Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 6 – in conversation with Chris Skidmore OBE
In part one of this conversation, former UK Energy Minister Chris Skidmore OBE discusses his decision to resign from the government over its rollback on net zero commitments.
He talks about the importance of long-term policy commitments to deliver certainty, clarity, consistency, and continuity in order to unlock economic opportunities and create jobs.
Skidmore reflects on his proudest achievements during his time in government, including signing Net Zero into law and securing the largest uplift in public spending for research and development in the last 40 years.
He also shares his thoughts on the changing awareness and attitude towards climate change within the halls of Parliament over the past decade and a half. This video is part of the “Conversations on Climate” series.
‘Being a politician doesn’t give you carte blanche to think you know everything about anything…’
‘… it’s important that we call out disinformation that misinformation and those people willfully trying to undermine action on climate and reduce emissions. But also, let’s listen to them to make sure we’re not missing an opportunity to find common equity.’
‘It is regrettable that we have this polarisation. I’m still trying to find that middle ground by which we can demonstrate this is a sensible, pragmatic course of action’
Some of the highlights you can expect are:
– Chris Skidmore’s career and accomplishments
– Evolution of climate awareness in Parliament
– Decision-making process behind climate policies
– Importance of independent advice and bipartisanship
– Emotional aspect of resigning on a matter of conscience
– Selling the benefits of the transition to net-zero
– Future of party politics and the impact of climate issues
– Looking ahead to the next general election in the UK
– Advice for the next Prime Minister and young greens
29:25 Biggest way to make an impact for the future and the weight of responsibility
32.58 How does it feel to be a conscientious objector?
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This episode of Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you by United Renewables.
We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter. We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.
Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 5 – in conversation with Sean Kidney
In this episode of the Conversations on Climate Podcast, we are delighted to sit down with Sean Kidney who is Co-founder and CEO of Climate Bonds Initiative to discuss the importance of green bonds and financing the transition to a low-carbon economy.
This conversation highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the potential for green bonds to help fund renewable energy projects, improve energy efficiency, and promote sustainable agriculture.
Kidney emphasises the need for clear standards and regulations to ensure the integrity of the green bond market and prevent greenwashing. This video makes a compelling case for the critical role that green bonds can play in financing the transition to a more sustainable future.
With the global bond market worth $130 trillion, green and sustainable bonds currently make up just 4 trillion of that total. However, kidney believes that this market has the potential to grow at least ten times in the next decade, making green bonds the biggest asset class in the world. Watch this video to learn more about the role of green bonds in financing a sustainable future.
“We are learning to be adults when the planet needs us to be adults… if we do grow up, we become the consciousness of Gaia. If we don’t, we’re toast.”
More About the Climate Bonds Initiative
Their science-based taxonomy has certified $300 billion in climate bonds across 16 sectors and 20 instrument types, and they have $34 trillion in assets represented at board level.
Some of the insights in this episode include:
Climate as a species-level opportunity (if we can take it)
The trillion-dollar question: are green bonds growing fast enough?
The power of pension funds – and why they’re finally waking up
How emerging green markets can solve the West’s demographic timebomb
Eat quinoa, not corn (and other lessons from green bond taxonomy)
Climate resilience funding: many flavours of gelato!
Last-mile CCUS, the Icelandic volcano way
Should we just cancel COP? Sean gets stuck in!
Climate lessons from Marx, memes and the KKK
Why turning the world’s supertanker is a systems game
“It’s never too late till it really is too late…this is really about how we manage the planet…we ended up becoming stewards of the earth…humans affect everything.”
“… you’re thinking, what are we doing?!I’m going to say, how can you not be passionate when you’re looking at your future corroding before your eyes in the science?”
“So my belief is that we need to change the financial system to be future-fit to meet our needs and, of course, that means bonds that are green will become the biggest asset class.”
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Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you by United Renewables
We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter. We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE: https://bit.ly/3GZpd7R and ring the notification bell
Comments Off on Season 3: Special Episode – Artificial Intelligence A Tool for Climate and Biodiversity Preservation
In this thought-provoking keynote at the Trinity Business Forum 2024, United Renewables CEO Chris Caldwell delves into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and biodiversity, drawing parallels from history to shed light on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
From the Aztec Empire to the modern age, Chris explores how artificial intelligence can both protect and endanger our natural world. Discover the intriguing story of the Colombian Exchange, the birth of deep learning, and the potential impact of AI on climate change.
