie – Claire’s website of teaching resources: https://teachingplans.ie/ Albert Certification for sustainable film and TV production: https://wearealbert.org/ 1% for planet: 1% for the Planet | Accelerating Environmental Giving Patagonia makes Earth its only shareholder: https://eu.patagonia.com/ie/en/ownership/?srsltid=AfmBOoq3dmBx_G4RbdxP1xdnNjlqMZHa--hjuobEgfMOkyBrzwaq6DZ0 Friends of the earth: https://www.friendsoftheearth.ie/ Virgin Media Sustainability: https://sustainablemedia.ie/case-studies/sustainability-in-programming-how-one-sustainability-project-in-virgin-media-tv-created-a-ripple-effect/

In this episode, Daithí is joined by Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland and Mahesh Badal, the Senior Program and Business Development Manager for ActionAid Nepal. Our two guests talk to us through the realities of climate change in the Global South, highlighting the disproportionate burden placed on the Global South, both in terms of the local effects of climate change and the mitigation of those effects. With ActionAid’s recent report ‘The Hidden Truth – Ireland's Role in the Global Fossil Fuel Industry’ showing that Ireland is ranked the 14th highest global investor in fossil fuels, Karol explains how we got here and how we can get ourselves out. A fascinating episode that really highlights the complexities of Fossil Fuel Finance, and the difficulties faced by the Global South in accessing funding for transition to green economies and becoming more resilient to climate impacts. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: 1. Action aid Ireland: ActionAid Ireland | Charity Organizations in Ireland 2. Action Aid Nepal: ActionAid Nepal 3. Action Aid 2025 ‘Hidden Truth’ Report - https://actionaid.ie/the-hidden-truth/ 4. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): https://unfccc.int/ 5. UNFCC Funds - https://unfccc.int/topics/introduction-to-climate-finance 6. 2021 United Nations Environment Program report - https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2021 7. Global North Is Responsible for 92% of Excess Emissions - Eos 8. Ireland divests public money from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund from Fossil Fuels: Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018

Charlie Coakley, sustainable business manager of Uisce Éireann, drops in to discuss the sustainability framework of Uisce Éireann, Ireland's state-owned water utility company. We explore the company's role in providing clean drinking water and appropriate treatment of waste water, the challenges posed by climate change, and the importance of energy efficiency in water treatment. Charlie outlines the ambitious goals of the 2025 Sustainability Framework, including achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040, Biodiversity net gain on all projects, and implementing nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment. The discussion also highlights the significance of social inclusion and public engagement in achieving these goals, as well as the future of water supply projects in the Eastern and Midlands Region, which would involve the extraction of water from the Parteen basin of the river Shannon. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links Uisce Éireann's website: www.water.ie Uisce Éireann's Sustainability Framework: https://www.water.ie/about/sustainability/sustainability-framework Ireland ranks 10th highest in the EU for domestic water use: https://smartwatermagazine-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/smartwatermagazine.com/news/locken/water-ranking-europe-2020?amp Integrated Constructed Wetlands project at Dunhill, Waterford: https://www.water.ie/help/wastewater/wetlands/dunhill-wetlands Sludge Drying Reedbeds: https://www.water.ie/projects/local-projects/carlow-sludge-reed-beds

In this episode, engineer and energy industry veteran Errol Close chats to Daithí and gives us an illuminating (pun intended) look at how Ireland keeps the lights on - literally. From how we trade power with the UK and soon France, to what happens when storms like Eowyn hit, Errol breaks it all down. You’ll hear why renewable energy makes grid management feel more like weather forecasting, how we hit a once-ambitious 40% renewables target, and what’s being done to get us to our latest targets. Whether you're into climate, renewable energy, or just curious where your power comes from - this one’s worth a listen. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: 1. Eirgrid - https://www.eirgrid.ie/ 2. Celtic Interconnector - https://www.celticinterconnector.eu/ga/ 3. CRU (commission fo regulation of utilities) https://www.cru.ie/ 4. Government Target of 80% share of renewable electricity generation by 2030: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/accelerating-renewable-electricity-taskforce/ 5. EPA projecting only 68% renewable energy share by 2030: https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/irelands-greenhouse-gas-emissions-projections-2024-2055.php 6. Data Centres are projected to account for up to 30% of Ireland's electricity demand by 2030: https://www.thejournal.ie/data-centres-to-account-for-almost-one-third-of-irelands-electricity-demand-by-2034-6658382-Mar2025/ 7. The impact of data centres 'capacity payments' on energy bills: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/consumers-energy-bills-set-to-rise-further-as-more-data-centres-will-add-to-costs/a633724800.html

