Five Degrees of Change The Business Post

Noel Cunniffe is chief executive of Wind Energy Ireland, the business group representing the wind power sector in Ireland. 
For his policy changes, Cunniffe chose to ensure the planning system is equipped for the volume of renewables projects coming down the line, to launch a communications campaign around upgrading the electricity grid, and to create an energy demand strategy to use Ireland's excess renewables' resources. 
For his personal changes, Cunniffe explained how he was gardening for biodiversity, and how he was building his new home with clean energy in mind. 

Tomás Sercovich is chief executive of Business in the Community Ireland, a business association providing advice and leadership on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. 
 
For his policy changes, Sercovich chose to ensure more diverse boards, to refocus valuation in companies on non-financial outcomes, and to future-fit business models for opportunities in sustainability. 
 
For his personal changes, he spoke about choosing to work in corporate sustainability, and how he is making more sustainable choices in his life. 

Margie McCarthy is Director of Research and Policy Insights at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Through her work, McCarthy is at the forefront of Ireland's sustainable energy revolution and has a passion not only for solving its technical challenges, but for overcoming the social obstacles to the scale of change needed. 
For her policy changes, McCarthy chose to create a vision for Ireland in 2050, to accelerate the roll out of district heating, and to wind down fossil fuel subsidies. 
For her personal changes, McCarthy chose to buy no new dresses in 2024, and to tune in to opposing opinions. 

Anne Graham is chief execitive of the National Transport Authority. She is tasked with leading the tranformation of Ireland's public and active transport systems, so that people can be encouraged out of their cars and onto bikes, buses and trains. 
 
For her policy changes, she chose to ensure the planning system is equipped to deliver transport infrastructure, to ensure compact development for more sustainable communities, and to move transport to multi-year funding. 
 
For her personal changes, she spoke about using public transport, using her bike, and plans to retrofit her home. 

Wopke Hoekstra is the European Commissioner for Climate Action, having served as deputy prime minister of the Netherlands, as well as minister for foreign affairs and minister for finance. 
 
For his policy changes, Hoekstra chose to enhance climate diplomacy, to build more carbon markets around the world, and to bridge climate action with economic competitiveness.
 
For his personal changes, he discussed recycling more and managing his own energy footprint. 

Claire DuPont is a research professor of European and international governance at Ghent University, with a deep knowledge of the political economy of climate action. 
 
For her policy changes, she chose to better integrate the humanities and social sciences into the policy process, to invest in infrastructure and public services for climate resilience and climate justice, and to do proper climate risk assessments. 
 
For her personal changes, she spoke about trying to eat a plant based diet and doing more civic and community engagement.