As other companies working on the energy transition in the US fold, the Finnish energy tech giant Wärtsilä - with big footprint in energy storage and energy management systems - is doubling down. What do they know that others don't? We asked Malin Östman , the company's head of strategy. We had our conversation in person at the legendary Chatham House, during their Climate and Energy Summit 2025. And we share some highlights from the public bits of the event that caught our ear. If you're enjoyi...
Mar 19, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 50
Outro Track of the Day For reasons that should become clear… https://open.spotify.com/track/5PGYWv9Xp4IraLSDs8h1bY?si=1b23870ffdad4629 Ben Cooke , Earth Editor at The Times and returning champion guest on Wicked Problems, walks us through why his news outlet just devoted a whole series to climate adaptation. Over the past 18 months, a big thesis of this project is that a certain amount of climate risk and climate effects are already happening. Very few people are willing to talk about it publicl...
Mar 13, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 49
It’s late. Stupid late. Despite remaining in recovery from 3 broken ribs and a part-collapsed lung that have sidelined me for 10 days, here’s a bit of catching up with some hope - some chaps in America who did what they could in this moment: sensing that climate data and analytics (along with other funded science) was about to go under the wheels of the Tump Train, we caught up with some guys organising a flotilla of small boats to carry what they can away from the blitzkrieg onslaught to help p...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 48
In this episode of Wicked Problems , host Richard Delevan delves into the latest developments in the UK's carbon budget and examines the prospects for clean industrial transitions in Europe. With highlights from the UK's Climate Change Committee's seventh carbon budget and insights from Emma Pinchbeck on future household energy savings, the discussion emphasizes the urgent need to reduce electricity prices while expanding clean power technologies. Interviews with climate tech experts, including ...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 47
For full show notes and ad-free listening come to wickedproblems.earth. In this episode, host Richard Delevan discusses the failures and frustrations of traditional climate activism with sustainability strategist Joseph Gelfer. They explore Gelfer's call for ' climate populism '—a revolutionary, rather than reformist, approach to climate change that involves mobilizing public dissatisfaction with the elites. Delavan delves into how populist tactics used by figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Far...
Feb 19, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 46
This edition is supported by our friends at the Climate Majority Project . If you’re in the UK, and have decided it’s time to do something more than doomscrolling and more useful than throwing paint…on 15-16 March at Limehouse in London. Get more info and tickets here . Fires in Los Angeles at last count had $35 billion plus of insured losses and probably $300 billion plus of economic losses. Who should pay? Here to help decode that we spoke with Dave Jones - former Insurance Commissioner for Ca...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Season 3Ep. 45
Last week, to a lot of online reaction, not all of it good, we spoke to Kelly Wanser from Silver Lining , a non profit that advocates for research in this area. Not everyone was happy we talked about the subject. Understandably people are concerned, with good reason. Humanity doesn't have a great track record of avoiding being reckless or selfish and making decisions here in the so called global north that will definitely hurt other people — but we do it anyway. Whether it's like small island st...
Feb 10, 2025•53 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Get all our episodes and show notes ad-free at wickedproblems.earth. Professor Dana R. Fisher of American University is one of the most astute analysts of two things going through a huge stress test right now in the US - climate science, and democracy. Wicked Problems is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The necessity of today’s outro track will become obvious, and with apologies for my slandering of Flava Flav:...
Feb 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Get full show notes and our newsletter at wickedproblems.earth - and you can also get these episodes ad-free. Wicked Problems: Energy Transition and Decarbonization Insights In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into key issues and recent developments in the energy transition and decarbonization efforts. . Special guest Freya Pratty from SIFTED.eu ( get her climate tech newsletter here ) shares insights into the growth and challenges within climate tech companies, inclu...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Late last year we started interviewing folk in the business of solar radiation management (SRM) - aka one flavour of “geoengineering”. It’s a taboo subject. It’s sci-fi gold. It’s also something we’re going to be talking about. Particularly after famed climate scientist James Hansen and a platoon of other climate scientists published a new paper declaring not just the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5C to be in the rear-view mirror, but - as Damian Carrington in the Guardian summed...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Come to wickedproblems.earth for full show notes. Sophie Hall of ETH Zürich joins Richard Delevan to discuss her research into using game theory to embed more fairness into the algorithms that increasingly control the services we rely upon for our everyday lives. 00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems 00:04 The Role of AI in Critical Infrastructure 01:01 AI's Impact on Society and Ethics 03:19 Trust and AI in Life-or-Death Situations 04:57 Personal Anecdotes and AI's Everyday Influence 07:23 AI i...