In this episode, Daithí speaks to Hugh McLindon, the District Conservation Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service for Wicklow. They cover lots of ground, from what makes a peatland, to how they come to exist and the realities of bog restoration in Ireland. With the NWPS doing lots of work on restoring the Special Area of Conservation in the Wicklow National Park, Hugh tells Daithí about his own experience as a Park Ranger and the shift in culture that he has seen in his 30 years of working with the NPWS, a shift that has given him great hope for the future and enthusiasm for the work being done! Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: NPWS Website: https://www.npws.ie/ Blanket Bogs in Ireland Factsheet: https://www.ipcc.ie/a-to-z-peatlands/peatland-habitat-types/blanket-bogs/ Raised Bogs in Ireland Factsheet: https://www.ipcc.ie/a-to-z-peatlands/peatland-habitat-types/raised-bogs/ Ireland referred to EU court for failure to protect peatlands: https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2024/03/13/ireland-referred-to-eu-court-for-failure-to-protect-bog-lands-and-curb-turf-extraction/ SUAS Project: https://suaseipproject.ie/ Special Areas of Conservation SAC map Ireland https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac#:~:text=Special%20Areas%20of%20Conservation%20(SAC)%20are%20prime%20wildlife%20conservation%20areas,well%20as%20an%20Irish%20level.

In this episode Daithí speaks to Jennie C. Stevens, Professor of Climate Justice from NUIM, and a feminist scholar and activist. They dive deep into the urgent need for climate justice and the transformative changes required to tackle the climate crisis. From unpacking the damaging effects of extractive economic systems to exploring how eco-feminism can guide our approach, Jennie highlights the interconnectedness of human health, ecosystem health, and social justice. She debunks the myth that climate action means sacrifice and challenges the influence of powerful industries on universities and public policies, advocating for energy democracy—where local communities have control over their own energy systems. Feeling overwhelmed by climate anxiety? Jennie offers hope, emphasizing that collective action is the antidote, and it’s happening right now. Tune in to discover why climate justice is about much more than the environment—it’s about equity, empowerment, and creating a better future for all! Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links: 1. Jennie's Website and Books (Climate Justice and the University; Diversifying Power): https://www.jenniecstephens.com/books 2. Climate Justice Universities Union: https://www.climatejusticeuniversitiesunion.org/ 3. Greta Thunberg - 'The Climate Book': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Climate_Book 4. 'The Squad' - left-wing coalition in the US House of Representatives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_(U.S._Congress) 5. Fridays for Future: https://fridaysforfuture.org/

In this episode, Daithí speaks to Mary Fleming, the founder of ChangeClothes.org, a social enterprise that sprang up in Crumlin to address accessibility and habits around second-hand clothing. Starting as just a week of events in her local area a few years ago, Change Clothes has grown into a thriving organisation, providing training and workshops in upcycling and sustainable fashion alongside its highly anticipated swap shops. Mary talks about what inspired her to start making changes in her own life and how she was frustrated by the messaging around sustainability and the inaccessibility for low-income people. Daithí and Mary discuss the importance of looking at what we stand to gain with climate action and the positive effect that a sense of fun and community can have. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. Links 1. Change Clothes Website: https://www.changeclothes.org/ 2. EPA statistics on Irish Textile Waste: https://www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/circular-economy/textiles-national-attitudes--behaviours-surveys/ 3. Second-hand clothes market burns down in Kantamanto, Ghana: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/feb/24/ghana-clothes-market-fire-kantamanto-rebuild 4. Amendments to EU Waste Framework Directive to include more circularity of textiles: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_548 5. French 2024 legislation tackling fast-fashion: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/15/france-fast-fashion-law-environmental-surcharge-lower-house-votes

