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?

“Healthcare is the fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter.”

In this Youth Month special, Plan International’s Chief Programme Officer Damien Queally joins youth host Ciara O’Brien to unpack what truly locally led, gender-responsive programming looks like—especially where climate shocks meet the built environment.

“If you’re not bringing young voices in, you’re making decisions with your eyes closed.”

From safe, climate-resilient schools and health centres to inclusive streets, water systems, and shelters that protect girls, Damien makes the case for community-owned solutions that put young people—particularly girls—at the centre of how we design, govern, and maintain the places we live.

Tune into Plan International Chief Programmes Officer, Damien Queally, and Plan International Global Young Influencer, Ciara O’Brien, as they discuss their work with Plan International, a global organisation focused on improving the lives of girls and women in the developing world in a sustainable and equitable way. Their conversation focuses around their approach to this work, youth leadership within the organisation, and current affairs.

“We shouldn’t be in a community for 30 or 40 years—our job is to help build self-reliance and shift ownership locally.”

As Plan International focuses on International Day of the Girl 2025, we dive into the campaign in more detail. The launch of the 2025 State of the World Girls Report has caused a stir in the international community. Damien and Ciara explore the specifics of the research and the gl...

"Generation Restoration wonderfully weaves together the most important ingredients of how we can heal ourselves and the planet. The book is the culmination of Tim’s last twenty-nine years of work and life experience.

Experience that has included leading parts of the United Nations’ Environment Programmes to his current role as VP of Climate Action at Salesforce.

It is hard to imagine anyone better placed to illustrate to the human race how restoration is the key to health, wealth and happiness. We are nature. When we restore nature, we restore ourselves.

Read Generation Restoration to find out how.” Jackie De Burca

What if the next step in human evolution is learning to restore rather than extract?

In this episode, Jackie de Burca speaks with first-time author and renowned nature leader Tim Christophersen to explore his new book, Generation Restoration (launching 14 October 2025).

From East Africa’s shrinking migrations to a small Danish farm buzzing back to life, Tim makes the case that restoration at planetary scale is not only possible—it’s already underway.

In this episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca interviews Dr. Brian MacSharry from the European Environment Agency to discuss the concept of nature credits, their significance in the context of biodiversity, and how they differ from carbon credits.

Brian shares insights from his extensive career in environmental policy, emphasising the importance of recognising the role of biodiversity in our economy and society.

The conversation explores the challenges of measuring biodiversity, the roadmap for implementing nature credits, and the potential for incentivising private sector involvement in conservation efforts. Brian concludes with actionable steps for individuals and businesses to support biodiversity.

• The difference between carbon credits and nature credits, and why biodiversity is harder to measure.

• How businesses and economies are far more dependent on nature than most people realise.

• Why the European Union’s roadmap for nature credits is both ambitious and full of open questions.

• How pilot projects across Europe are already testing new models of valuing biodiversity.

• Practical ways individuals, businesses, and policymakers can support biodiversity today.

We dig into why lone workers are growing fast, how extreme weather is reshaping site risks, and how connecting culture with smart tech turns “compliance” into prevention. You’ll hear real examples—from JLL to Costain—and a pragmatic playbook any firm can use.

“Safety works when everyone has permission to call it out—from apprentices to execs.” David Picton

1. Lone workers: why they’re on the rise, the unique risks they face, and how to protect them.

2. Climate disruption on site: heat, storms, floods—and the simple factors (shade, hydration, acclimatisation, permission to speak up) that change outcomes.

3. Culture that speaks up: the “permission” moment that proves safety works when everyone can challenge—even a junior apprentice.

4. Data into decisions: how visibility lifts reporting and drives action.

5. SME playbook: low-cost, high-impact moves for smaller firms to handle extreme weather and continuity.

“Technology plus culture is the shift—from basic compliance to predicting issues before they happen.” David Picton

• Start with risk assessments on your highest-exposure tasks and locations. Keep them live as conditions change.
• Plan for weather: set clear comms trees, cross-training, and alternative task lists for

A short, sharp burst of optimism from the built environment. This episode: how floating neighbourhoods can power and protect themselves; why the EU wants to put nature on the balance sheet; and a hopeful update from Burkina Faso where smart water-harvesting is helping 29,000+ new trees thrive.

Floating neighbourhoods: Modern floating platforms are typically hollow, creating space for decentralised systems—wastewater and drinking-water treatment, on-board electricity storage, floating solar, even algae/seaweed biofuels. That off-grid setup boosts resilience and, placed offshore, these structures can also reduce wave energy to help protect coasts during storms.

“Floating structures… offer opportunities to become more self-supporting and off-grid—more resilient.” Rutger de Graaf, Blue21

Tune into the full episode – Floating Futures here

Courtesy Rutger de Graaf Floating-Pavilion

EU

At Constructive Voices, we’re not only about the place and the things that happen within the built environment, we’re also about how the places are directly connected with us as people. Along with the creatures around us and how that actually plays out in various ways within our lives.

Today we’re with David Picton. Now David will also be visiting you again in another episode, but in this particular episode, David, who’s the Senior Vice President of Safety and Sustainability at EcoOnline, is going to speak to you about his visit to the Everest Base Camp and how this is a mirror for his life as it has been to other people also.

In this conversation, David Picton shares his transformative journey to Everest Base Camp, discussing the profound connection he felt with nature, the communities along the trail, and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.

He reflects on the physical and mental challenges faced during the trek, the sustainability efforts observed in the region, and the life lessons learned from this extraordinary experience.