Code Red

About Code Red

Code Red is a climate change podcast from the Institute for Climate and Society at Dublin City University, Ireland. The series looks at how the worlds of policy, politics, the media, the arts, and other sectors have responded to climate breakdown and biodiversity loss. Code Red features an interesting and diverse mix of guests from academia, policy, the cultural industries and civil society. Series host: Dr Dave Robbins Series 3 producer & editor: Louise Romain Series 1&2 producer: Monica Hayes Sound for series 1&2: Eoin Campbell, Damien Hickey. With thanks to the DCU School of Communications

Publisher

DCU Institute for Climate and Society

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2023

Latest episode

17 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Nov 2025

   Relating to nature as a friend with Cassandra Murphy

   As an Environmental Psychologist, Cassandra Murphy is a PhD researcher and educator dedicated to understanding the profound bond between people and the natural world. Her work explores how building a relationship with nature can enhance human well-being and inspire sustainable behaviours. Cassie advocates for recognizing personal definitions of nature and integrating simple, daily practices to enhance this relationship. She emphasizes the importance of re-establishing a relationship with nature, likening it to human friendships, and suggests that small, incremental steps can help individuals reconnect. The conversation covers the psychological benefits and harms of nature connection, the concept of solastalgia, and strategies for coping with eco-anxiety. This episode also includes a series of vox pop with audience members of Earth Rising. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: No Home by John Hayes, Small Steps by Simon Folwar, Ocean by Corals Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

2. 

   10 Nov 2025

   Tackling the climate crisis through education and green political economy with John Barry

   John teaches Green Political Economy and co-directs the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queens Belfast University. He is also the Co-Chair of the Belfast Climate Commission, which translates climate policy into on-the-ground action to achieve the UK Government’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. In this episode, John introduces the concept of political economy, arguing that economics cannot be separated from politics and power. He dives into the impacts of capitalism on the ecological and climate crises, and advocates for bringing ethics and politics into economic discussion. Barry critiques the academic sector's response to the climate crisis, arguing for a more integrated and mandatory approach to educating students on these issues. He discusses the psychological and emotional impacts of climate change education, advocating for a combination of cognitive knowledge, practical action, and emotional engagement. The conversation also touches on Barry's criticism of current green politics, his potential political aspirations as a Councillor, and the need for a justice transformation approach to address the climate crisis comprehensively. The interview concludes with a call to action, encouraging revolutionary change and active hope to combat climate challenges. This episode also includes a vox pop with an audience member of Earth Rising. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: The Last Prophecy by Alex Besss; No Alibi by Little Planet; Dark Lake by Simon Folwar; You Didn’t Say Goodbye by Abstract Aprils Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

3. 

   3 Nov 2025

   The disruptive power of contemporary art with john gerrard

   john gerrard is a contemporary artist, whose sculptures and installations take the form of digital simulations displayed using real-time computer graphics. gerrard’s practice draws on technology originally developed for military and gaming use, which he adapts to create slow, meditative portraits of industrial landscapes and ecological change. Often set in remote or symbolic locations, these works hold a mirror to systems of extraction, labour and environmental breakdown. His works unfold continuously, often depicting quiet, looping scenes that reflect on energy, power and the climate crisis. This interview with the artist details his career and the evolution of his work from the early series 'Smoke Trees' to his prominent piece 'Western Flag.' john discusses how his interest in industrial and environmental themes, specifically the impact of fossil fuels, led him to explore the materiality and environmental presence in his art. He draws a parallel between industrial agriculture and digital infrastructures, and emphasizes the theme of 'power' in his art, encompassing energy, dominance, and influence. John also reflects on the challenges and ethical considerations of using digital technology in his artwork and expresses an interest in future projects focusing on wind energy in Ireland. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Blob by Moire; Wild West by Alex Besss; Hypnopompia and Lamento by Adrian Ehrlich; Wilderness by The Wayward Hearts. Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

4. 

