Award-winning Irish sustainability consultancy Change By Degrees has announced it will cease operations, as Europe’s stall on targets and international pushback against regulations “have pushed sustainability down the agenda”.
Change by Degrees co-founder and chief executive Dr Tara Shine confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the company, which has led the way in helping companies achieve climate targets, will “wind down in the coming weeks”.
“It is disappointing. The decision was informed by changes in the market in the past 12 months,” said Ms Shine. “Internationally, we have seen a turn away from sustainability, and that was compounded in March last year when at European level there was a very strong step back on expected regulation around sustainability. That combination pushed sustainability down the agenda internationally.
“There are lots of committed companies but we experienced that shift in the market that made sustainability less of a priority that we expected.”
Change By Degrees was founded eight years ago by Ms Shine and Madeleine Murray. The organisation’s initiatives were aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It helped client businesses and organisations to build and grow while complying with sustainability regulations and commitments.
Since its formation, the Cork-founded firm has educated more than 25,000 individuals on sustainability and has collaborated with nearly 300 organisations across Ireland, Canada, China, Spain, India, Australia, the US, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK. It also delivered webinars globally as well as providing on‑the‑ground insights from climate change conferences, community initiatives, and business events.
Ms Shine said the company is completing an “orderly wind down” and is debt free. “It is sad but we are immensely proud of what we achieved, and we took the decision in good time. Now it’s time to take a break and think about what’s next.”
In March 2025, the European Commission delayed its plan to propose a new EU climate target, pushing back a commitment to cut emissions by 2040. Meanwhile in the US, the Trump administration has consistently rallied against green commitments. President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from several international organisations working on climate change, including the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“In the eight years since Madeleine and Tara set up Change by Degrees, we have shared information, guided teams to create sustainability strategies, engaged employees and inspired leaders to think and act differently. What started as a conversation after a sea swim turned into an award winning, B Corp-certified business we are proud of,” said a statement from the founders.
Change By Degrees won multiple awards as it championed sustainability and women in leadership.
“Thank you for your support and continued commitment to sustainability. Your voice and your actions are needed now more than ever, and your influence extends far beyond your business — shaping your home, your community and our collective future.”
Ms Shine was formerly a climate negotiator at the UN and was a special advisor to the Mary Robinson Foundation on climate justice. She also served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Institute for Environment and Development.
