In this fascinating interview, first aired April 13th 2021, Dr. Jeffrey Kiehl brings to bear two very different ways of thinking about climate change: the scientific and the psychological—and his journey as an experienced climate scientist to bring these different perspectives together. Jeffrey explains the essential features of a depth psychological perspective, why he believes this is essential today, helping us understand why we have failed to take action on climate change--and the roots of c...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 171
In this fascinating interview, first aired in June 2020, renowned climate scientist Will Steffen discusses Earth System science, and his research on so-called “tipping cascades,” when one tipping point kicks off a series of others, posing a growing threat of abrupt and irreversible climate changes. Will draws parallels between -19 and climate change, in that it’s important to understand science and not just what intervention needs to take place but to plan for the amount of time it takes for it ...
Feb 01, 2023•47 min•Ep. 170
Peter Sutoris believes that the Anthropocene challenges the very definition of education and, indeed, its key goals. He argues that educators must look outside conventional models and ways of education for inspiration --if education is to live up to its responsibilities at this critical time. In this revealing interview, Peter shares the results of his inspiring research into grassroots environmental activism and education--and provides an array of practical ideas on teaching and community based...
Jan 30, 2023•56 min•Ep. 169
In this hard-hitting, no-holds barred interview, Stephen Corry, who has been working as indigenous rights activist for some 50 years, gives his assessment of the outcome of COP15. Stephen brings an on-the-ground, hands-on perspective, and provides an analysis of the key policies and commitments that have been come out of COP15. In particular, Stephen provides a coruscating analysis of the way protected areas have actually been executed, how indigenous peoples have been systematically kicked off ...
Jan 16, 2023•53 min•Ep. 168
In this fascinating interview, first aired in June 2021, Professor Daniela Gabor discusses the eye-opening sums of money needed to achieve a transition to a low carbon economy – $1 trillion-$2 trillion a year to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century, according to some estimates– and how this can be funded. She explores the evolving relationship between the public sector and private finance – a renewed partnership—and how to assure that any new flows of private capital go into genuine green i...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 167
In this hard-hitting interview, Corporate Europe Observatory’s Pascoe Sabido reflects on the outcome of COP27. While celebrating the success of the loss and damage agreement, he worries about the follow through on the Loss and Damage provisions-and the likely ways in which this finance is structured, with the reliance on debt and provide finance. Pascoe is a has spent many years researching the power of the fossil fuel industry—in particular its lobbying within the EU-and he explains in detail h...
Dec 07, 2022•46 min•Ep. 166
In this wide-ranging and hard-hitting interview, first aired in January 2022, pioneering American writer, activist, and Marxist environmentalist, Mike Davis speaks out about the dangers of this moment, politically, which he sees as similar to the late 1930s, and the relentless environmental destruction of the planet, and growing nuclear threats. Disappointed by the loss of momentum for street politics and protests in the US, following the inspiration of Black Lives Matter, Mike worries that prot...
Nov 28, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 165
In this timely interview on the eve of COP27, Harjeet Singh shares his expectations for this COP and explains why 'Loss and Damage' compensation is the centrepiece of COP27 -and what he believes needs to happen over the next five days. Harjeet Singh is head of Global Political Strategy at Climate Action Network International, a network of over 1500 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in more than 130 countries, working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate ...
Nov 06, 2022•45 min•Ep. 164
In this episode, first aired on December 23, 2020 , Zen teacher David Loy shares his thinking about EcoDharma: combining the teachings of Buddhism with ecology . In this fascinating discussion, David explore the ecological implications of Buddhist teachings with insights into how to embody that understanding in the kind of eco-activism that is needed in the world today. David explains that in Buddhism, while there aren’t prescriptive steps or writings from the Buddha on how to solve modern probl...
Oct 26, 2022•53 min•Ep. 163
Nuclear scholar and social thinker Professor Elaine Scarry shares her views on today’s growing nuclear threats –the underlying problems with the nuclear architecture and governance, based on her groundbreaking book Thermonuclear Monarchy, lessons on how to deal with our global climate challenges, and discusses key ideasa in her book Thinking in an Emergency, on how citizens and communities can prepare for emergency situations in order to preserve themselves and their autonomy. Elaine Scarry is t...