In this episode, Daithí is joined by Jack O’Donovan Trá: trained marine biologist and Communications Officer for Fair Seas, for a fascinating conversation on the role of our oceans in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. A natural storyteller, Jack breaks down complex ocean science into relatable insights, from how kelp forests cushion our coasts during storms, to the invaluable ability of the ocean to lock away carbon through life itself. Growing up on Red Strand, outside Clonakilty, Jack’s personal connection to the sea has shaped his life’s mission. He explains how the Fair Seas Coalition is advocating for ambitious, science-based Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Irish waters - areas that could rival the Great Barrier Reef in ecological importance and scale. He highlights how Ireland’s current policies lag far behind its commitments, and why local involvement is crucial to real, lasting change. Thanks very much to Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy for support with research, design and promotion. 1. Fair Seas reports: https://fairseas.ie/resources/#all_0-139-reports 2. Fair Seas documentaries: https://fairseas.ie/youtube-videos/ 3. Marine Protected Areas Bill: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/general-scheme-of-marine protected-areas-bill-2022.pdf 4. Marine Institute Deep Sea rover: https://www.searover.ie/about.php 5. Kerry Tides of Time documentary: https://www.rte.ie/player/series/kerry-tides-of-time/10000923-00-0000?epguid=IP10000924-01-0001 6. EU Natura 2000 Protected Areas Network: https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/biodiversity/natura-2000/the-natura-2000-protected-areas-network 7. David Attenborough Ocean Film: https://www.oceanfilm.net/

We are delighted to launch the new series by bringing you this conversation with the iconic Kate Raworth! Kate is the renowned creator of Doughnut Economics, a new paradigm of economics which aims to achieve human wellbeing for all within the planet's ecological limits. Kate gives Daithí an overview of how she became disillusioned with mainstream economics as a student, and how taking a step back from academia and getting some hands-on experience in the Global South sowed the seeds for her to literally redraw the model of economics. The model for a new regenerative and distributive economy draws on The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Planetery Boundaries from The Stockholm Resilience Centre, and Kate describes how the alternatives to GDP for monitoring the prosperity of an economy will vary from one context to another. This is being proven by cities, companies and communities around the world who are finding ways to thrive in balance with support from the Doughnut Economics Action Lab. The conversation is energetic and informative, and Kate is a source of endless wisdom and humility - she is equally inspired by the movement of Doughnut Economics as they were inspired by her! 1. Kate's Website: https://www.kateraworth.com/about/ 2. Doughnut Economics Action Lab: https://doughnuteconomics.org/about-doughnut-economics 3. Kate's Ted Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhcrbcg8HBw&pp=ygUQa2F0ZSByYXdvcnRoIHRlZA%3D%3D 4. Universal Values wheel by Schwartz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_basic_human_values 5. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ 6. Stockholm Resilience Centre's Planetary Boundaries Study (Rockstrom et al.): https://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html 7. Greta Thunberg - 'The Climate Book': https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Climate_Book 8. The Irish Doughnut Economics Network: https://wiki.irishdenetwork.org/Home

