Constructive Voices

Rebuilding Ukraine through circularity, community with British and Dutch support, is a good news podcast episode. This positive news story has been inspired by one of the world’s most tragic situations: the war in Ukraine. “We in Ukraine are becoming a pilot site for diverse sustainable pilots, experiments and innovations. We have to leapfrog and build a society, buildings and processes that are inclusive, that are beautiful and that are sustainable. That’s our vision.” Roman Pushko Rebuilding Ukraine safely, sustainably and swiftly – courtesy of S3RoU A consortium of individuals, universities and entities in Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands has come together to create a solution that will not only help rebuild Ukraine but could be used in other places that have been affected by wars or extreme weather events. In layperson’s terms, rubble from the war in Ukraine will go through processes so it can be used to rebuild Ukraine swiftly, safely and sustainably. Discover more about the consortium who are involved in this rebuilding Ukraine project. Rebuilding Uktraine S3 University of Leeds team The conversation explores the innovative S3 project, which aims at sustainable reconstruction in Ukraine, focusing on the circular economy, community involvement, and the importance of decentralisation. Experts discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the project, emphasising the need for collaboration and inclusivity in rebuilding efforts. The discussion highlights the potential legacy of the project in shaping future construction practices and addressing the impacts of conflict and disaster. “Concrete is made up of cement, sand, gravel and water – and we can theoretically get them all back. My vision is to decentralise it, prove it can work, and show people – through real demonstrations – that this is doable.” Professor Theodore Hanein Rebuilding Ukraine S3RoU consortium Who Should Listen? This episode is for you if: You’re a civil engineer, architect, urban planner or contractor interested in circular materials and real-world pilots. You’re working on post-conflict or post-disaster reconstruction and want scalable, community-centred models. You’re engaged in climate, energy or development policy and want to understand how embodied carbon and ci...

In this episode, Ciara sits down with Jessica Gill and Aoibhínn Nevin-Ginnetty, two passionate youth advocates from Plan International Ireland’s Youth Advisory Panel who took their COP28 experience and turned it into local action. Fresh from representing youth voices at COP28 in Dubai, Jessica and Aoibhínn came home determined not to let the momentum fade. Together, they designed and delivered “Feminist Voices for Climate Justice” – a youth-led Dublin event that combined a powerful panel discussion on gender and climate justice with a hands-on upcycling workshop, where attendees turned donated t-shirts into tote bags. The result? A hopeful, practical space where young people could explore climate justice through a feminist lens, pick up real advocacy skills, and literally make something together. In this conversation, Jessica and Aoibhínn open up about what it really takes to organise a community-level climate event – the nerves, the logistics, the safeguarding, the storm on the day – and the joy of seeing people leave more confident and fired up than when they arrived. In this episode about bringing Social Justice Messages to Your Community, we talk about: From COP28 to community action How attending COP28 as youth delegates with Plan International Ireland inspired Jessica and Aoibhínn to bring their learnings back to Irish communities – with a focus on the intersection of gender equality and the climate crisis. Designing “Feminist Voices for Climate Justice” Why they chose a gendered lens on climate justice, how they selected speakers, and what it was like to host the event at the Carmelite Community Centre in Dublin on 6 April 2024. Panelists included: Vanessa Conroy – National Women’s Council, Feminist Communities for Climate Justice Jennifer (Jenny) Salmon – Ireland’s climate youth delegate 2023–2024 Kiera Carney – host of The Book of Leaves podcast, bringing the arts and storytelling into climate conversations. Making climate justice feel accessible The importance of talking about everyday issues like rubbish on the beach, public transport or fast fashion, instead of always framing everything as “climate change” – and how that simple shift can invite more people into the conversation instead of scaring them off. The tote bag workshop: climate action with scissors and stringHow donated t-shirts from Change Clothes Crumlin became upcycled tote bags – and why a creative, hands-on activity helped break the ice, build connection, and give attendees a skill they could take home and repeat. Behind the scenes of youth-led events The very real challenges of organising a social justice event when you’re also studying, working and volunteering: Safeguarding and risk assessm...

In this episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie is joined again by Tim Christophersen, Vice President of Climate Action at Salesforce and author of Generation Restoration. Fresh back from COP30 in Belém, Tim shares why – out of roughly 15 COPs he has attended – this one felt like a genuine turning point for climate, nature, and the emerging bioeconomy. "The Blue Zone in Belem: A long way to go, but the direction is clear!" Photo by Tim Christophersen Drawing on decades of experience inside the UN system and now in the private sector, Tim takes us behind the headlines – beyond disappointment over the lack of fossil fuel phase-out language – into the real energy that’s building around solutions, especially in and around the Amazon. He talks about dawn boat rides past parrots and agroforestry plots, industrial-scale ecosystem restoration on degraded pastureland, and the quiet revolution happening in food, finance, and cities. At the heart of it all is one simple shift: treating nature as core infrastructure, not decoration. “For the first time at a COP, I had the feeling that the excitement about building something new is bigger than the anxiety about dismantling the old, extractive, unsustainable economy.” Tim Christophersen Photo credit: Deposit Photos COP30 Outcomes – Listen To The Podcast To Fully Understand Why COP30 in Belém, Brazil, felt different from previous climate summits – and why Tim sees it as a pivot point rather than just “another COP”. How Brazil used the location – right in the Amazon – to showcase a new kind of bioeconomy, from deforestation-free cattle to forest-based products and restoration concessions. What the new long-term forest finance facilities, including the Tropical Forests Forever concept, could mean for paying countries to keep forests standing. The rise of ecopreneurs and large-scale restoration projects turning degraded pasture into thriving forests – powered by carbon markets and better tech. Why Tim believes the real story now is building something new, not just fighting the old fossil-fuel system. How cities like Paris and Singapore are quietly proving that climate action can make daily life better – cleaner air, more green space, healthier people. What it means to see food and regenerative agriculture as the frontline of the bioeconomy, from Amazonian superfoods to local, seasonal diets in Europ...

Public transport advocate and Dublin City Councillor Feljin Jose joins interviewer Ciara to unpack how streets, housing and rail policy shape daily life—and climate action. We connect DART+, MetroLink and better buses to the built environment: denser homes near stations, safer walking and cycling, revived main streets, and public spaces that welcome everyone. Feljin also reflects on Irish climate advocacy—what’s working, what isn’t—and how these lessons scale into global city solutions. “Housing policy is transport policy.” Why listen A clear, human explainer of how infrastructure + planning drive emissions down and quality of life up. Concrete links between transit corridors and housing supply, vacancy fixes, and public realm design. First-hand insights from Irish climate advocacy with takeaways for other 

The built environment and of course, the environment in general, are inextricably linked to our health and well-being. With so much media coverage on climate change and biodiversity loss, it is hard to ignore these facts. Places and people are also connected in various ways. The people who live in nature-blessed places have a higher chance of good health than those whose homes are in concrete jungles with little or no nature. We have investigated these topics in earlier episodes with guests such as Dr. Nadina Galle and Jane Findlay. But did it ever occur to you that when a health issue affects you, your treatment may be bad for the environment? This is the topic that Ciara O’Brien investigates in their interview with Dr. Lisa McNamee of Irish Doctors for the Environment. “Healthcare is the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter.” Irish Doctors for the Environment Spreading Awareness to the Public Tune into this episode, to hear GP and sustainability lead Dr. Lisa McNamee unpack the true footprint of healthcare—and how smarter choices in clinics, hospitals, and our communities can cut emissions while improving patient outcomes.