Don’t miss this insightful keynote on the future of AI and its role in preserving our planet’s delicate balance.
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Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you by United Renewables
We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter. We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Comments Off on Season 3: Special Episode – in conversation with Mayra Barrero Delgado
Join us for a crucial conversation on climate change and its impact on developing countries, particularly in Latin America.
In this video, we sit down with Mayra Barrero Delgado, an environmental engineering expert and sustainability consultant, to discuss the intensification of climate-related disasters and the urgent need for climate action.
Barrero Delgado highlights the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration in Latin American markets, the pressing need for financial system reforms, and the diverse environmental challenges faced across the continent.
Learn about the global sustainability community’s efforts to equip societies in developing countries to address the formidable challenges presented by climate change.
“…2023 I would say is in the spotlight: the intensification of climate-related disasters…”
” I think this is a very good example, that in Climate Change, one size doesn’t fit all…”
Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables and this episode is in association with the YALE Center for Business and the Environment.
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
On the Conversations on Climate podcast we talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.
Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 4 – in conversation with Kelly Price
Join us for this enlightening episode of the Conversations on Climate podcast as we delve into the intricate relationship between climate change, food production, and sustainable farming practices.
In this episode, we are honoured to have Kelly Price, an AgriTech entrepreneur with a diverse background ranging from biology and cancer research to tackling food waste, share her insights on the pressing issues facing our planet and our plates. Kelly challenges us to adopt the curiosity of a three-year-old and question why the true cost of food production, especially those contributing to the destruction of vital ecosystems like the Amazon, is not reflected in our food prices.
She highlights the invisible link between healthy planets and healthy people, emphasising the detrimental effects of nitrogen and pesticides on our waterways and the urgent need for a shift towards sustainable farming practices. Discover why many farmers, despite their deep connection to the land, find themselves trapped in a cycle of using harmful chemicals to ensure crop yield, driven by economic pressures and a system that favours short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Kelly also sheds light on the innovative solutions being developed by her company, Agreed Earth, which aims to reduce nitrogen loss through satellite data, offering a beacon of hope for aligning economic incentives with environmental stewardship.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex dynamics of food production, the impact of agriculture on climate change, and the potential for technology and traditional farming practices to coexist and lead us towards a more sustainable and resilient food system. Whether you’re a concerned citizen, a farmer looking for sustainable practices, or someone interested in the intersection of technology and agriculture, this conversation offers valuable insights and a call to action to rethink our approach to food and farming for the sake of our planet and future generations.
Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you by United Renewables We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter.
We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution.
We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.
Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 3 – in conversation with Ricky Buch
Today’s enlightening Conversations on Climate podcast episode delves into the transformative world of energy transition and corporate-led renewable energy procurement.
This episode is presented in collaboration with the Yale School of Business and the Environment, In this special recording from Yale’s inspiring campus, we engage with Ricky Buch, the visionary co-founder and CTO of Power Trust, whose innovative platform is reshaping how global giants like Netflix and Salesforce approach energy procurement, fostering sustainable micro-projects in developing countries.
Discover the compelling story of climate action across different regions, as we explore the significant impact of voluntary renewable energy procurement on global decarbonisation efforts.
During this conversation, Ricky shares insightful perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in accelerating the energy transition in emerging markets, emphasising the crucial role of corporate commitment and the innovative financial models that are making a tangible difference in underserved communities.
“…I would say it’s that corporate led, voluntary renewable procurement remains a significant driver for grid decarbonisation globally…”
“…bring people together because we all have that common mission… And I think that’s that’s a powerful driving force.”
Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables and this episode is in association with the YALE Center for Business and the Environment.
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 2 – in conversation with Nico Johnson
Today we sit down with Nico Johnson the founder of SunCast Media and host of Suncast, the highly respected solar energy podcast that has hit 650 episodes and counting.
A solar veteran with experience in development, sales, marketing, and executive coaching, Nico is one of the most connected and astute observers of the booming US market.
“We’re in this head-on chicken race with destiny…”
“…Entities in the energy sector have to eventually embrace renewables – who’s going to build the bridges…?”
“How many times in your marketing have you intentionally injected stress?”