For the final episode of the series, Daithí talks to author and rewilder, Eoghan Daltun. They chat about the process Eoghan set in motion in the mid 2000’s to restore healthy native ecosystems on his 73-acre farm on the Beara Peninsula, Cork. Hear about the recovery of the ecosystems, the diversity of native species that he has seen returning to the forest, as well as the harm caused to the woodland regeneration process by alien invasive species, such as Sika deer. A small farmer himself, Eoghan strongly advocates that landowners should be rewarded for protecting ecosystems due to the benefits they provide for society, such as flood prevention and resilience to wildfires. Eoghan also has some very interesting views on the classification of what constitutes a native species and makes a compelling case for the introduction of various species, including Beavers. After the interview, musician Brían MacGloinn of Ye Vagabonds closes the episode with his beautiful song 'Cuckoo'. - Links: 1. Eoghan's Instagram: @irishrainforest 2. Eoghan's 2024 Book - 'The Magic of an Irish Rainforest: A Visual Journey': https://www.kennys.ie/shop/signed-by-the-author-new/the-magic-of-an-irish-rainforest-a-visual-journey-eoghan-daltun-9781399725606 3. Eoghan's First book - 'An Irish Atlantic Rainforest': https://www.kennys.ie/shop/an-irish-atlantic-rainforest-eoghan-daltun-9781399705295 4. Ecosystem Services: https://www.nature.scot/scotlands-biodiversity/scottish-biodiversity-strategy-and-cop15/ecosystem-approach/ecosystem-services-natures-benefits 5. Nature Restoration Law: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/nature-restoration-law-enters-force-2024-08-15_en 6. E. O. Wilson: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-O-Wilson 7. George Monbiot: https://www.monbiot.com/ 8. IUCN on Rewilding: https://iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/benefits-and-risks-rewilding 9. London Natural History Museum Biodiversity Intactness Index: https://tnfd.global/tools-platforms/local-biodiversity-intactness-index/ 10. Brían MacGloinn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grianmacbloinn/

We are delighted to bring you a conversation on the environmental impacts of technology with web designer and digital consultant Gerry McGovern. Daithí and Gerry have a wide-ranging talk about topics such as e-waste and the challenges of recycling most phones and laptops; how to lengthen the life of your devices; the embedded water and material impacts of devices and the huge demand for mining of metals that they create; the amount of unnecessary data that is created every year and the energy required to store it; how you can employ simple strategies to use less data; how to make your website use less energy; the large energy requirements of Artificial Intelligence; how Gerry is heartened by the Right to Repair movement and the potential of community activism to drive change. Music in this episode comes from Samuel Arnold Keane. Links: 1. Gerry McGovern - https://gerrymcgovern.com/world-wide-waste/ 2. Gerry's Podcast 'World Wide Waste' - https://www.thisishcd.com/podcast-category/world-wide-waste-with-gerry-mcgovern 3. e-waste toxicity in landfill - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352186421006970#:~:text=1%20(Chen%20et%20al.%2C,70%25%20in%20terms%20of%20toxicity. 4. Statistics on lifecycle carbon emissions of a phone - https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/your-phone-really-smart#:~:text=Yet%2C%20around%2080%20per%20cent,the%20lifespan%20of%20devices%20shrinks 5. Rare earth metals present in phones - https://www.acs.org/education/chemmatters/past-issues/archive-2014-2015/smartphones.html#:~:text=Scandium%20and%20yttrium%20are%20included,the%2017%20rare%20earth%20metals. 6. Recycling Rate of e-waste - https://unitar.org/about/news-stories/press/global-e-waste-monitor-2024-electronic-waste-rising-five-times-faster-documented-e-waste-recycling 7. Fairphone - https://www.fairphone.com/nl 8. Energy demand of any website - https://www.websitecarbon.com/ 9. Data centre energy use in Ireland 2023 - https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-dcmec/datacentresmeteredelectricityconsumption2023/keyfindings/#:~:text=The%20percentage%20of%20total%20metered%20electricity%20consumption%20accounted%20for%20by,10%25%20(See%20Infographic). 10. Google's plans to build data centre in Uruguay - https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/01/uruguay-anger-environmental-cost-google-datacentre-carbon-emissions-toxic-waste-water 11. Lifecycle emissions comparison of EV vs Internal Combustion Engine car - https://www.visualcapitalist.com/life-cycle-emissions-evs-vs-combustion-engine-vehicles/ 12. Projection for growth in material extraction demand to 2050 https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/foresight/topic/aggravating-resource-scarcity/raw-materials-non-renewable-resources_en 13. 10x more energy required for AI search compared to traditional search engines - https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/6b2fd954-2017-408e-bf08-952fdd62118a/Electricity2024-Analysisandforecastto2026.pdf 14. Electricity consumption from data centres, AI and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026 - https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-2024/executive-summary 15. Right to Repair Directive - https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20590/right-to-repair-making-repair-easier-and-more-appealing-to-consumers 16. Samuel Arnold Keane - https://www.instagram.com/samyelyel/