   27 Oct 2025

   Fashion revolution through care and slowness with Sarah O'Neill

   Sarah O'Neill is a passionate and innovative fashion designer, and a consultant at The Zero Waster, a platform dedicated to promoting sustainable and zero-waste practices within the fashion industry. In this episode, Sarah shares about her journey and inspirations in sustainable fashion. With her extensive background in apparel design, she leverages her expertise in sustainable design and product development to create clothing that not only meets aesthetic standards but also aligns with the principles of a circular economy, for example through using reclaimed fabrics. The discussion covers the challenges of identifying genuinely sustainable brands, the importance of local production, and the creative potential of natural dyes. Sarah also talks about the growth of Dublin Independent Fashion Week, its role in supporting Irish designers, and the need for local manufacturing to make sustainable fashion more accessible. The episode concludes with a conversation about the broader implications of sustainability in everyday life. Sarah is deeply engaged in brand awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the benefits of ethical fashion and has been recognised for her contributions, including winning the Sustainable Design Award at the IDI Awards in 2022. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Cutie by Sky Gienger; Eclipse by Moire; Network by Ill Kitchen; Gigil by Ten String Story Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

5. 

   20 Oct 2025

   Remembering our collective agency as Earth citizens with Jon Alexander

   Jon is the author of ‘CITIZENS: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us’ and dedicates himself to sharing about the emergence of a Citizen Future. As a public speaker and a strategist, he supports leaders who understand the scale of the transformation we need and who are willing to play their part, and he plays a key role as a connector between institutions, community groups and social movements. In this episode, Jon first discusses his career transition from advertising to co-founding the New Citizen Project with Irenie Ekkeshis in 2014, a consultancy aimed at transforming the societal role of individuals from consumers to engaged citizens. He explores the concept of citizenship as an active practice rather than a static status, emphasizing the importance of collective intelligence and local community actions in addressing major issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. Jon advocates for participatory democracy and deeper, more inclusive narratives that validate and platform community efforts, such as the wind energy project in Lawrence Weston, Bristol. He provides various international examples such as Taiwan’s COVID response and Norway’s crowdsourced investment strategies, where leaders embrace collective agency. The discussion also touches on the potential of small yet significant shifts in narrative and policy to mobilize public engagement and trust. Jon is also a member of the Global Advisor Network of the ⁠⁠Apolitical Foundation⁠⁠ (https://www.apolitical.foundation/democration-innovation), where he led extensive work on Democratic Innovation. He is also on the Advisory Council of ⁠⁠DemocracyNext⁠⁠ (https://demnext.org/), an organisation he helped found as one of the original Strategic Advisors, and on the Leadership Council of the ⁠⁠Democracy and Culture Foundation⁠⁠ (https://www.democracyculturefoundation.org/). He is also a Fellow of the ⁠⁠Young Foundation⁠⁠ (https://www.youngfoundation.org/), a Visiting Fellow at the University of Manchester, and an Associate at the Cambridge University Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Resurgence by Simon Folwar; Zenith by Shane Mckenna YouTube clip: ‘How we got a wind turbine’ by Ambition Lawrence Weston Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

6. 

   13 Oct 2025

   Museum legacy in times of climate and ecological crisis with Lisa Fitzsimons

   Lisa serves as the Strategy and Sustainability lead at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA). She integrates long-term vision with environmental and social responsibility, ensuring sustainability is embedded at the heart of the museum. Each year, she organises the museum’s flagship festival Earth Rising: an ambitious platform exploring the intersection of contemporary art, ecological innovation, and community resilience. In this episode, she explains what it takes to curate the annual Earth Rising Festival and to steer the museum towards a regenerative approach beyond mere sustainability. Lisa highlights the challenges posed by the art institution's carbon footprint and the impact of storytelling through art. The discussion also touches upon the Culture Declares Emergency initiative and Lisa's holistic vision for IMMA's role in community engagement, biodiversity, and critical thinking for future generations. She explores how creativity can engage audiences on difficult topics such as the Earth Crisis in a way that speaks truth to reality, whilst also sparking hope and optimism. Recorded at the Earth Rising Festival 2025, IMMA, Dublin. Host: Dr Dave Robbins Editor & Producer: Louise Romain Music credits: Rain drops by Simon Folwar; Swimming by Torus Intro and outro: Like Flying by Danijel Zambo

7. 

