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 string
How 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 assessments for youth events
• Finding an affordable, suitable venue
• Coordinating dates that work for students, speakers and the wider public
• Dealing with last-minute changes like storms and cancelled speakers – and why planning backup questions saved the day.

Breaking out of the “Dublin bubble”

Why it’s so often the same 10–20 young people at climate and gender events, and the ongoing challenge of reaching:

• Young people outside Dublin
• More marginalised communities
• More young men, who are often missing from feminist climate spaces.