Daithí is joined by Louise O'Mahony, head of Sustainable Banking at Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). Louise gives fascinating insights into all things sustainable finance, including the huge increase in green lending in recent years and why private finance is so essential to meeting our emissions targets; an overview of environmental regulations pertaining to the finance sector and why the European Central bank is so concerned about Climate Change, [food harvest and flooding]; and some policies and tools that would help banks to be more ambitious with their sustainability-linked lending. After the interview, Daithí gives five top tips for greening your own finances. Music in this episode is the stunning Mountain Song, by Anna Mieke. Links 1. Banking and Payments Federation Ireland - https://bpfi.ie 2. European Commission on Sustainable Finance - https://finance.ec.europa.eu/sustainable-finance/overview-sustainable-finance_en 3. SEAI Grants - https://www.seai.ie/grants/home-energy-grants/ 4. ECB has climate risks as second-highest priority: https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/banking/priorities/html/ssm.supervisory_priorities202312~a15d5d36ab.en.html 5. EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en 6. ECB Climate and Environment Risk Guide: https://www.bankingsupervision.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2020/html/ssm.pr201127~5642b6e68d.en.html 7. Montreal agreement - Taskforce on nature–related financial disclosures: https://tnfd.global/ 8. Christine Lagarde ECB president - 70% of banks’ loan portfolios is to high-emitting sectors: https://greencentralbanking.com/2024/01/29/eurozone-banks-face-serious-transition-risks-ecb/ 9. Bank Of England research on connection between energy performance and reduced risk of mortgage default: https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/working-paper/2023/the-greening-of-lending-mortgage-pricing-of-energy-transition-risk.pdf

In this episode, Daithí talks Sustainable Transport with Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transport in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, in Trinity College Dublin. Transport accounts for approximately one fifth of Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions, with the majority coming from road transport. Brian talks about the ambitious target to have 1 million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030. He also touches on how urban design and planning can have a huge impact on transport modes, through concepts like the 15-minute city. The important point that all groups don't have equal access to sustainable transport also comes up, through issues like the rural/urban divide in access to public transport, as well as the barriers preventing women and girls from adopting cycling. As always, the other improvements to our lives that improved transport policy and infrastructure could bring about are discussed, from better air quality to more secure employment! Links Brian’s Twitter: https://x.com/brian_caulfield Brian’s research profile: https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=caulfib Economic cost of congestion in Dublin: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3fef5-the-economic-cost-of-congestion-in-the-greater-dublin-area-2022-2040/ 1 million EV’s by 2030 target: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a6a2f-government-approves-electric-vehicle-policy-pathway-report/ WHO guidelines on air quality breached in Ireland: https://www.epa.ie/news-releases/news-releases-2023/irelands-ambition-to-move-towards-the-health-based-who-air-quality-guidelines-will-be-challenging-but-will-have-a-significantly-positive-impact-on-health.php Electric Vehicle pilot on Inis Mór 2011: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/eight-families-go-electric-in-aran-islands-pilot-project-1.1277786