   13 Dec 2023

   Eco Anxiety and Ocean Connection

   This episode links eco-anxiety with the ocean by virtue of our two contributors whose work and play centers around the ocean. They are Linzi Hawkin, surfer and co-founder of Project Blue and fellow surfer Easkey Britton, an author and social scientist. In this thought provoking episode we hear about what eco-anxiety is and how to deal with it, the role of the ocean in our health and wellbeing and what the ocean can teach us in today's often challenging world. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins, School of Communications DCU Guest Interviewer: Pat Brereton, Professor Emeritus DCU Guests: Linzi Hawkin, Co-founder and Advocate at Project Blue, Surfer Easkey Britton, Author, Social Scientist and Surfer This episode was recorded at IMMA at the Earth Rising Festival 2023

8. 

   29 Nov 2023

   Climate Journalism - How to Cover a World on Fire

   The media have often being criticisd for their role in climate change inaction, and their framing of the climate change discourse is regularly called into question.  In this episode of Code Red we bring you a panel discussion which took place during the Irish Museum of Modern Art’s Earth Rising Festival where our host, Dr. David Robbins discussed the challenges that environmental journalists face when delivering climate change stories to the Irish public. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins, School of Communications DCU Guests: Caroline O' Doherty, Irish Independent Rosalind Skillen, Belfast Telegraph John Gibbons, Irish Examiner and Environmental Campaigner This episode was recorded at IMMA at the Earth Rising Festival 2023

9. 

   15 Nov 2023

   Can the Advertising Industry Lead a Path Towards Net Zero?

   The advertising industry has been hugely effective in driving the growth that has contributed to the climate crisis we now face and is instrumental in creating unsustainable consumption. In this episode we meet the agents of change within the industry who seek to catalyse advertising's climate transition towards halving emissions by 2030. They call themselves Purpose Disruptors and their vision is an advertising industry transformed in service to a thriving future. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins, School of Communications DCU Guest Interviewer:  Pat Brereton, Professor Emeritus at DCU Guests: Laura Costello, Strategy Director of Purpose and Planet Projects in Think House, and Ireland lead for Purpose Disruptors Lisa Merrick Lawless, co-founder and director of Purpose Disruptors in UK Emer Fitzmaurice, Head of Planning at Folk Wunderman Thompson, and part of the Purpose Disruptors team in Ireland Thomas Geoghan, Strategy Director in PHD Media and team member of Purpose Disruptors Ireland This episode was recorded at IMMA at the Earth Rising Festival 2023

10. 

    1 Nov 2023

    Art and Food Supporting Climate Action

    In this episode we are delighted to chat with Dan Saladino, journalist, broadcaster and author of ‘Eating to Extinction”. His research examines how the current lack of food diversity is having a negative impact on the health of the planet, and on human health as well. He discusses the power of storytelling in helping us reform the broken food system of the present through the identification of successful food production and consumption stories from the past. In this episode we also explore the role of art in mobilising climate action with Annie Fletcher, Director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and hear about the importance of right intention in the successful delivery of climate action projects with artist Amelia Caulfield Host: Dr. Dave Robbins, School of Communications DCU Guest Interviewer: Pat Brereton, Professor Emeritus at DCU Guests: Annie Fletcher, Director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) Dan Saladino, journalist, writer and broadcaster. Author of ‘Eating to Extinction’ Amelia Caulfield, multidisciplinary socially engaged artist from Kilkenny. This episode was recorded at IMMA during the Earth Rising Festival 2023

11. 

    18 Oct 2023

    Is Fast Fashion Killing the Planet?

    In this episode, we unpick the problems inherent in fast fashion and explore societal and regulatory responses to creating a more a sustainable industry.  We examine the role of social media in driving consumption, ponder on the gender divide that makes preloved apparel more attractive to women and hear about new EU policies that will move the industry into the circular economy system. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests: Gwen Cunningham, Lead for Circularity and Sustainability at NCAD and Co-founder of World Circular Textiles Day Laura de Barra, Author of “Gaff Goddess” and “Décor Galore” Mary Fleming, founder of Change Clothes Crumlin a community based clothing reuse hub in Dublin 12. Jo Linehan, Editor of Monthly Climate Supplement with Sunday Times, Sustainability Journalist and Host of Futurist Podcast This podcast contains audio from a panel discussion that took place at IMMA’s Earth Rising Festival 2023.

