Ecolution

October saw the coming together of Irelands’ first ever Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, and Ecolution was lucky enough to follow their journey. We meet some of the children selected, their mentors and TD Malcolm Noonan.

Birds are one of the most visible, and audible members of the biosphere that surround us. But they are in serious trouble. We spoke to Niamh Fitzgerald of Birdwatch Ireland, Birders in Kilkenny and kids across the country to see why they’re in decline and ask what we can do to help.

Today we meet Donal Griffin, marine policy officer for Fair Seas Ireland and Sibéal Regan of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group to shine a light on the creatures large and small that call Irish waters home. Plus, youth IWDG member Alissa hops on a boat out of Baltimore in Cork to see what she can spot on a whale watching expedition.

It’s Green Schools Walk to School Week and last Monday, 150 young people from 10 to 24 gathered as part of the Walk21 IrelandConference. They met to help shape communities of the future, places where walking and active travel is safer for all. And we walked with them.

Evie, along with fellow young people Paddy, Frank, Nora, Rosa, Tom, and willing accomplice Derek spent a morning at IMMA seeing The Anthropocene exhibition, guided by Mark Maguire, Assistant Curator for Schools and Family at IMMA to see what happens when Art meets the Climate Crisis.

This one is all about Energy. Sarah O’Rourke of Eirgrid discusses Ireland’s present and future. John O’Shea of Codema talks Dublin's low-carbon transition. And, Donal Gallagher of Asylum Productions tells us about the Callan Energy Store an exercise in Creative Climate Action. Plus our Brain Trust.

What happens when you watch videos, stream a movie or play online, and how could it be having an impact on our environment? Artist Joana Moll has been asking just these questions.

Today, we visit another Biosphere Reserve, this time in the Maldives. At Finolhu Baa Atoll, Marine Biologist Filipa might have the best job in the world. Here she discusses life below the waves and in particular the endangered Manta Ray. Plus, Brain Trustee Rosa shares her love of the sea.

We head to Bull Island to discuss the Dublin Bay Biosphere with Dean Eaton, Ecologist Pat Corcoran, Niamh Fitzgerald of Birdwatch Ireland and the Scouts of 5th Port Dollymount, the first people in the world to complete the Dublin Bay Biosphere Award.

Just before Covid we visited Ireland's first Democratic School to see how they're changing the way they learn, to fit the world we’ve made. And there we conducted a guided exercise with Kathryn McCabe in coping with Eco Anxiety.

In this episode from way back in December 2019, we joined four inner-city schools visiting Belvedere College to see if they can bring gardens fed by fish into their classrooms.

Evie will be away for a week or two but normal service will resume soon! In the meantime we plan on revisiting older episodes to show that we’ve been at this for some time. Enjoy.

Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland, former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Chair of the Elders and fellow podcaster joins Evie to answer children’s questions about Climate Justice. How exciting is that?!

For World Oceans Day we met with Marine Biologist Sarah Hegarty of Birdwatch Ireland to hear about the Fair Seas campaign, which launches today.

To celebrate our 50th episode in style, we headed to Glas community garden in Ballymun to meet the students of Virgin Mary National School, Gardener Sharon Harvey, Hans and Alex from Global Action Plan and the Dutch Ambassador. Phew!

A double header episode to celebrate Biodiversity Week and World Bee Day together. We send intrepid bug explorers Sadhbh and Rosa to the Bee Sanctuary with Meadow as a guide. Meet Collie Ennis in his Critter Shed, and investigate why bees and insects are so vital to our planet.

Next week is #BikeWeek2022. We headed to DCC’s Pedalpalooza to meet hundreds of people celebrating active travel. Niamh Ní Cholmain talks school streets, IBike Dublin and Bleeper on Cargo bikes. Plus we joined the #AndSheCycles awards last week and the winning teams putting cycling for teenage girls on the map.

Today’s episode is all about our peatlands. The flora and fauna that call them home but also the farmers and communities that live on and around bogs. Dr Shane brings us to Clara Bog in Co. Offaly to hear about how FarmPeat are working with these communities to change the conversation around turf and the landscape.

Last autumn we took a trip out to a very special place which, at the time, was based in Navan. The WRI Wildlife Hospital. There we met Education Officer Aoife McPartlin who brought us and the Garden Committee of St Anne’s National School on a tour to see the essential work they do caring for sick and injured wildlife.

Today, we look at the latest IPCC report with Dr Shane, visit Castelcomer Discovery Park, speak to author Oisín McGann. We head to Mud Island Community Garden with artist Steve Doody, and check in with the Ecolution Brain Trust, kids across the country who want their say in the future we get to live.

Say hello to Evie Kenny, Ecolution’s brand new presenter, letting you know what we have coming up this season.

This is a shorter episode than usual to highlight two things. Earth Hour, this Saturday, but also a change in the next season. James explains all in a poignant mini show.

We’ve teamed up with the youth organisation Spunout.ie to try and explain what COP 26 is all about. Orla, Peter and Amy, 3 teen volunteers, delve in. Plus, we hear from climate activist Theresa Rose Sebastian and the YMCA Sustainable Sleepover Club Podcast too.

Paddy Shanahan is a 12 year old Climate Activist who got in touch with Ecolution to speak about the Climate and Nature Summit. We met him on Sandycove beach to talk about the importance of the climate crisis being put at the centre of our education system. And, how this Summit would be a great way to get that message across in your school.

Made in conjunction with the schoolchildren of St. John the Baptist Boys’ Primary School for Cashel Arts Week, this episode speaks to future farmers and their parents about how the land is used, and what changes we’ll see in the coming years.