Climate change is real. It’s happening now. Big policy, implemented properly and urgently, is needed to change our world … but some people are quietly doing amazing things to make our island a better place. Heated tells their stories.
Heated is a new 6-part series on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player dealing with climate change.
Climate change is an existential crisis. Heated is a factual series that looks at the implications of that change for the actual and lived lives of the people in this country – telling stories of hope, inspiration and practical endeavor as we push to cut emissions. Stories will try to find the intersection between climate change and climate action - for individuals, families, communities and industry.
Each week presenters Hannah Quinn Mulligan, Michelle McKeown and Rónán Ó Dálaigh will bring us three stories about practical, informative or inspirational aspects of climate action.
Often climate change output is negative – what governments aren’t doing – failing to reach targets – it can cause despair, desolation and that can leave people feeling powerless. This is a series based on citizen activism – where we find groups and individuals who are doing something to make a difference. We highlight how this can be applied by others around the country.
Heated seeks out inspirational stories of ordinary people making significant differences in their communities. These may seem tiny on a global scale but if more people follow their example together they can make a big difference.
Programme 1 – 26th October 2023
Peatland Restoration – Bring the Bog Back
Peatlands are enormously important to the health of the planet as they store more than twice the amount of carbon stored in all the world’s forests.
In Ireland, peatland makes up around 21% of our land mass… about 1.5 million hectares.
But for many years people have been drying out peatland by putting in drains to make it suitable for farming, building and cutting turf.
Michelle has been to Offaly, the county with the most peatland where 30 farmers have become part of a new European pilot project spearheading the idea of carbon farming.
But is it possible to both protect the environment by wetting some of the land and also make a living?
Meitheals and Mattresses
The Dublin Mountains, while beautiful, are alas prone to fly tipping on an almost industrial scale. Here, meitheals are organised where volunteers clear our scenic areas of everything from domestic refuse to cookers, TVss and mattresses.
Mattresses are an added environmental complication, because it has been impossible to recycle or repurpose all of the elements of the mattress …. until now. Hannah has been visiting the company based in Longford who are the only firm in Europe that is completely repurposing mattresses.
The Climate Goals of a Dublin soccer Club
Dodgy decisions, club rivalries and excessive transfer fees – the world of soccer and soccer supporters is not one you would associate with sustainability. However in Dublin City one club is changing that perception. Bohemian FC is a wholly fan-owned club and has the honour of being the first football club in the world to employ a full-time Climate Officer. Can the club change its results … off the pitch?
INFORMATION ON THE PRESENTERS
Hannah Quinn Mulligan – Hannah Quinn Mulligan is a journalist and a farmer. She practises what she preaches on her own organic farm in Limerick, putting in place measures to cut agri emissions, including a commitment to keep her dairy herd to a very modest 50 cows. She has worked for BBC and is a regular contributor to RTÉ radio.
Michelle McKeown – PHD – Dr. Michelle McKeown is a lecturer in UCC’s School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences. Michelle has a broad range of research interests in Environmental Science but specifically works on water quality and wetlands.
Rónán Ó Dálaigh – Business person, social entrepreneur and activist – who will look at business stories, repurposing , recycling … He is the creator of Thriftify the only dedicated online marketplace connecting charity shops with consumers, allowing the consumer to view and purchase from charity shops all over the country. In 2020 he was nominated as a leading 30 under 30 Entrepreneur. Thriftify has been awarded the Best Social and Sustainable Start Up and was recognised as a High Potential start Up. It has signed up 95% of Irelands Charity Shops to its platform.
