A Brush with Climate

The programme will utilise UCC’s expertise in climate change and communications and The Environmental Forum’s experience of local community climate action. A suite of training materials will be developed by UCC, based on the “Discourses of Climate Delay” research, which highlighted the pervasive and complex ways in which the need for climate action is downplayed (Lamb, et al., 2020). Role play methodologies will be used to train the participating hairdressers in how to debunk these arguments and to provide information on local climate mitigation and adaptation actions including the top six most impactful personal climate actions. Clients will then be invited to pledge to implement at least one in their everyday lives before their next appointment.
Four towns will be chosen in the first iteration, with the opportunity to expand, depending on resources and success of the pilot project. The towns will be chosen based on existing structures and relevant groups active in the area with one being a town that has experienced recent climate change induced flooding e.g. Midleton. We will evaluate change in knowledge, attitude and behaviour in the participating hairdressers through pre & post surveys and/or focus group discussions. Clients will be invited to feedback their actions through hairdresser follow-up.