As our lives become increasingly digital, the infrastructure powering them is sparking a global debate: we need data centres, but at what cost to the climate and our access to energy? These massive facilities are the backbone of everything from streaming to AI, yet they consume staggering amounts of electricity and water, often straining local grids and and in some cases, threatening to derail decarbonisation efforts.

In this episode of Cities 1.5, we explore how Ireland became the "canary in the coalmine" for this issue. With data centres projected to consume nearly 30% of the nation’s electricity by 2030, the Irish experience serves as a critical warning – and a roadmap – for cities worldwide. We examine the tension between economic ambition and climate mandates, questioning how urban leaders can manage the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure without derailing net-zero goals. Join us as we dive into the lessons learned from the frontlines of the data centre boom and what they mean for the future of sustainable cities.

Featured guest:

Professor Hannah Daly, Professor of Sustainable Energy at University College Cork

Links:

Ireland’s data centre boom is driving up fossil fuel dependence - The Irish Times, by Professor Hannah Daly

Data Centres Metered Electricity Consumption 2024 - Central Statistics Office

Energy for who? Data centres and the grid - Friends of the Earth Ireland

How Big Tech wrote secrecy into EU law to hide environmental toll - The Journal Investigates

What Ireland’s Data Center Crisis Means for the EU’s AI Sovereignty Plans - AlgorithmWatch

Ireland’s data centre policy reset: The end of the blanket moratorium - KPMG Ireland

Google’s Dublin data centre blocked amid energy usage concerns - Tech Monitor

Data Centres Ireland – Energy, Growth and the Grid Debate - Enable Research

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Ready for a ride? In this episode, we’re celebrating the inaugural World Public Transport Day, created by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), along with its global partners, and we explore why public transport is the beating heart of our cities. From the "rolling focus groups" on Melbourne’s iconic trams to the colorful jeepneys of the Philippines, we share personal stories of connection from urban centres across the globe.

But it’s not just about the journey: we dive into the hard policy making it happen. Discover how Mexico City’s Metro uses unique icons to bridge literacy gaps, how Salvador is empowering women through "Women behind the Wheel," and how Amman’s new electric fleet is clearing the air. Hop on for a celebration of the journeys that move us all!

Special thanks to Mariana Batista, C40 Senior Manager for Public Transport, for her assistance in providing both translation and production support for this episode.

Featured guests:

Nobuntu Ciko Duze, Deputy Director of Transport Systems Management, Johannesburg

Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne

Jim Duran Mayerstein, Senior Manager, Zero-Emission Bus Rapid Deployment Accelerator (ZEBRA) at C40

Sonto Ziqubu, C40 Executive Office Coordinator

Adriana de Jesus Ferreira, Bus Driver and Mulheres no Volante beneficiary

Yousef Al Shawarbeh, Mayor of Amman

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities

Links:

The Transit City that could’ve been - The Ethnic Aisle

Zero emission transport - C40 Cities

Transport Sector Analysis - International Energy Agency

Completing the Trip - World Resources Institute

I got inked by the world’s oldest tattoo artist - CNN Style

Mexico City’s Metro Icons - Mexican Routes

Infographic: Joburg by taxi - Brand South Africa

Women Behind the Wheel project - Salvador City Hall

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Cities aren’t just structures. They’re people. In the rapidly urbanising cities of the global majority, many of those people are migrant workers. They often work informally, with limited protection when shocks hit. At the same time, they are vital to propping up and rebuilding cities after climate disasters. In this week’s Cities 1.5 podcast episode, host David Miller speaks to Ritwika Basu, an environmental social scientist and urbanist who researches this invisible labour in small and medium-sized cities in India.

Featured guests:

Ritwika Basu, Environmental Social Scientist and Urbanist, and one of the guest editors of the Journal City Climate Policy and Economy’s soon to be released Special Issue on Adaptation and Resilience in Cities of the Majority World: Advancing Equity and Justice in Practice, and Author of “Hidden Infrastructure of Urban Resilience: Labor, Precarity, and Economic Adaptation in India” which will be released to open access on April 15, 2026.

Links:

Resilient Cities (and how to build them) - Cities 1.5

Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy

Resources on Urban Climate Resilience - C40 Knowledge Hub

Good Green Jobs and Labour Migration: Opportunities for Urban Leaders - C40 Knowledge Hub

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In this episode of Cities 1.5, we bring you another "Tale of Two Cities" - but this time, David sits down with two pioneering mayors from opposite ends of the globe. Despite their vastly different histories, both Athens are Melbourne are inspiring and leading the way through the climate crisis, and mitigating its impacts.We explore Athens is embracing progressive economics and tackling energy poverty, and how Melbourne is transforming and greening urban spaces and trailblazing renewable energy schemes and much more.These urban leaders are protecting city residents from climate impacts, engaging the next generation, and proving that local innovation and leadership is the best way to navigate the climate crisis.

Featured guests:

Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens

Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne

Links:

Inside the World Mayors Summit: Cities throw down the gauntlet - Cities 1.5

Inside the World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth and a fossil fuel free future at COP30 and beyond - Cities 1.5

Athens mayor focuses on getting capital through extreme heat - The Guardian

A blueprint for European cities? Athens announces new initiative to tackle energy poverty - Net Zero Cities

Doughnut Economics Action Lab

4th Youth Assembly on Climate Change with the participation of University Students - Eliamep

Nick Reece reveals plan to make Melbourne the “Garden City” - Southbank Local News

Melbourne Renewable Energy Project

Disinformation and the City - Melbourne Centre for Cities

What should Melbourne be like in 2050? - Docklands News

M2050 Summit Report

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

What links the Paris Agreement, Barbie and Arnold Schwarzenegger? The answer is this week’s guest on Cities 1.5!