Oct 12, 2022•59 min•Ep. 162
In this wide-ranging, hard hitting discussion, Vijay Prashad explores the environmental crises we are facing today through a Marxist lens. At the heart of this discussion, Vijay highlights the failings of capitalism, with a particular focus on environmental externalities, and also critiques capitalism’s impact on the development of the global south. Vijay believes a continuing colonial mindset is undermining the commitment to the “common but differentiated responsibilities” embedded in the Rio c...
Sep 25, 2022•56 min•Ep. 161
In this interview British novelist, journalist and screenwriter Ned Beauman discusses his latest novel Venomous Lumpsucker-a brilliant, darkly satirical and terrifying novel about endlings (the last of a species), the manipulation of extinction credit markets... the elusive Hermit Kingdom: described by The Times Literary Supplement as “a tale of capitalism, penance and species extinction.” Fascinating, broad ranging discussion on extinction, literary fiction and the climate crisis, environmental...
Sep 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 160
Eye-opening discussion with Guy Standing on the deteriorating conditions in our oceans… the destruction of fragile ocean ecosystems, marine pollution, habitat destruction and destruction of coastal communities, driven by overfishing, corporate exploitation, lax regulatory enforcement, increasing extraction-- and growing sea commodification. His analysis is a powerful indictment of contemporary oceanic governance—and an impassioned call for new forms of ocean governance centred around the commons...
Aug 31, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 159
As questions surrounding Scope 3 emissions are rising on the business agenda, understanding why and how companies need to decarbonize their supply chains has become increasingly important. In this interview, McKinsey’s Peter Spiller shares his perspective on key questions around how to tackle Scope 3 emissions. Peter explains why Scope 3 is so important and highlights some of the key challenges companies face decarbonizing their supply chains. He identifies some of the key success factors dealin...
Aug 22, 2022•41 min•Ep. 158
American theologian, philosopher, and environmentalist John B. Cobb talks about his half-century long commitment to the environment, and environmental ethics, his life long work as a theologian and philosopher. He talks about the recent popularity of his ideas in China and why, at 97, he has cofounded the Living Earth Movement to inspire global cooperation for the sake of all life on our planet--with a particular focus on the geopolitical relationship between the United States and China-a topic ...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 157
Deep dive on the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) as developed in Bhutan. Karma Ura explores the origins of this radically different way to think about a nation’s priorities based on measures of individual and collective happiness and well-being of the population, relationship with the environment--and Buddhist values. Karma Ura talks about the development of GNH in Bhutan and explains how the results of five yearly GNH surveys is incorporated into government policy—and also impacts ...
Jul 15, 2022•58 min•Ep. 156
A wide-ranging discussion with Hans Ulrich Obrist on ecology and contemporary art. Hans discusses his work as at the Serpentine Gallery in London which has made an important commitment to ecology. He highlights the Gallery’s ongoing exploration of an idea of communion with the environment through is exhibitions and activities—and how he has been inspired by the work of artist and political activist Gustav Metzger. Hans also explores the potential fo climate and environmental art --and the role o...
Jun 29, 2022•58 min•Ep. 155
Fascinating interview exploring the interwoven geopolitical, economic, and political history of Western democratic societies since the early 20th century, revealing the way in which the battles for energy and for resources has shaped politics, the fault lines ultimately leading to many recent crises. Helen shares her perspective on the evolving relationship between the US and China—the underlying dynamics, emphasising how the Chinese leadership thinks in strategic terms about green energy –unlik...
Jun 16, 2022•58 min•Ep. 154
A focussed, and spirited, discussion with Lord Adair Turner on the work of the Energy Transitions Commission and the recent Energy Transitions Commission’s report on the role of Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDR) in meeting global climate objectives… a report which argues that CDR, alongside rapid and deep global decarbonisation, can give the world a 50% chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. This is a fascinating broad ranging discussion exploring different approaches to CDR, the role and varyi...
Jun 06, 2022•59 min•Ep. 153
A deep dive with Timothée Parrique on degrowth thinking. In this fascinating interview, Timothee Parrique gives an overview of the latest research on degrowth economics, the compelling underlying logic-- and confronts some of the misunderstandings about degrowth, undermining some of the arguments used against degrowing the economy. Timothée highlights the growing adoption of degrowth ideas in the world of economics, and more importantly, by the IPCC itself—and he discusses the growing evidence t...
