Newsletter Archive
Newsletter 39 - February 2026
Climate Institute is excited to announce our upcoming annual Institute for Climate and Society conference on May 12th at the DCU St Patrick's campus, featuring a keynote address by Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly. The event will also include unique contributions from author Seán Ronayne and our Dancer in Residence, Mia DiChiaro. In this edition, Dr. Darren Clarke analyzes how recent extreme rainfall has highlighted vulnerabilities in Ireland's resilience, while Dr. Alessandra Accogli reports on a significant meeting with UN Special Rapporteur Astrid Puentes Riaño. Additionally, Jessica Farry examines the climate-driven threats facing global sporting events like the Winter Olympics, followed by our usual round-up of recommended resources.
Newsletter 38 - January 2026
As we look ahead to the new year, the Institute provides psychology-based strategies from Dr. Emma Delemere to help sustain resolutions, advice we suggest should also be heeded by governments and major polluters. Dr. Darren Clarke reflects on a year of climate extremes and calls for a step-change in Ireland's climate adaptation delivery, building on his earlier review of the EEA’s 2025 environmental findings. Our preview of climate politics features Sadhbh O’Neill discussing critical EU and global policy moments, including Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU. Finally, we highlight Dr. Alice Brawley-Chesworth’s report on our early career researcher workshop, while Aka Large offers a new round-up of resources and activities to keep the community engaged and inspired.
Newsletter 37 - December2025
As another year concludes, the Climate Institute reflects on a challenging period for the climate movement, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and the belief that momentum for climate action will soon return. We invite you to join us on December 9th for our end-of-year event, "Laugh or cry? Climate communications in trying times," which will feature a festive reception and a discussion on how creativity and humor can help communicate urgency without causing despair. This month’s features also include Dave Robbins' account of his trip to Iceland, alongside reports from COP30 by Mahbub Kabir, who represented disability inclusion, and Conor McNally, who produced a documentary on the Loss and Damage Fund. To stay engaged over the holidays, Aka Large provides a curated selection of films, books, and events focused on climate and society.
Newsletter 36 - October 2025
As we prepare for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, the Climate Institute is hosting its annual pre-COP webinar on November 3rd to preview the negotiations. This builds on recent discussions celebrating 10 years of the Paris Agreement, as well as a critical review of the European Environment Agency’s 2025 report, which details a challenging environmental outlook for Ireland,. Our latest updates also cover a RETOOL workshop on the role of deliberative democracy in addressing ecological crises. Finally, we invite you to explore our new climate-related resources and tune into the return of the Code Red podcast, featuring an interview with Lisa Fitzsimons from the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Newsletter 35 - September 2025
In this month’s newsletter, youth climate activist Niamh Purcell writes about her new book, Being The Solution, which shares her experience of helping to shape global youth climate justice. We spotlight an online masterclass course in climate and environmental communication aimed at the media sector being run by the Institute in conjunction with Coimisiún na Meán. We also have details of an important seminar the Institute is hosting on Wednesday 8 October in conjunction with the French embassy to mark 10 years since the Paris Agreement. Also in this month’s newsletter, you can read about the Institute’s new dancer in residence, Mia Di Chiaro. We are delighted to be hosting Mia over the coming 18 months, and you can read more about her plans for her residency below. Finally, Institute member Aka Large has some great ideas for how to stay engaged with the climate conversation this autumn, whether on screen, on the page, in the classroom, or out in the community.
Newsletter 34 - July 2025
In this month’s newsletter, Ali Sheridan, Chair of Ireland’s Just Transition Commission, writes about the Commission’s first report, which was published recently. Prof Janet Walker writes from the United States about resistance efforts to President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the country’s climate research infrastructure.
Institute Co-director Dr Dave Robbins writes about Media For Future, a new EU-funded project that aims to improve communication and understanding between scientists and journalists. Finally, our Institute’s communications officer Aka Large provides lots of suggestions of interesting climate content and events you can watch, read and attend over the summer months.
Newsletter 33 - May 2025
This month’s newsletter spotlights various aspects of the Institute's annual conference, including an important partnership the Institute has launched with Front Line Defenders to support environmental defenders. Institute PhD student Toshali Chattopadhyay along with artists Clara McSweeney and Mel Galley write about their installation “The City at Ten Kilometres an Hour”, which was on display at the conference. Finally, Institute member Dr. Ellen Howley reflects on the conference proceedings and sets out her long TBR (To Be Read) list inspired by the interventions of the day.