Feb 03, 2025•51 min•Season 3Ep. 40
Get more at wickedproblems.earth So much is happening that it’s hard to drink from the firehose of US executive orders on energy and crazy chaos orangutang screeches on presidential letterhead, UK debates about growth versus climate, and parsing the statements of tech broligarchs to the only people left who can hold them accountable – their investors during earnings calls this week. And that’s before we get to Heathrow and a Scottish court ruling that the Rosebank field was unlawfully given perm...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 39
Imagine living in Los Angeles. Imagine that you actually wrote something nearly 10 years ago that pretty much nailed the fire we’re seeing this month. Imagine you put 10 years of your life into writing a novel that cut no corners and tried to make real the stakes and the conflicts those disasters would bring up – as a warning to act sooner. Now imagine the worst person in the world taking credit for your work while using the tragedy – that you forsaw – to turn people against the solutions that w...
Jan 26, 2025•34 min•Season 3Ep. 38
In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan interviews Laurent Segalen, co-host of Redefining Energy, about his North Atlantic Transmission One - Link project. The discussion covers the project's ambitious goal of connecting the energy grids of North America and Europe via a 6 GW undersea cable to increase energy security and resilience, especially in a world increasingly dependent on renewables. Laurent shares his personal journey that led him to this project, including the influen...
Jan 24, 2025•54 min•Season 3Ep. 37
For full show notes, ad-free listening, and our newsletter, check out wickedproblems.earth . In this episode of Wicked Problems, Richard Delevan talks with Laurie Laybourn of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative and James Dyke from the University of Exeter. They tackle the stark reality that the preemptive climate strategies have largely failed and emphasize the need to leverage state capacities discovered during crises like COVID-19 to address the climate emergency. They explore concepts such...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 36
The last few days we’ve been tracking some of the nominees for Donald Trump’s Insane Clown Posse Cabinet. Starting with Chris Wright at Energy (better than expected!) and then Lee Zeldin at EPA (and NGL was fun to watch him get stuffed into a locker by Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, and Sheldon Whitehouse). But after 9 hours of hearings watched for you, here’s the final Trump energy boss - Interior Sec nominee and potential head of the National Energy Council, North Dakota governor and billionaire D...
Jan 19, 2025•36 min•Season 3Ep. 35
Get full coverage and ad-free content at wickedproblems.earth In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into the intense political landscape following Donald Trump's return to the White House and the subsequent Senate confirmation hearings for key nominees responsible for climate and energy policy. This detailed episode features in-depth discussions on climate and energy, examining the roles of various nominees, including former Congressman Lee Zeldin, in shaping future pol...
Jan 18, 2025•33 min•Season 3Ep. 34
Get our full coverage at WickedProblems.earth . In this episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations , host Richard Delevan takes a closer look at the political theater surrounding the Senate confirmation hearings of Chris Wright, the Trump administration’s 2025 nominee for U.S. Energy Secretary. Wright, a vocal advocate for fossil fuels and CEO of Liberty Energy, has sparked controversy with his industry-first approach to energy policy and public comments dismissing the urgency of cl...
Jan 16, 2025•27 min•Season 3Ep. 33
German political scientist, author and climate activist Tadzio Müller is pretty dark. But even he’s having trouble coping with the news. So he’s reading dystopian climate fiction, because it’s less depressing. Most recently, friend-of-the-show Stephen Markley’s The Deluge. Given the week that’s in it we of course had to talk about the wildfires but also the rise of Alice Weidel and Tadzio decoding her “Windmills of Shame” comment, which to a non-German just sounds like Trump with better writing ...
