In this seventh episode of the Climate Pact Podcast, two European Climate Pact Ambassadors, Dr. Laura Kirwan, Sustainability & Regulatory Lead at Nutritics, & Brian Kelleher, Climate Action and Maths teacher at post-primary level, explore how Ireland’s post-primary schools are shaping the next generation of climate leaders.

Education plays a critical role in climate action but what does that look like in practice? In this episode, we unpack how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is evolving in Ireland, how European climate goals connect to the classroom, and how schools can move from awareness to meaningful action.

In this conversation, we discuss:

🌍 Why education is one of the most powerful tools in tackling climate change
📚 How sustainability education is developing across Ireland’s post-primary system
Where European climate goals fit within Irish school curricula
🏫 Practical ways schools can embed sustainability into everyday school life
🏆 The impact of competitions, national initiatives and programmes in amplifying student voice
💬 Supporting students experiencing climate anxiety while teaching climate challenges and solutions
⚖️ The biggest opportunities and barriers for embedding sustainability across subjects

Whether you are a teacher, school leader, policymaker, student, or simply passionate about climate education, this episode offers practical insights and honest reflections on building a whole-school approach to sustainability.

Tune in to discover how classrooms across Ireland are becoming catalysts for climate action.

🎧 Available now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Visit the European Climate Pact website for engagement tools to help start your sustainability journey: https://climate-pact.europa.eu/get-involved/host-group-activity/quick-start-tools-citizen-engagement_en

For more episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7zbPPf7Wqc1fu3I1gkIvFBrdWb3PVfFY&feature=shared