We are very excited to bring you our first episode featuring the astounding work of our Climate Ambassadors! Daithí talks to Emily Kennedy and Hilda O'Grady about the work they carried out during their time on the Climate Ambassador programme in 2023. Emily won an outstanding achievement award in 2023 for her work-focused initiatives, which included speaking at the Mary Robinson Climate Conference, connecting her colleagues to nature through facilitating work visits to beehives, and organising swap shops and repair workshops at her workplace in Price Waterhouse Cooper. Emily gives some very credible and actionable steps for achieving gender equality in work. Hilda also won an outstanding achievement award for her community-focused work, consisting of turbo-charging her Tidy Towns group in Kinvara to focus predominantly on Climate and Biodiversity, planting over 9,000 trees with the Kinvara-Ballinderreen Tree Gang, and working on various other local issues such as facilitating zero waste options at Farmers Market. Hilda provides wise and practical advice for sustaining successful working relationships in a community setting. Emily’s links: Re-Jingled | Dublin | Facebook https://longgardenbees.ie/ Climate Action Venn Diagrams — Ayana Elizabeth Johnson The sustainable Life School Hilda’s links: https://kinvara.ie/kinvara-tidy-towns/ ÉireComposites (eirecomposites.com) http://kbtreegang.com/ Miyawaki method shows dense Irish forest can grow rapidly (rte.ie)

The marvelous Easkey Britton joins Daithí for this episode. A pioneer of women’s big wave surfing, a Marine Social Scientist and author. We have a brilliant and inspiring conversation about Easkey’s relationship with Water, and her academic work on the benefits to human health from spending time around bodies of water. Easkey offers a very compelling alternative to how we can appreciate and take better care of water, given the new challenges of ocean warming and changes to seasonal rainfall as a result of Climate Change. Easkey also discusses her experience with the 'Deep Adaptation framework, a method for fostering mutual support and collaboration in the process of anticipating and experiencing societal disruption and even collapse. The spoken word performance in this episode is provided by The Accidental Rapper. -- https://easkeybritton.com/ www.Deepadaptation.info https://www.instagram.com/easkeysurf/ 'Into the sea' Film about Easkey surfing in Iran: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5950068/ https://www.instagram.com/theaccidentalrapper/

Dr. Tadhg MacIntyre, Professor of Environmental Psychology at Maynooth University, joins us in this episode. He talks to Daithí about the science behind how people relate to their environments, the relationship between human health and environmental health, and the fascinating ways in which this is influencing the design of our cities. It also has huge implications for achieving behaviour change for sustainability - the evidence shows that the more we are connected to an environment, the more we take action to protect it! They also touch on the fascinating area of "virtual nature", and how this may be deployed to support local environmental initiatives in the future. Episode links: 'Go Green Routes' Research Project: https://gogreenroutes.eu/ 'Go Green Next' Research Project: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101137209 Tahdg's Book - 'Physical Activity in Natural Settings: Green and Blue Exercise': https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781315180144/physical-activity-natural-settings-aoife-donnelly-tadhg-macintyre University of Maynooth Taught MSc. in Environmental Psychology: https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/courses/msc-environmental-psychology

Daithí chats to Harrison Gardner, of the brilliant social enterprise Common Knowledge, which delivers practical course in upskilling and self-sufficiency in the Burren, County Clare. We covered a lot in this conversation, from reconnecting to the value of the objects we use every day, to the huge demand for their courses from people who want to be more handy around the house. Common knowledge is very socially engaged also, providing access courses to some participants who couldn't afford to attend, as well as looking to marginalised communities like LGBTQ+ groups to find new solutions to the climate crisis. At the end of the conversation we feature a reflection on Climate Action and a song from musical artist, Sive. She is a former Climate Ambassador - as well as an amazing songwriter and musician! Links Common Knowledge: http://www.ourcommonknowledge.org/ Harrison's website: https://www.harrisongardner.net/ Rekindle festival of lost skills: https://www.ourcommonknowledge.org/rekindle 'Build Your Own' TV Series: https://www.rte.ie/player/series/build-your-own-home/10000921-00-0000?epguid=IP000066885 Croí Cónaithe Vacant property refurbishment grant: https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/resident/housing/vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-croi-conaithe Earthship Biotecture: https://earthship.com/ Sive links: https://linktr.ee/sivemusic