Dr Tara Shine

World leading Environmental Scientist, Climate change negotiator, Broadcaster, Columnist and Entrepreneur

For over 25 years, Dr Tara Shine has worked as a climate change negotiator for the United Nations, most recently facilitating a dialogue between scientists and policymakers to assess progress towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. Tara has been attending the annual climate summit (COP) since 2003.

Tara chairs the Board of Trustees at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), one of the world’s leading independent policy and research organisations with a mission to build a fairer and more sustainable world.

Tara also serves on the board of Enterprise Ireland, the Irish state agency that supports businesses in Ireland.

Film Work

In 2023, Tara presented two separate episodes of the BBC One’s What They Really Mean For You. During the Electric Cars episode, she questioned the cost of electric cars and met battery experts to understand the global forces that affect prices. During the Heat Pumps episode, Tara investigated the controversial plans to change how we heat our homes and produce electricity.

In 2022, Tara hosted the prestigious Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on BBC Four.

The BBC’s Expedition Borneo, including Tara’s discovery of Nile crocodiles in West Africa, was the subject of an acclaimed BBC 2 Natural World Documentary, Lost Crocodiles of the Pharaohs.

Other TV presenting credits include Brave New World with Stephen Hawking (Channel 4), and A Wild Irish Year and Wild Cities for RTE.

Columnist

Tara is climate columnist with The Currency; an online publication focused on business, finance, economics and public policy.

Radio

Tara makes regular contributions to radio, on issues relating to science, climate and sustainability. She has spoken on RTE, Radio 5, Newstalk and BBC Northern Ireland, to name a few. Tara is also co-host of climate-based comedy magazine show, Carbon Lifeforms (BBC Radio 4).

Podcasts

Tara is a sought-after podcast guest and contributor. To name a few of her podcast appearances; OrgDev, How to Save your Planet, The NeighbourFood, Outrage and Optimism, and The Happy Pear.

Speaker

Tara is a highly skilled and passionate communicator whose extensive expertise in climate change and sustainability, combined with her positive outlook, actively inspire individuals and organisations alike to act.

Tara has advised government bodies, international businesses, academics, schools, and charities around the world. High profile clients include The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, The Elders, The World Bank Group, The Commonwealth Foundation, Global Citizen, NI Science Festival, the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and CIPD UK and Ireland.

Business

Tara is co-founder and CEO of Change by Degrees, an award-winning B Corp certified business that builds sustainability skills to empower people to achieve sustainability goals.

Author

In her instructive and inspiring book How to Save Your Planet One Object at A Time, published by Simon & Schuster, Tara reveals the environmental significance of a wide range of commonplace objects, from mobile phones and televisions, to pens and wet wipes. Tara suggests how to make achievable, affordable, and genuinely effective changes that can improve your life and simultaneously benefit our planet.

Awards

In recognition of her extraordinary achievements, 2021 saw Tara named national Irish Businesswoman of the year in the STEM category. She has also been named Cork Businesswoman of the Year.

She is an alum and former faculty member of the global leadership programme for women in science, Homeward Bound. As part of this programme, Tara has travelled to Antarctica for a three-week expedition with 90 female scientists from around the world.

Education

Dr Tara Shine holds a BSc in Environmental Science and a PhD in Geography from Ulster University, Northern Ireland. She was awarded the AIB Graduate of the Year Award by Ulster University in 2020.

Interests

Outside of her deep passion for environmental issues, Tara is a keen walker, sea swimmer and scuba diver. Tara has had a lifelong love for wildlife and the great outdoors.