The Climate Ambassador Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Climate Ambassador Podcast
The Climate Ambassador Podcast is a new look at climate change, incorporating what we have learned from the Climate Ambassador Programme, chatting to guests, while also investigating the overlaps into other areas of life. We will explore topics such as food, agriculture, biodiversity, climate change in the media, student activism and much more. We hope you will join us on our journey of discovery on a diverse range of topics, helping to connect the dots and share what solutions we can all take.
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/
We are thrilled to have the second series kick off with the amazing Professor Katharine Hayhoe. We are honoured to have Katharine join us for this episode, to share her unique perspectives on communicating climate change, including lots of advice for non-experts to talk about climate change. Sharing her positivity, humour and energy, while outlining why we should all advocate for solutions.
In the build-up to the release of Katharine’s new book ‘Saving Us’, this podcast touches on lots of topics, including exploring ‘psychological distance’, ‘solution aversion’, ‘social change’ and the importance of efficacy, all done while sharing stories and anecdotes. Katharine outlines her findings on ‘rational hope’ and also what gives her personally cause for hope. This is a masterclass for anyone who is interested in learning more regarding talking about climate change.
For this episode, we are thrilled to have Caroline O’Doherty, Dr Dave Robbins and Kayle Crosson join us to chat about climate change in the media. Caroline is the environment correspondent for the Irish Independent, Dave is an Assistant Professor at the School of Communications in Dublin City University and Kayle is the editor for Green News.
Covering a wide range of areas, including what the trends are in reporting and in the public’s perceptions. We also chat about how the media is behaving in relation to linking climate change to other issues we see in the news, how interconnected everything is and areas where the media could do better. We discuss the trust levels placed in traditional media and whether media still informs discussions and much more besides. Join us to hear all of our guests’ thoughts on this fascinating topic.
For our ninth podcast episode, we were thrilled to have Beth Doherty, Caillum Hedderman and Saoirse Exton join us to discuss student activism. The three of them are on the ISSU (Irish Secondary Student’s Union) committee, as well other environmental groups, including Fridays for Future and Saoirse also being a Climate Ambassador who won an Outstanding Achievement award from us last year.
Holding a space on this podcast to give a voice to the youth movement, the students discuss many topics, including Fridays For Future, climate justice, intersectionality, lockdown, going outside comfort zones, driving engagement, public awareness, eco-anxiety, role models, heroes, hope and much more! A great source of hope, through all their actions and a very engaging podcast, hearing from this group of well-seasoned speakers!
For our eight podcast episode, we were delighted to have Ali Sheridan join us to discuss sustainable business. Ali is a senior sustainability consultant and climate advisor, who has been involved in the environmental movement for a long time.
Bringing a wealth of experience and insight into this podcast, Ali shares her thoughts on many topics, including individual consumption; well-being budgets; owner v’s leasing models; green washing; stranded assets; the Irish Climate Action Bill; Doughnut Economics; just transition and risk. If you would like to learn more about these topics and hears Ali’s many nuggets of gold, this is the podcast for you!
Irish Websites
https://livinglightlyinireland.com/
https://www.theuselessproject.com/
International Websites
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/
Apps
OLIO – https://olioex.com/
Good on You – https://goodonyou.eco/
Refill – https://www.refillapp.com/
In our seventh podcast episode, we discuss behavioural change. Our amiable and engaging guests for this episode are Dave Brooks, Green-Schools Officer and Padraig Walsh, Behaviour Specialist at ChangAble.
We cover a lot of ground, chatting about accepting change and asking why is it sometimes hard to change. We also look at social norms, how we frame narratives around solutions for better outcomes, language & imagery, eco-anxiety and lots more.
This is a great podcast to also learn more about how we can bring everyone along with us in the seismic changes society needs to take.
Returning with the sixth episode, we look at what is going on at present with Irish biodiversity, focusing the lens through the climate and biodiversity crises. We were delighted to have as our guests for this episode Anja Murray, ecologist and environmental broadcaster on RTE’s EcoEye and Dr. Meabh Boylan, Green-Schools Biodiversity Officer.
We chat about lots of topics related to Biodiversity and indeed, how all things are connected. Both speakers talk of their love of nature and the many benefits it provides, how having a child-like wonder and curiosity brings real joy to our lives, as well as discussing areas like policy and local community solutions that we can all get involved in.
Starting the new year with this fifth episode, we pause, to reflect what is going on at present, with rural and urban planning, particularly with the pandemic in our midst, to chat with Niall Cussen, Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and Jane Hackett, Manager of both Green-Schools Travel and the Climate Ambassador Programme.
We discuss concepts like the 15 Minute City, Doughnut economics, while also chatting about sustainable transport options and looking into the future, to find out what a sustainable Ireland might look like for our everyday lives, as we go about living in our urban and rural settings. Both speakers provide lots of solutions and give a positive outlook about where we are headed as a country.
On today’s episode we are going to look at climate change in a historical context.
We are chatting with Professor of Medieval Environmental History at Trinity, Francis Ludlow and Professor Conor Murphy in the Department of Geography at Maynooth University.
On this episode we are going to look at climate change from a food point of view.
We are chatting with two culinary gurus, Conor Spacey, director of Food Space, and Michelle Darmody, food writer and entrepreneur.
On this episode, Gary and Amy talk with biology and ecology lecturer Dr James Moran, about climate change from an agricultural point of view.
We then head to Moyhill Farm, where we chat with regenerative farmer Fergal Smith.
Listen, learn and get empowered!
Find out more are:
https://climateambassador.ie/
Twitter: @climate_ambass
Instagram: climateambassador
Facebook: @ClimateAmbassador
On this episode, Gary and Amy introduce the podcast, talk about the Climate Ambassador Programme, the series ahead, and what on earth climate change is.
Listen, learn and get empowered!
Find out more are:
https://climateambassador.ie/
Twitter: @climate_ambass
Instagram: climateambassador
Facebook: @ClimateAmbassador