Change by Degrees

29/01/2026

Change by Degrees is winding down.

While our purpose has been to give every person on the planet sustainability as a superpower, policy changes at European level and political headwinds internationally have pushed sustainability down the agenda. As a result, the board made the decision to plan an orderly wind down of the business.

In the 8 years since Madeleine and Tara set up Change by Degrees, we have shared information, guided teams to create sustainability strategies, engaged employees and inspired leaders to think and act differently.

What started as a conversation after a sea swim turned into an award winning, B Corp-certified business we are proud of. Your engagement, here on Facebook and by partnering with us, attending our events, and learning alongside us, made that possible.

Our collective impact includes:
🎓 Educating over 25,000 individuals on sustainability
🏢 Collaborating with nearly 300 organisations across Ireland, Canada, China, Spain, India, Australia, the US, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK
📺 Delivering 18 Climate Club webinars to a global audience
🎤 Providing on‑the‑ground insights from Climate Change COPs, community initiatives and business events
📽️ Developing more than 35 hours of engaging digital learning across 28 courses
🏆 Receiving multiple awards, including Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (2018), Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year – STEM (2021), Business Post Sustainable Business Leader of the Year (2024), and STEM Woman of the Year (2024)
🚺 Achieving CPD accreditation and formal recognition as a women‑owned business
💶 Securing investment, creating employment opportunities and sharing our expertise widely
☘️ Contributing to the growth of the B Corp community in Ireland

Thank you for your support and continued commitment to sustainability.

Your voice and your actions are needed now more than ever; shaping your home, your community, your workplace and our collective future.

Take care

Tara, Fred, Madeleine and all the team at Change by Degrees

11/11/2025

What’s your climate ‘why’? ⬇️

As kicks off, we’re looking back at the powerful reasons shared at Climate Carnival.

Whether it’s the stats, the people, or the connection of conscious living, there’s a multitude of reasons why sustainability needs to be on the agenda.

13/10/2025

📣 Join our next Climate Club webinar – “Emergency on Planet Earth: Sustainable healthcare to the rescue.”

We’re pleased to welcome emergency doctor Brian O’Connell who, in conversation with Dr Tara Shine, will explore the vital intersection between climate change and healthcare.

📅 Sign up via the link in our stories and join us on Tuesday 14 October to uncover how our health and planet are deeply connected, and why those on the frontlines of care hold the keys to a healthier future.

24/07/2025

Overwhelmed by sustainability training? 🌎😱📚

✨We've made it simple and broken down our flagship Sustainability 101 course into bite-sized learning blocks.

Now you can choose the topics that matter most to your business and bring your sustainability strategy to life.

✅ Flexible learning modules
✅ Key topics to back your strategy
✅ Measurable real-world action

Ready to drive action where it matters most?

Speak to our team to build a learning journey that works for you: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0lYNlH0

01/07/2025

"No one person can fix the climate crisis, but there’s power in collective action." – Jude O'Callaghan.

In this insightful video, Jude shares her expert tips on how starting or joining a Green Team within your organization can drive sustainable change. From everyday actions like reducing office waste to rethinking our commutes, Jude explains how small changes can create a ripple effect and inspire others to follow suit. 🌱

But that’s just the start!

Join ude O'Callaghan, Client Service Lead at Johnson Controls, and Jacqui Given, Green Energy Committee founder at NOHC, for an in-depth conversation in our Climate Club Webinar on Green Teams: What Makes Them Work.

Save your spot for Friday, 11 July – this is your chance to get actionable insights from the leaders who are turning passion into impactful sustainability practices!

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0lp_V70

12/06/2025

“I loved it from day one.”

That’s how Dr. Tara Shine describes her first electric car - a second-hand 2015 Nissan Leaf with a modest 120km range and a big message for the future.

In her latest article for The Currency, Tara tackles the biggest EV myths still circling boardrooms and breakrooms - from battery fears to fleet costs, and lays out the real story for businesses ready to transition.

🔋 Battery production? Yes, it has an impact, but not more than refining petrol.
⚡ Charging worries? Solvable with smart infrastructure and SEAI-backed grants.
📉 Too expensive? Not when you look at lifetime costs, especially in the second-hand market.
📊 Fuel cards? There’s software for that.

“All cars have an impact. But EVs have less."

