Climate Conversations

Irish Doctors for the Environment
  • 5.0 (7)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

In Climate Conversations we talk to a diverse range of inspirational people who share a deep commitment to their communities and the natural world that sustains them. Through engaging and broad reaching conversations with leading authors, scientists, activists and politicians we discover some of the solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that threaten our future and learn how these solutions will create a healthier, happier and more equitable world.

  1. 10/11/2025

    What if they fixed it?

    In this episode of Climate Conversations, former and current Operations Officers of Irish Doctors for the Environment, Dr Ola Løkken Nordrum and Orlagh Gaynor, come together to discuss the power of storytelling in shaping climate action. Orlagh shares a climate fiction story she wrote for a live storytelling event, offering a glimpse of a hopeful future that could be realised if our leaders took bold, brave action today. We reflect on the inspiration behind the story and the need for a shared vision of hope to aim towards, alongside the uncomfortable lifestyle changes and ambitious action required to break the status quo. Because when it comes to safeguarding our future, business as usual cannot continue.

    37 min

  2. 30/10/2025

    Dr John Bonning Healthcare Sustainability

    In this episode of Climate Conversations we discuss all things sustainability in healthcare with three international leaders in the field: Dr John Bonning, past president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, Dr Rosa McNamara - Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Programme for Emergency Medicine in Ireland and Dr Ola Nordrum, HSE Healthcare sustainability fellow and past Operations Officer for Irish Doctors for the Environment charity. We discuss how sustainable healthcare can deliver the triple wins of improved patient care, lower costs and lower emissions. Which, in an era of rising demand, shrinking budgets and worsening climate chaos, is no longer optional, but essential. A must listen for all healthcare workers looking for a viable path forward in these tumultuous times.

    38 min

  3. 03/08/2025

    The Economics of Climate Change and Climate Adaptation with Professor Karyn Morrissey

    Professor Karyn Morrissey, Co-author of the Lancet Commissions Countdown on Climate Change and Human Health since 2016, sits down with IDE's Dr Lisa McNamee to talk about why an economist is interested in climate change. Karyn is Professor in Environment and Marine, at the University of Galway. She is an economist and econometrician by training who uses her skillset to study the economic drivers of, and socioeconomic and health impacts of climate change, particularly in our oceans and coastal environments. Here Karyn has linked her work on public health and marine and coastal economics to understand the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on the marine environment on society, and the changes needed to make human-marine interactions more sustainable. Edited by Dr Jan Steiner Interviewer Dr Lisa McNamee

    43 min

  4. 27/07/2025

    Dr Niamh Shaw - Space for Sustainability

    Dr Niamh Shaw is an explorer, scientist, performer and European Space Agency education champion. She talks to IDE's Dr Lisa McNamee about how the lessons from spaceflight and Antarctica can teach us about sustainability on Earth and about her inspiring, squiggly career to date.

    56 min

  5. 21/04/2025

    The Climate and Health Emergency

    This month on Climate Conversations we have a special episode: emergency medicine doctors Callum and Johnny work on resuscitating not just one patient, but the entire planetary ecosystem. Planet Earth has come to the Emergency Department in a critical condition and there's no time to waste. With dangerous levels of air pollution, rising global temperatures, escalating extreme weather events, threats to global food and water security and a rapidly closing window to act - this is a health emergency, beyond any doubt. The episode features a special guest , the outstanding Professor Hugh Montgomery. Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London and co-chair of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, Hugh is leading the healthcare world on climate action. And for those listeners who don't have a healthcare background, fear not, because although we are using the analogy of a sick patient to frame this episode the subject matter is all climate related. Enjoy!

    42 min

  6. 20/11/2024

    The Bee Guy!

    Paul Handrick from The Bee Sanctuary of Ireland is a fantastic wildlife and wild spaces advocate, a genuinely nice person and a prolific tweeter/public educator on Irish bees and wildlife. The Bee Sanctuary is truly unique, the only one in the world. You can find out more at: https://savingbees.ie You can follow his work at twitter: https://twitter.com/the_beeguy?lang=en You can read about his journey here: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/2023/08/06/the-wicklow-couple-who-have-created-the-worlds-only-wild-bee-sanctuary/ But probably best to go and see him on his farm!

    42 min

  7. 05/11/2024

    GreenTech in healthcare: 2024 call

    Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI), in collaboration with the HSE and the Irish College of GPs, is running a GreenTech in healthcare call for innovative products and services that promote environmental sustainability in primary and secondary healthcare. GreenTech in healthcare represents a growing movement within the global health industry to adopt environmentally sustainable technologies and practices, aiming to improve health outcomes while minimising ecological footprints. Eimear Galvin and Roisin Breen join Lisa to discuss this exciting call. Eimear is HIHI Manager, based at Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital. Eimear leads the delivery of the national HIHI Knowledge Network, which is designed to support industry innovators and accelerate innovation in the Irish health system. Roisin Breen is a physiotherapist working on climate change and sustainability issues with the HSE, leading the implementation of the HSE’s Climate Action Strategy. See https://hih.ie/engage/greentech/greentech-call/ for more information... and to make your submission!

    17 min

  8. 02/10/2024

    #NationalBreastfeedingWeek as a health and climate action

    Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland (BFLGI) is a volunteer organisation that advocates the protection of the right to good health of all infants, young children, mothers, parents, and families by addressing practices that commercialise infant and young child feeding, threaten breastfeeding and undermine good health. You can find out more about the Baby Feeding Law Group Ireland at their website: ⁠⁠https://bflgireland.ie/⁠ And to mark National Breastfeeding Week, check out this article, endorsed by BFLGI, with top tips to improve breastfeeding rates: ⁠www.echolive.ie/corkviews/arid-41486915.html⁠ Dr Aoife Long has a PhD in renewable gas policy from UCC and is a member of the Baby Feeding Law Group. Her own challenges with breastfeeding led to her looking into the sustainability of breastfeeding, which ultimately became part of her research. Dr Sarah Brennan is a GP specialising in women's health and breastfeeding. She is co-chair of the Baby Feeding Law Group, on the European Association of Breastfeeding Medicine board, and a University lecturer currently on sabbatical. Sarah and Aoife tell us about the co-benefits for health for both the baby and mother and the climate benefits. You can see an example of Aoife's novel research here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095965262103465X See a fantastic personal piece on the importance of breastfeeding from the point of view of a clinician and mother: ⁠https://www.medicalindependent.ie/comment/prof-gabrielle-colleran/why-breastfeeding-support-matters/⁠ Finally, DeSmog recently published an article detailing how the industry is consistently influencing policy: ⁠⁠https://www.desmog.com/2024/09/25/mapped-ireland-powerful-farming-lobby/⁠

    42 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

In Climate Conversations we talk to a diverse range of inspirational people who share a deep commitment to their communities and the natural world that sustains them. Through engaging and broad reaching conversations with leading authors, scientists, activists and politicians we discover some of the solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises that threaten our future and learn how these solutions will create a healthier, happier and more equitable world.

Information

  • Creator
    Irish Doctors for the Environment
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Irish Doctors for the Environment
  • Show Website
    Climate Conversations