Jan 15, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 32
In this episode, host Richard Delevan dives into the transformative legal battles shaping the future of climate accountability. From Vermont’s trailblazing Climate Superfund law to New York’s bold move to hold oil and gas companies financially liable for adaptation costs, we explore the "pincer movement" of legislation and litigation forcing polluters to pay. Joining the conversation is Dana Drugmand, founder of Climate in the Courts , who shares insights into the biggest legal wins of 2024 and ...
Jan 06, 2025•32 min•Season 3Ep. 31
In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delavan talks with energy expert Alexina Jackson about the digital transformation of the energy grid. They discuss the impact of grid-enhancing technologies, the significance of dynamic line ratings, and the role of storage and AI in optimizing the energy system. Alekshina shares her journey into the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, digital solutions, and informed decision-making. They also explore the future challenges...
Dec 30, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Welcome to a special milestone episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations ! In this 100th episode, hosts Richard Delevan and Peter Schwartzstein reflect on a tumultuous yet transformative 2024, joined by a host of friends and contributors from the climate tech and advocacy world. Together, they share personal highlights, challenges, and their hopes for 2025. Here's what to expect: Highlights from the Episode: Reflections on 2024 : Peter celebrates the release of his long-awaited boo...
Dec 26, 2024•26 min
Welcome to another episode of 'Wicked Problems: Climate Tech Conversations.' In this episode, host Richard Delevan is joined by Yehuda Borenstein , a serial climate tech venture builder and Chairman & Co-founder of the Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup RepAir . Yehuda discusses his journey and the innovations his team is working on to solve one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. From DAC technology to integrating carbon capture with renewable energy, we dive into the nut...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 29
In this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan discusses the interconnections between climate change, geopolitical instability, and political turmoil, coined as the 'doom loop.' The episode explores how rising inflation and extreme weather events influence political movements and undermine climate actions. Delavan speaks with Roz Savage, a new MP for the South Cotswolds, about her climate and nature bill, highlighting the need for comprehensive legislation and public engagement. Late...
Dec 18, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 28
New times need new thinking. So Richard sits down with Jim Spencer, vet of the US renewables industry, now president and CEO of Exus Renewables North America. "Repowering" was already becoming important for getting more out of existing sites but could well become essential as electricity demand grows exponentially, the windiest sites have been developed, and political uncertainty means re-powering an existing site to make it generate more electricity could become even more attractive. For full s...
Dec 16, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Author of Saving Ourselves , Professor Dana R. Fisher of American University, helps make sense of where we are as 2024 comes towards its close. And the dilemma that it will have to get worse before it gets better, but there's no other realistic way through. In this episode, we delve into the pressing issue of climate shocks, which are intensified by climate change and manifest as floods, fires, heat waves, and droughts. As we approach 2025, these disasters are expected to become more frequent an...
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Season 3Ep. 26
Newsletter & full shownotes at wickedproblems.earth. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has taken on a landmark climate case, spearheaded by the small island nation of Vanuatu, in collaboration with youth leaders and seasoned climate advocates. It’s a story of legal innovation and breaking points. We were honored to speak with Professor Elisabeth Holland , a pioneer in climate negotiations and a guiding force behind the Pacific region’s climate leadership. Joining us was Loes van Dijk ...
Dec 07, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Not since the Cuban Missile Crisis has a UN forum seen a debate as dramatic for the future of the species. Today the International Court of Justice in The Hague (aka “the World Court”) began two weeks of hearings to produce an advisory opinion about what if any obligations national governments have to protect against the harms caused by climate change, and what if they fail to meet those obligations. We bring you highlights of, as it were, the case for the prosecution. Get more at wickedproblems...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 24
In this episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations , host Richard Delevan sits down with Lisett Luik , co-founder of Arbonics , to explore the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets and the role of forests in combating climate change. Recorded shortly after the conclusion of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the conversation dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of nature-based solutions in carbon removal and how the Article 6 talks at COP might affect businesses like he...
Dec 01, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 23
Cmon over to Wickedproblems.earth for complete show notes and all episodes ad-free China and the Global Climate Transition: Insights with Richard Delevan and Jeremy Wallace In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan zooms out to understand the current climate action landscape as COP discussions progress in Baku. He is joined by Jeremy Wallace, a political scientist specialising in China's domestic politics and climate action, and the A. Doak Barnett Professor of China Studies at Jo...
Nov 22, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 22