Newsletter 32 - April 2025
Cormac Cleary and Ellen Howley report on a recent workshop series they ran to help bring the emotional back into the environmental, Aideen O’Dochartaigh and Jimmy O’Keeffe showcase a new partnership with Business in the Community Ireland, Karen Gill writes about a BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability class field trip to Zeeland in the Netherlands, and Claire Dupont writes about a new report on the Security of Sustainable Energy Supplies.
Newsletter 31 - March 2025
Declan Fahy looks at Trump and the oscillations of US climate policy, Katie Reid shares the impacts of Ireland’s Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, Cormac Cleary identifies an untapped potential for Irish climate communication in local media, and Rowan Oberman highlights the Special Option in Global Citizenship Education offered within DCU’s Master of Education programme.
Newsletter 30 - February 2025
Precious Unegbu looks at the power of citizen voices in climate policy, Prof Pat Brereton shares five “must watch” climate change documentaries and eco-films that have gone under the radar, Dr Alessandra Accogli reports on workshops in London and Brussels on climate change and democracy attended by Institute members, and Dr David Robbins writes about a €10,000 bursary for Masters students.
Newsletter 29 - January 2025
The new year sees the start of a new era for us, with our rebranding as the DCU Institute for Climate and Society, Director Dr Diarmuid Torney shares. Dr Anh Vu provides an overview of new sustainability reporting requirements in the EU under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, Coalition 2030 Coordinator David Rossiter gives an update on the campaign for a Future Generations Commissioner for Ireland, and DCU Sustainability Manager Samantha Fahy outlines five things universities can do in 2025 to accelerate climate action.
Newsletter 28 - The second Good News Issue - December 2024
Laura Costello of Purpose Disruptors on the Irish advertising industry's national alternative Black Friday campaign “Less Buying, More Being”; Dr Susan Hegarty and Dr Niamh Cullen on piloting a citizen science approach for monitoring and reporting of coastal landslides; and Felix Sinnott, Maya Clinton and Dr Jimmy O’Keeffe write about a project that has been evaluating the benefits provided by high quality blue and green spaces in our towns and cities. Plus, Dr Dave Robbins on positive journalism, and where to find good news stories about the climate.
Newsletter 27 - November 2024
Dr Louise Fitzgerald shares five doorstep questions to ask general election candidates to ensure urgent and fair climate action is at the top of the agenda, Dr Diarmuid Torney previews COP29, Dr Danny Marks looks at how Hurricanes Helene and Milton exposed climate injustice in the US, and Dr Johannes Karl explores the emotions provoked by climate change.
Newsletter 26 - October 2024
Dr Dave Robbins explores local climate action in Ireland, Prof Claire Dupont looks at what the proposed European Commission means for the future of the European Green Deal, and Dr Louise Fitzgerald reports on a panel discussion on “climate justice, hope and imagination” which featured several Centre members at the 2024 Earth Rising festival.
Newsletter 25 - September 2024
With the US presidential election just around the corner, Dr Alice Brawley-Chesworth looks at what a Kamala Harris presidency would mean for climate action. Dr Ross Carroll writes about the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, Anna Pringle takes a critical look at data centres and Ireland’s climate commitments, Stephanie McDonald writes about a summer of extreme heat around the world and Prof Pat Brereton reviews a new documentary about the life of former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders, Mary Robinson.
Newsletter 24 - May 2024
Sadhbh O' Neill sets the scene for the upcoming European Parliament elections, Dr Dave Robbins shares a new resource for student journalists on covering climate change, Dr Darren Clarke looks at likely weather trends for the summer, and Dr Diarmuid Torney reports on the launch of the new Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water.
Newsletter 23 - April 2024
Highlights from the 2024 Centre for Climate and Society conference, an invitation from Dr Dave Robbins to help develop a climate engagement and communications course, Dr Darren Clarke on DCU's BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability, Dr Louise Fitzgerald on the limits of a green transition from above, and Dr Diarmuid Torney on a new three-year Horizon Europe project led by the Centre called RETOOL: Strengthening Democratic Governance for Climate Transitions.
Newsletter 22 - March 2024
Dr Diarmuid Torney shares his first Centre Director's message, Dr Ross Carroll writes about Mary Robinson's calls for “long-view leadership” in tackling climate justice, Dr Ellen Howley explores breakfast in Jamaica and whether ackee and saltfish are at risk from the effects of climate change, and Dr Johannes Karl examines the findings of the new Climate Change in the Irish Mind Wave 2 Report.
