Feeling overwhelmed, desolate, guilt-ridden or powerless while pondering the relentless nature of the climate crisis is not uncommon. With the Earth steadily warming and the continuous threat of pollution to our water bodies and rivers, including forecasts for an increase in extreme weather occurrences, these emotions are justified. However, should we divert our discussions to avoid sinking into despair?
Martin Beanz Warde, a television presenter and stand-up comedian, acknowledges the pervasive sense of climate anxiety we all wrestle with. None of us are indifferent to the plight of others – we partake in their distress when we meet them, says Warde one Monday morning, basking in the first hints of spring sunlight, feeling more optimistic. His point being, even though his house isn’t on the brink of being swallowed by the sea, there are those who face exactly that. His newly launched television series on RTÉ, The End Of The World With Beanz, co-hosted with the likes of Neil Delamere, Roz Purcell, and Emma Doran, explores these very realities.
Warde’s show takes him on a journey to numerous locations marking the dangerous impacts of climate change, dispelling myths about climate change in the process. Among his biggest lessons from the series was the need to confront his own vanity, especially during a trip to Nairobi for the series’ second episode. The locally embraced concept of ‘fast fashion’ struck him hard as he confronted the fact that producing enough cotton for a single T-shirt and a pair of jeans require somewhere between seven to ten thousand litres of water, thus spending excessively to look good undeniably contributes towards climate change.
We went to the marketplaces where vendors purchase bulk second-hand clothing originating from nations such as Ireland, France, and Spain, with the intent to resell them later. But they purchase these items blindly; they are unaware of what the bales contain until they receive them. Because of this, around 30 per cent of the clothing is deemed unfit for use.
Consider this, if 30 per cent of the clothes we distribute are unsuitable in one of the world’s poorest regions, they must be in terrible condition. These unfit clothes are consequently sent to landfill, exacerbating the issue.
Warde, a native of Galway, was the oldest of four brothers. Until he was about six or seven, his family relocated frequently before finally deciding to put down roots in Tuam. “My supposition was always that my parents were seeking stability so as to facilitate our schooling,” says Warde. “However, they were actually weary of being on the move.”
“My mother often points out how the idea of travelling can be romanticised, but the reality of it is quite contrary – battling the harsh weather, inadequate shelter and constant labour.”
Warde is increasingly gaining recognition as a stand-up comedian and writer from the Mincéir/Irish Traveller community. He has showcased his talent at numerous high-profile locations and festivals in Ireland, and carries a university degree in sociology and politics from Galway.
While Warde ventures into environmental activism out of interest, he confesses he lacks formal education in the area. “I’m no specialist,” admits Warde. “My show isn’t about moralising or patronising, nor am I demanding anyone to alter their lifestyle. All I’m asking is for people to join me in this exploration and learn with me.”
“I’d appreciate it if my show sparked a dialogue, but it’s clear that if you ask an average individual in a rural community to stop using turf for fuel, the proposal won’t be well received. Likewise, it’s unreasonable to expect someone struggling financially to afford home retrofitting or sustainable clothing in place of cheap alternatives.”
“I believe comedy is an effective means to approach subjects of importance, and I anticipate that this series will stimulate thought-provoking discussions,” says Warde. While the show primarily focuses on entertainment, it does venture into more serious realms at times. The ultimate goal, however, is to show that small lifestyle modifications – reducing plastic use, opting for loose vegetables, buying fewer T-shirts annually – can make a difference.
He adds, “I don’t possess all the answers, and it isn’t really my place to impose solutions. Nonetheless, I intend for this show to spark dialogues – not only among the general public but with the ones in power as well. Initiation of a conversation is all I am asking for.”
Warde addresses the blatant contradiction in the occasional requirement of resorting to environmentally damaging modes of transport in the course of the series. He explains, “We endeavoured to take the environmentally friendly option whenever possible – relying on electric vehicles and ferries. Nonetheless, certain stories necessitated air travel, particularly ones set in remote locales like Nairobi.”
RTÉ, in a separate statement, explained that the show was backed following Coimisiún na Meán’s Climate Change funding round, aiming to share with Irish viewers international narratives on how climate change is impacting communities and the efforts being made to mitigate it worldwide.
They further clarified, “The goal was to restrict travel as much as we could. Local stories were prioritised, the on-location crew was kept to a minimum, and only one vehicle was used for on-road travel. We trimmed down air travel by taking a boat to Scotland for one episode, shot two episodes simultaneously in the US, and managed to film an entire episode in Ireland. A flight was taken to France followed by a train journey to Nantes. All carbon emissions have been offset.”
Warde’s ‘The End Of The World With Beanz’ is broadcasted on RTÉ One at exactly 7pm every Tuesday.