Professor Laurence Gill, Chair of Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering, took part in a wide-ranging panel discussion at Electric Picnic on Saturday 30th August, hosted by Hot Press in their Chat Room series. The session, titled “Why we must not fail on climate targets”, explored society’s current understanding of sustainability and the progress being made towards climate goals.  

The panel was moderated by Stuart Clark, Deputy Editor of Hot Press, and featured Professor Gill alongside musician David Keenan, sustainability broadcaster Shannen Healy, and Stephen Walsh of Re-turn. Professor Gill opened the discussion by setting the scene with current trends in Ireland and globally regarding climate targets. He highlighted the urgency of the situation and introduced a range of scientific and technological solutions that are beginning to be implemented to help meet these targets.  

Professor Gill’s research focuses on the fate and transport of air and water-borne pollutants in both natural and built environments, as well as the development of passive treatment processes. He is currently working on the restoration of former raised bogs in the Midlands to reestablish their carbon sequestration and biodiversity functions.  His work often involves extensive field studies, which are used to develop mathematical models for deeper insight into environmental processes. Before joining Trinity in 1999, he worked in the UK water industry, designing water and wastewater treatment systems for urban populations.  

Shannen Healy spoke about Project Dandelion, the first global, women-led campaign for climate justice, while Stephen Walsh described the phenomenal success of Re-turn – Ireland’s national Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans. He explained how the scheme has already seen strong uptake and announced that new multi-bottle machines are being installed to reduce waiting times at collection points.  

The engaging discussion was interspersed with live performances by David Keenan, who used music to reflect on the emotional and cultural dimensions of climate action. The panel also explored how creatives can harness their work as a tool for education and change.  

While the conversation acknowledged that many climate trends are still heading in the wrong direction, each panellist was asked to share a reason for optimism to end on a hopeful note. The audience then made their way to the main stage for Kneecap’s highly anticipated performance.