As a key architect of the Paris Agreement, Catherine McKenna - Canada’s former Minister for Climate Change and the Environment - reflects on why cities are now the true engines of delivery. There’s also a powerful exploration of Catherine’s new memoir, Run Like a Girl, and a firsthand account of why we cannot solve the climate crisis while leaving half the world’s population out of the corridors of power. It’s time to lead like a girl.

Featured guest:

Hon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities and host of Women Leading on Climate podcast

Audio clips:
Environment minister tells Rebel Media reporter to stop calling her 'Climate Barbie' - CBC News

Links:

What justice for women in Afghanistan? - Swiss Info

Inside the C40 World Mayors Summit - Cities 1.5

It’s Grand Ol’ Bargain, Alright - Hot Takes

Canada’s former climate minister on making a change, ‘aloof’ Trudeau and sexism - The Guardian

Integrity Matters: Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities - United Nations website

Paris climate deal - The Guardian

Breaking the Tragedy of the Horizon - Mark Carney speech

Meet the young climate activists behind Mathur et. al. v. His Majesty - Ecojustice

Why would anyone hate Catherine McKenna? - Maclean’s

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In a world where climate emergencies are being declared daily, why do so many of our city streets and public transport networks have misleading ads for the very industries driving the crisis?

Our conversation with two C40 experts reveals how the fossil fuel industry mirrors old tobacco industry tactics using sophisticated techniques to "greenwash" their image and frame essential health protections as attacks on free speech. Tune in to learn how cities reclaiming the narratives in our transit systems and urban squares is a vital step toward fending off industry attacks and securing a safer, more sustainable future for all.

Featured guests:

Mariana Batista, C40 Senior Manager, Public Transport

Charlie Worthington, C40 Project Officer, High Carbon Advertising Bans

Links:

The War Against Tobacco: 50 Years and Counting - National Library of Medicine

How the Fossil Fuel Industry Polluted the Information Landscape - Center for Climate Change Communication

Air pollution from fossil fuels kills 5 million people a year - The Guardian

In The Hague, ban on Big Oil ads survives legal challenge - Courthouse News

Profitable Growth Without Fossil Fuels - Clean Creatives

Frequently Asked Questions - A World Without Fossil Fuel Ads

Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change - UNESCO

Cities Climate Transition Framework - C40 Knowledge Hub

Clearing the way: A toolkit for positive, fossil-free city advertising - C40 Knowledge Hub

How cities can restrict carbon-intensive advertising - C40 Knowledge Hub

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Hot Take: the climate crisis isn’t some abstract data point or a dry policy debate, it’s a deeply human story of survival. Right now, a whole generation is growing up inside the emergency, doing the heavy lifting to fix a mess they didn't create. We’re bringing you the raw, human heartbeat of the movement and amplifying the voices that stole the show at the World Mayor’s Summit in Rio. The C40 Youth Hub members dive into what real intergenerational collaboration looks like when those with the biggest stake in the future are finally the ones leading the change.

Youth Moment featured leaders:

Juliet Oluoch, Research fellow, Ufanisi Research Network

Anjali Raman-Middleton, Co-founder and Director, Choked Up

Esther Kamara, Founder of Youth Initiative For Climate Action Sierra Leone

Foday Kamara, National Coordinator, Youth Climate Council Global Alliance

Letícia Mathias, Co-founder and Executive Director, Instituto SustentAção

Micheala Chan, Young Water Utilities Expert for the Pacific, Asian Development Bank

Featured interview guest:

Earl Aldrin Burgos. C40 Youth Engagement and Campaigns Manager

Links:

World Mayors Summit special - Cities 1.5

US cities as climate first responders - Cities 1.5

C40 Youth Moment - YouTube

Youth Hub - C40

Youth Engagement Playbook for Cities - C40

Loss and Damage: Challenges and Opportunities for City Leadership

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

What would you risk to tell the truth, if the institution you served was one of the most powerful corporations on Earth?

Early scientific warnings about global heating have long stood in tension with corporate narratives shaping public understanding. This episode examines the enduring disinformation created and disseminated by the fossil fuel industry: how it evolves, why it persists, and what it means for the pace of climate action. Through the perspective of a former insider at ExxonMobil, we explore the widening gap between the disinformation narratives pumped out by fossil fuel companies and the personal consequences of challenging one of the most powerful corporations in modern history.

Featured guest:

Lindsey Gulden, Principal Data Scientist at Leg Up Data and former employee at ExxonMobil

Audio sources:

Oil giant ExxonMobil predicted climate change in 1970s - BBC News

Exxon CEO and Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute Lee Raymond speech (1996) - CPAN

WSJ: SEC probes Exxon after whistleblower complaint - CNBC

Links:

New study in 'Science' puts a number on what Exxon knew decades ago about climate change - Potsdam Institute

How a Newton woman became an enemy of ExxonMobil - The Boston Globe

Tracing Big Oil’s PR war to delay action on climate change - The Harvard Gazette

Carbon Capture and Storage: The Billion Dollar Scam - Environmental Defence

Trump says he might keep Exxon out of Venezuela - Reuters

Countering Climate Disinformation - C40 Cities

Disinformation episodes - Cities 1.5

If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/

Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries

Cities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/

Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.

Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.

Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/

Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/

Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/