The Climate Alarm Clock

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In our final episode of the summer, Anna, Ciara, Darragh and Tom discuss Ireland's latest greenhouse gas emissions report - good news, bad news or both? Professor Barry McMullen has criticised the toxic positivity about the latest emissions, is he right?

And a new report on Climate in the Mind has some interesting findings that point to the influence of misinformation.

Meanwhile, the planet has had its hottest 12 months ever.

We finish the season with a reminder of some good news and as ever some actions to take.

Actions we recommend:

Mark the date and register for climate camp on the shores of Lough Neagh August 7th to 11th 2024!

Don't forget Gaza, keep the pressure on by getting to a national demonstration [Dublin] National Demonstration for Palestine – Stop Arming Israel!

Email your TDs – we know they’ll be working on Budget 2025 . Tell them what you need to see this spent on. Solar panels, public transport, electric car grants – There’s a general election in the air and we need action. So annoy the hell out of your TDs and push for action !

See you all in October ! (or at climate camp before that)

Buy us a coffee and leave a comment :)

We start with good news, the Nature Restoration Law is passed in the EU, thanks to the leadership of a 'rogue' Austrian environment minister. Darragh, Anna and Ciara discuss how it happened, the role Ireland played and some of the reactions.

Then, what have the Greens done for us anyway? We chat about Eamon Ryan's resignation and legacy.

Extreme heat is killing people around the world, from the Hajj in Mecca to Greece and the US midwest, and a new study examines resilience in the face of disasters.

In good news, rewilding creates jobs in Scotland.

And we're impressed with Just Stop Oil again.

Actions:

Go out and enjoy nature!

In Dublin, check out Stoneybatter Festival, they have an EcoHub and a Bike Bop.

Listen to the new series of Hot Mess with Philip Boucher-Hayes

Have your say... Fill in the goverment issued survey on Climate conversations

Join Talamh Beo

Buy as a coffee and support the upkeep on the pod

This weeks pod is hosted by Darragh and Tom...

As the dust is settling on the election, we unpick what it all means for the planet....

We discuss some the poisoning of the Allow River in Cork and the hypocrisy of our pensions are being invested into Fossil Fuels

And Tom Spencer lends his expertise to the proposed levy on Chinese EV's

The Rethinking Growth Conference looks like it will be interesting and worth attending for any Dubliners out there

Listen to some thought provoking music from singer Peggy Seeger:

How I Long For Peace & Song of Choice

Celebrate the Summer Solstice on Friday week and reconnect with nature

and Consider joining political party????

Go on, buy us a coffee ---> https://buymeacoffee.com/theclimatealarm

We have a rant about Regina Doherty and her comments on bike lanes.

The confusion and misinformation around consumer goods and the environment is as bad as it ever was, we discuss greenwashing.

Anna's favourite band Coldplay are doing their bit for the planet, or are they?

And the deposit return scheme starts to show real success

If you're listening ahead of your vote today , check out https://www.whichcandidate.ie/ to help you decide

IBikeBop for the next group cycle around Dublin. Check out their Facebook and/or Twitter

If you're interested in in attending the Rethinking Growth Conference on 25th and 26th June in Trinity, Dublin. go to https://rethinking-growth.ie/

LIsten to our previous episodes with psycologist Eoin Galavan on the psychology of climate change here and here

Lisa Fingleton's Voices from the Field is a great piece looking positively at what the future of agriculture could look like

It's pride month, ally yourself with the community and have a read about the disproportionate effect of climate change on the LGBT community here

Coffee...?

The EPA has published Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions projections and surprise surprise, we are not going to hit our targets. Darragh, Ciara and Anna dig into the details and the political reactions. What does this mean for the upcoming elections? Some of the opposition parties insist the government should be doing more, while Eamon Ryan accuses them of doing nothing. Who's right and does it matter?

While we're arguing about it, the climate is heating up around the world. India and Pakistan see record heat and Bangladesh is reeling from a record breaking storm.

But there are some (sort of) good news stories too... the EU is using less fossil fuels, renewable energy is growing in the US and the US public are in favour of suing big oil.

Actions for this week:

Get election ready. Check out your European election candidates on the Journal. See which candidates you agree with most based on the issues. The Friends of the Earth election toolkit has all the info you need.

Sign up to the Temperature check newsletter from Lauren Boland and the Journal.

Watch Birdsong on the RTE Player, it's inspiring!

https://buymeacoffee.com/theclimatealarm

Darragh is back from his slow travels and is joined by Ciara and Anna to look at the climate news.

A scientific study has concluded that our extremely wet winter was made wetter and windier by climate change.

The local and european elections are coming up on June 7th, why do they matter and how do you tackle a candidate at your doorstep? (Ciara wants to know).