With insights from case studies like Munster Rugby and the Barry Group, Tara shows that businesses across Ireland are already moving toward cleaner, smarter mobility.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.
And it's never too late to change your mind.

📖 Read the full piece on The Currency and help bust the myths holding your business back:

https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0kY_fq0

09/06/2025

🎙️From the climate power of penguin p**p to the science of why we follow (or break) the rules… 🐧

Dr Tara Shine joined Futureproof on Newstalk with Jonathan McCrea and Dr Jessamyn Fairfield to explore the stories making science headlines this week!

Missed it?
🎧 Listen back here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0kRGCT0

22/05/2025

🍸🌎 Cork Climate Cocktail Club is back!

Join Dr Tara Shine and your fellow Climate Rebels on 29th May for an inspiring evening of ideas, drinks, and radical connection. Doors open at 6pm - get your tickets now!

📍 The Pav, Cork City, T12 RD00
🍸 Free cocktails (while stocks last)
🎤 A world-class panel of speakers and changemakers
✨ A crowd of rebels, radicals & trailblazers

Open to anyone working in or around climate, nature, community, business, activism, research, creativity, and innovation - basically, anyone born, bred, or blown into Cork!☘️

20/05/2025

“The sustainability space is busy, creative and never dull.” 🌎🚀

Dr. Tara Shine sat down with Silicon Republic to share her journey — from childhood activism to advising governments and co-founding Change by Degrees. Her mission? To make sustainability accessible, engaging, and part of everyone’s story.

In this wide-ranging interview, Tara explores:
Why sustainability careers are the future, how tech can empower behavior change, the power of inclusion and women’s leadership, and why we must all be part of the conversation

She reminds us that sustainability isn't a sideline - it's the strategy. And that meaningful change happens when individuals and organisations align purpose with action.

✨ “We are in a time of disruption and innovation... and the ideas that will rise to the top are those that find new ways to succeed without fossil fuels, with nature as an ally, and with inclusion at the core.”

A must-read for anyone passionate about purpose-driven leadership and a more equitable future.
Read the full article here:

Thank you to Laura Varley and Silicon Republic!

We spoke with Tara Shine about the sustainability sector, diversity and a world without fossil fuel reliance.

19/05/2025

🎧 In the latest episode of The 1% Podcast, Dr Tara Shine joins the conversation to explore what it really takes to drive meaningful climate action - from boardrooms to break rooms.

This episode dives into:
🔹 What global climate negotiations are really like behind closed doors
🔹 Why Gen Z sees sustainability as purpose - not a job perk
🔹 The surprising psychology behind why people resist change
🔹 How businesses can embed sustainability into every role, not just one team
🔹 The biggest corporate shift coming in the next decade (spoiler: it’s employee-led!)
🔹 Why human skills, not just data - are the key to long-term impact

If you're ready to see climate action through a new lens - hopeful, human, and deeply practical - this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen here:
https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0k8yT40

15/05/2025

📣 Join our next Climate Club webinar!

We’re excited to welcome two leaders at the forefront of climate action in sport: Seán McCabe, Head of Climate Justice & Sustainability at Bohemian Football Club, and Laura Lahiff, Sustainability Lead at Munster Rugby.

Hosted by Dr Ciarán O’Carroll, they’ll share how their clubs are embedding sustainability across operations, culture, and community - and what sport can teach other sectors about building purpose-driven, resilient organisations.

Join us on Friday 30th May to explore how sport is using sustainability as a strategic advantage. Whether you’re in sport or business, there are powerful, transferable lessons for leaders who want to build purpose-driven, resilient organisations. 🌎✨

09/05/2025

“There are a lot of actions that even the smallest company or HR team can take on board.”
– Ruth Feely, HR Consultant

HR teams are uniquely placed to drive sustainability from the inside out - and our Sustainable Human Resource Management course is here to help you do just that.

Designed to build your confidence and skills, this course empowers you to manage human resources more sustainably and contribute strategically to your organisation’s sustainability goals. 🌱💼

Whether you’re part of a global team or a solo HR lead, you’ll walk away with practical steps, fresh perspective, and real momentum.

💡 Practical. Strategic. Empowering.

And the best part?
This is just one of many expert-led, action-focused courses available on our sustainability learning platform.

✨ Want to explore more? There’s something for everyone—whatever your role, whatever your starting point.

Begin your sustainability journey today.