The Pat Kenny Show Green Scene: Renewable energy leads the way in climate progress for 2025
Dec 24, 2025
Dr. Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at Research Ireland, brings her expertise on health and climate to the discussion. She shares fascinating findings on the benefits of cold-water swimming, linking it to improved mood and reduced stress hormones. The podcast highlights notable progress in 2025, with renewable energy surpassing coal globally, boosting biodiversity, and significant conservation successes, such as a rebound in green sea turtles and tigers in India. Freeman emphasizes hope for the future, bolstered by international ocean protection efforts.
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Try Cold-Water Swimming Safely
- If you're healthy and curious, try regular cold-water swimming to potentially boost mood and attention.
- Check with a doctor if you have heart disease or high blood pressure and never swim alone.
Cold Immersion Changes Brain And Stress
- Brain scans after cold swims show altered connectivity in emotion and attention networks.
- Regular cold swimming also correlated with lower overall cortisol over 12 weeks in a separate study.
Renewables Overtook Coal In 2025
- In early 2025, renewables generated more electricity than coal globally for the first time.
- This shift helped China reduce emissions even while its GDP grew, showing decoupling of growth from emissions.