Newsletter 21 - February 2024
Dr Niamh Cullen writes about DCU students studying sustainability in Finland, Prof Pat Brereton explores whether a film's production design could inspire climate action, and Dr Emma Delemere asks if gaming can help us understand energy decisions.
Newsletter 20 - January 2024
Dr Diarmuid Torney on the publication of Ireland's first Climate Change Assessment report, key climate dates in 2024, Dr Darren Clarke looks back on broken climate records in 2023, Dr Markus Pauli and Dr Jivanta Schottli share their new book 'India's Statecraft and Foreign Policy', and Jack Campbell writes about 'The X factor: Accountability on a changing platform.'
Newsletter 19 - December 2023
Sadhbh O' Neill asks whether COP28 was a surprising success or another disastrous delay, Dr Rowan Oberman on picturebook possibilities for exploring climate issues, and the Centre participates in a symposium on the role culture, the arts, and the media can play in promoting sustainability in Ireland.
Newsletter 18 - November 2023
Dr Diarmuid Torney on the key issues on the COP28 agenda, Dr Fabiola Schneider on the global push for Scope 3 disclosure, and a COP28 wishlist from Centre members.
Newsletter 17 - The Good News Issue - October 2023
Dr Dave Robbins on solutions journalism, Prof Peader Kirby and Dr Amalia Gómez-Casilla on modelling a sustainable future at their ecovillages in Ireland and Spain, and Dr James Carton on Ireland's new green National Hydrogen Strategy. Plus, where to find good news stories about climate change.
Newsletter 16 - September 2023
Centre Director Dr Dave Robbins looks at how the media reports on extreme events, Isha Smiti Thakur on stories of resilience in the riparian communities of the Brahmaputra River Basin in South Asia, Dr Benjamin Mallon on climate change education for young people, and a just transition for whom?
Newsletter 15 - June 2023
EU Nature Restoration Law, Reuters media report sheds light on climate journalism, and Ireland ‘not on track’ to hit emissions reduction target.
Newsletter 14 - May 2023
Highlights from 'Rewild & Renew' conference, Dr Jimmy O'Keeffe on urban blue and green space, and Dr Diarmuid Torney on the final report of Ireland’s first Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss.
Newsletter 13 - March 2023
Lughan Deane on the protest signs of the Climate Strike movement, Dr Darren Clarke breaks down the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Synthesis Report, and Roberta Ragucci interrogates opposition to an East African pipeline.
Newsletter 12 - February 2023
Dr Ellen Howley writes about poets and climate change, Sukanya Shukla on green nudges, and Stephanie McDonald on the joys of 'slow' travel.
Newsletter 11 - January 2023
Key climate dates in 2023, Rabia Qusien on Pakistan’s floods and challenges for women, sustainability forecast for Irish businesses, and Dr Goran Dominioni on prospects for decarbonising international shipping in an equitable manner.
Newsletter 10 - December 2022
MSc in Climate Change students visit EU institutions, Sadhbh O’Neill on why COP27 was a wasted opportunity, Dr Victoria Gómez on climate communication in Uruguay, and the rise of the Green Collar workforce.
Newsletter 9 - November 2022
Dr Trish Morgan on 'What is political ecology?', the Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss release calls to action, and Professor Pat Brereton asks if Avatar 2 is an escapist sci-fi or cautionary climate tale.
Newsletter 8 - October 2022
The basics of climate science, Dr Danny Marks on 5 ways to increase urban climate resilience, and Dr Orlagh Reynolds explains the progression from CSR to ESG.
Newsletter 7 - September 2022
Hope and agency in climate action, Children and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss to begin, and 'C' Grade for Government on delivery of climate and environment commitments.
Newsletter 6 - July 2022
What works in climate communications, who's paying attention to climate change coverage, and launch of DCU MSc in Climate Change Alumni and Student Network.
Newsletter 5 - May 2022
President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, gives keynote address at Centre conference, a Q&A with environmental writer and campaigner George Monbiot, and release of the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) annual State of Global Climate report.
Newsletter 4 - April 2022
Climate change in turbulent times, implications for Ireland of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) mitigation report, and Environmental Justice in Ireland report released.
Newsletter 3 - March 2022
Deloitte Ireland announced as founding partner of the Centre, what the IPCC report on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability means for Ireland, and Centre Co-Director Prof Pat Brereton releases a new book on the key concepts in the discourse around climate change.
Newsletter 2 - January 2022
The climate year ahead, eco-films to watch, and what we'll be reading in 2022.
Newsletter 1 - November 2021
Why the social sciences and humanities are relevant to climate, the four pillars of our research centre, and Centre members at COP26.