We also find some good news stories to share, our national bird is making a comeback.

Actions we recommend this week:

Check out the Friends of the Earth election toolkit and email your councillor candidates.

This EU Parliament Scoreboard | WWF shows you how Irish parties voted on climate and environmental issues (hint: some have very poor voting records).

If you want to know more, sign up for European election hustings on May 28th.

*well said Joan Baez

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It's all doom, gloom, misinformation and a bit of hope this week.

With Darragh away, Anna and Ciara are joined by Tom Spencer, of IrishEvs.com to discuss what's in the news.

A survey of climate scientists by the Guardian finds only 6% think 1.5 is still alive. Many experts are in despair at the lack of political will to take action to avert catastrophe. We discuss reactions -- is this too much doom, are scientists the right people to be asking and why are they still insisting action is important?

Meanwhile, stories about EVs caught Tom's eye. He highlights how a lot of the 'bad news' is speculation or even misinformation.

We have some good news about Ireland playing a leadership role in Europe.

And as always, some actions we can all take:

If you’re in Dublin… get to the Garden of Remembrance for 1pm on Saturday for National Demonstration for Palestine… march to help end the ongoing Nakba. 

If you’re not in Dublin check out the listings on IPSC.ie Emergency Actions for Palestine Around Ireland  and find one near you.

Also Irish Artists for Palestine - Alternative eurovision - Two live shows in Dublin and Galway, streamed on YouTube, aiming to raise 100K, Watch back, donate, share!

Elections are coming up… are you a climate voter?  Not Here Not Anywhere has launched its local elections climate pledge, encouraging candidates to be climate leaders, not climate culprits!  Check out their website for ideas on how to contact your local candidates and what to ask them to do. 

Ciara recommends a naked Street Feast

You can buy us a coffee here !

It's Earth Week but that didn't stop Scotland backtracking on its ambitious climate targets. And Unilever, one of the largest users of plastic packaging in the world, decided to reduce its plastic reduction targets too. We talk about what's going on with the growing corporate and political backlash against climate action. Pragmatic or just delaying?

Meanwhile in Ireland, a new poll commissioned by Friends of the Earth finds no sign of climate backlash in Irish public opinion. We take a look at some of the more interesting findings.

We find some good news coming from California too!

And as always, we have some actions to suggest:

Not Here Not Anywhere is launching its local elections climate pledge, encouraging candidates to be climate leaders, not climate culprits!  The official launch is on Weds May 1st outside Dail Eireann at 1pm, all welcome if you can make it. If not, check out their website for ideas on how to contact your local candidates and what to ask them to do.

Add your name to the urgent petition calling for a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

Finally... go for a walk! Listen to the birds and enjoy Spring! But not before listening to Elaine McGoff's lovely Earth Day reflections.

G'wan you can buy us a coffee if you want!

The gang are back together! Darragh, Ciara and Anna look at what's been happening since we took a break in December.

(There's a hint in the episode title)

We reflect on how much worse the situation in Gaza is now and how that links back to climate justice.

Global average temperatures continue to break records and food production is being badly affected by rain here in Ireland and drought in other countries. Ciara has been working with food producers who are on the frontlines and struggling.

And a new research study provides shocking estimates of the cost of climate damage. A CONSERVATIVE estimate is that climate damage will cost $38 trillion every year! Much cheaper to start mitigating and reduce emissions now.

In a good news story, the Swiss klimatsenioren won a landmark case in the European Court of Human Rights which opens the door to other countries being held accountable for protecting their citizens with climate action.

What can we do? (apart from suing the government!). Some actions we suggest this week:

Join Talamh Beo to work for fairer food systems. Plant some seedlings while you're at it.

Come along to Friends of the Earth education day on global justice in Richmond Barracks, Dublin 8 on Saturday 27th April

Check out the Long Time Project for intergenerational thinking

Organise a Street Feast (your neighbours will love you for it).

Support Médicins Sans Frontières with this amazing song from Roisin el Cherif!

Season Finale! A big thanks to all our listeners and wishing you all a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas season and new year -- see you in 2024!

Cop28 finished with a standing ovation, but what was really achieved? Ciara, Darragh and Anna take a look at reactions to fossil fuels being mentioned in a COP agreement for the first time. Darragh dusts off his analogies and even Ciara tries a sporting analogy (we're not sure what sport though).

Here in Ireland, the Dail passed a motion calling on Ireland to support the Fossil Fuels Non Proliferation treaty (nepotism alert here, the motion was sponsored by Thomas Pringle, TD).

And as always, we finish off with some festive actions:

Join a rally for Palestine happening around the country this Saturday (and other days too), details on the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign website.

Ciara recommends abandoning the tat and gifting people wholesome experiences this Christmas. She's offering a walk in the woods with herself.