May 26, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 152
Professor Robert Eccles, one of the world’s leading authorities on ESG, discusses the growing importance of ESG factors in investment, with reflections on the corporate and investor response to the war in Ukraine. He shares his views on the importance of establishing effective corporate sustainability standards--which he recognises as a challenging, inevitably slow, sometimes polarising, but vitally important effort to reach consensus: “Standard setting has always been a contentious, fractious p...
May 17, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 151
Sunrise co-founder William Lawrence looks back on his days at Sunrise and explores some of the lessons and insights from the organisation’s growth development—and makes the connection with wider trends in left politics in the United States. This interview explores key elements of Sunrise’s strategy, as well the organisation’s methods of organizing. William highlights some of the organisations key successes -- raising the importance of climate in American political discourse, making it a leading ...
May 09, 2022•52 min•Ep. 150
Professor Kevin Gallagher and Richard Kozul-Wright discuss their new book The Case for a New Bretton Woods. They highlight the unmet promises for reforms to promote stability, social inclusion, and sustainability in the aftermath of the 2008–9 global financial crisis—and argue that in the wake of Covid there is now an opportunity to reform the financial system and deal with the inequality, volatility, and climate breakdown. Kevin and Richard outline a series of fundamental reforms to bring the B...
Apr 25, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 149
Wide-ranging interview with the economist Ann Pettifor on the impact of an unstable financial system on the prospects of dealing with the climate crisis, the role and impact of private finance-- which she believes is ultimately designed to serve the interests of the 1%. Ann argues, however, that the real power of private finance is overstated, pointing to the various ways in which financial institutions consistently rely on public institutions to bail them out: how we are not actually living in ...
Apr 12, 2022•50 min•Ep. 148
Deep dive with Professor Ruth DeFries on her recent book What would Nature Do exploring how strategies from the natural world can help humanity weather many of the environmental crises we are now facing. DeFries explains how a small number of key strategies—investments in diversity, redundancy over efficiency, self-correcting feedbacks, and decisions based on bottom-up knowledge—enable life to persist through unpredictable, sudden shocks-and various ways in which we can apply these strategies to...
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 147
Carbon Tracker Initiative’s Mark Campanale provides fresh insights into the dangerous phenomenon of stranded assets –according to the IEA: “ investments which have already been made but which, at some time prior to the end of their economic life, are no longer able to earn an economic return.” Mark explains why it is taking so long for capital markets to reflect the real value of fossil fuel companies—and what’s at stake here-- how we are funding climate chaos through our pension schemes and ban...
Mar 11, 2022•42 min•Ep. 146
Wide ranging discussion on ESG ratings and how MSCI approaches identifying risks and opportunities arising from material Climate and ESG issues. Linda-Eling Lee is Global Head of ESG and Climate Research at MSCI the largest provider of ESG Ratings and analytics to global institutional investors. Linda-Elong leads one of the largest teams in the world dedicated to identifying risks and opportunities arising from material Climate and ESG issues. She oversees all ESG- and Climate-related content an...
Feb 24, 2022•50 min•Ep. 145
Hard-hitting interview with outspoken Kenyan ecologist and conservation writer Dr Mordecai Ogada. Deep dive on key trends in Kenyan conservation. Mordecai criticizes of impact of large sums of money coming into conservation Kenya, from abroad, which he sees having an overtly commercial impact on conservation in Kenya. One impact: substantial growth in “protected areas”—which Mordecai sees as being “rooted in violence and eviction and disenfranchisement.” Mordecai calls for the philosophy behind ...
Feb 01, 2022•57 min•Ep. 144
In this wide-ranging and hard-hitting interview, pioneering American writer, activist, and Marxist environmentalist, Mike Davis speaks out about the dangers of this moment, politically, which he sees as similar to the late 1930s, and the relentless environmental destruction of the planet, and growing nuclear threats. Disappointed by the loss of momentum for street politics and protests in the US, following the inspiration of Black Lives Matter, Mike worries that protests have become predominantl...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 143
A fascinating deep dive on impact investment with Sir Ronald Cohen, "the father of social investment." This is a spirited discussion about Sir Ronald’s book, Impact, exploring his vision of how impact investing is reshaping capitalism to deliver a form of capitalism that can deal with the profound social and environmental challenges we are facing—issues which he is passionate about. Sir Ronald believes financial institutions are changing profoundly -and is hugely optimistic about the work being ...
Dec 27, 2021•45 min•Ep. 142