12. 

    27 Jun 2023

    Corporate Responsibilities

    In this episode, we explore corporate responses to the climate and biodiversity emergencies.  We examine the new reporting obligations that corporations are facing in terms of their sustainability, discuss greenwashing, debate the power of consumers, investors, and regulators in pressuring corporations to become more sustainable, and examine terms such as net zero and scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests: Aoife Connaughton, Sustainability Strategy and Risk Lead for Deloitte Ireland Dr. Fabiola Schneider, an assistant professor in DCU Business School with a research interest in Sustainable Finance Dr. Aideen O'Dochartaigh , an assistant professor in DCU Business School with a research focus on Sustainability Accounting and Responsible Business. In the intro sequence to this episode, you heard a clip from the movie Wall Street.

13. 

    13 Jun 2023

    A Renaissance in Irish Nature Writing

    In this episode of the Code Red climate podcast, we speak to three Irish nature writers about the recent boom in environmental literature. What motivated them to write about the environment? Have our perceptions of what constitutes a wild landscape changed? What is the state of wild nature in Ireland? Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests: - Mary Reynolds, reformed landscape designer, author of We Are The Ark: Returning Our Gardens to their True Nature with Acts of Restorative Kindness, and founder of the global rewilding movement We are the Ark - Pádraic Fogarty, campaigns officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust, editor of Irish Wildlife magazine and author of Whittled Away: Ireland's Vanishing Nature - Eoghan Daltún, sculptor, rewilder, and author of the best-selling An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding In our intro sequence to this episode you heard seagulls from Dublin, blackbirds singing in Kilkenny. the ocean waves from the West of Ireland and the sound of a river that has no name in south Co Wexford.

14. 

    30 May 2023

    A Systems Change Response to Climate Change

    The economic system, the energy system, the agriculture system - all of society's systems - need to change in response to climate breakdown. But just how difficult is it to change systems especially when they are supported by policy and the status quo. What will systems change look like and will it bring a better quality of life to all? These are some of the questions we tackle in this episode 'A Systems Response to Climate Change' Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests:  Deirdre Duff, Head of Communications at Friends of the Earth, Dr. Patrick Bresnihan, author and lecturer in the Department of Geography at Maynooth University In the intro sequence to this episode you heard extracts from a public lecture delivered by Professor John Barry, Queens University Belfast titled, "Hope and agency in responding to our planetary crisis: climate resilient futures beyond carbon, growth and capitalism", and at our annual conference in 2022, Sharon Finnegan, Director of the EPA as panel speaker on the topic of, "Climate policy-making in a turbulent world" . All speeches can be heard in full on our website dcu.ie/climate

15. 

    16 May 2023

    The Role of Humanities and Social Sciences in Addressing the Problems of Climate Change

    The humanities and social sciences have an important role to play in helping us find different ways to think and talk about climate change, and to engage with the defining issue of our times. In this podcast, we look at the differences between the humanities and the social sciences and speak to our guests about how their expertise and research in film studies and policy studies can help to bring about climate action. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests:  Janet Walker, Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Pat Brereton, Professor in the School of Communications, DCU, and Diarmuid Torney, Associate Professor in the School of Law and Government, DCU. In the intro sequence to this episode you heard extracts from key note addresses made at our annual conferences by Hildegarde Naughton in her capacity as Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, 2019 and Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland launching the DCU Centre for Climate and Society in 2022.  All speeches can be heard in full on our website dcu.ie/climate

16. 

    25 Apr 2023

    The Environment on Film

    Can movies help us understand climate change? Film has a unique ability to engage and move people. It is an ideal medium to inform and motivate audiences around climate action. But can movies with an environmental theme also discourage audiences by lecturing them? The role of eco-cinema is explored in this episode, and the influence of movies such as An Inconvenient Truth and Don't Look Up! are discussed. Host: Dr. Dave Robbins Guests: Eco-cinema researcher Prof. Pat Brereton, documentary expert Dr. Eileen Culloty, and filmmaker Tom Burke, all of DCU School of Communications

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