“Most of us are not doing it to get rich. We’re doing it to enrich the world for the next ten generations. And so I think I would introduce myself or characterise my role in the industry as a storyteller.”
In this insightful episode, we cover:
Nico’s road from the Peace Corps to podcasting
Sales and creativity: “I’m an exceptionally good door opener. I’m not a very good closer!”
Renewables and hydrogen – the dangers of a divisive conversation
Where are the curated career paths into renewables?
Do we still need supportive policy once we hit grid parity?
Finding your tribe in the green space
Why new grads are choosing renewables over tech
The surprising roots of the LatAm solar boom
When will batteries become a commodity? Sooner than you’d think…
Conversations on Climate is a podcast brought to you by United Renewables We bring together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs.
For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel. We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.
Comments Off on Season 3: Episode 1 – in conversation with Professor Freek Vermeulen
THREE words to describe this episode’s conversation with Freek:
Eclectic – Myth-busting – Storytelling
Everyone likes to think of themselves as a highly evolved person – and a great leader to. But strip away the jargon, polish and pretence…and aren’t we’re all just a bunch of naked apes?
Only now they’re in charge of the most powerful organisations and technologies in the history of the planet – and it turns out they are as naked as we are.
This episode digs into the truth of organisational culture – and draws its lessons from some surprising places.
What do a tribe of Papua New Guinean cannibals have to teach us about the perils of Total Quality Management?
Which other sacred cows of might actually be ‘idea viruses?’
And is your firm secretly infected?
Freek Vermeulen is Director of Strategy, and Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, at London Business School.
His erudite, bubble-bursting books include Breaking Bad Habits, and Business Exposed: the Naked Truth about What Really Goes On in the World of Business.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS FASCINATING EPISODE INCLUDE:
GIVING YOUR PRODUCT AWAY IS GOOD FOR YOUR PAYING CUSTOMERS TOO. Aravind Eye Care began no-charge cataract treatment for India’s poorest – and outcomes soared for their richer customers too. Could this surprising message help get subsidised green tech to the global South?
SOME MANAGEMENT THEORIES CAN BECOME VIRUSES. Survival of the fittest doesn’t always apply in business, especially when good ideas are championed out of context – like Total Quality Management. Bad ideas can spread faster than they kill.
LESSONS FROM THE BABY-MAKERS: DO HARD THINGS ON PURPOSE. Freek’s study of IVF shows that incentivising ‘selection at the gate’ hurts long-term competitiveness. ESG metrics and divestment could stop firms taking on hard-to-decarbonise problems.
PUBLIC MARKETS PUNISH JARGON. Freek’s analysis of 1,300+ deals shows that CEO ‘management speak’ – even well-intentioned – turns investors off. Leaders who use ESG jargon risk eroding trust in their own useful climate action.
“… because we imitate this high performing firm, including the practices that may have contributed nothing to them being high performers…harmful management practices, just like cultural practices, including eating deceased relatives and like viruses can spread and survive…”
“…and suddenly the world of business isn’t as simple as that either …therefore not being judgmental or angry at people, but helping to understand the context and changing the context for people in organisations so that they don’t make these wrong choices anymore. That’s actually what’s important.”
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 3 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES.
Comments Off on Season 2: Special Episode – AI and Climate Change
In this enlightening keynote speech at Trinity College Dublin, Chris Caldwell United Renewables CEO, clean tech investor, renewables entrepreneur, and podcast host, delves into the complex relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change.
Returning to his alma mater after 24 years, Caldwell shares insights on how AI is shaping our world, both as a tool for environmental progress and a potential threat to sustainability.
Key Highlights:
AI’s Role in Decarbonisation: Discover how AI accelerates our ability to tackle climate change, from predicting deforestation hotspots to revolutionising battery testing for electric vehicles.
The Attention Economy: Caldwell explores the challenges of an information-saturated world and how AI’s rise to cultural prominence reflects our collective concerns.
AI’s Environmental Footprint: Uncover the hidden costs of AI’s energy consumption and its impact on global carbon emissions.
The Jevons Paradox: Learn how increased efficiency in technology can lead to greater overall consumption, posing challenges for sustainability.
AI and the Market Economy: A critical look at how private firms dominate the AI landscape, potentially steering its applications towards less sustainable paths.
The Techno-fix Paradox: Caldwell warns against relying on future technological solutions for climate change, advocating for immediate action and responsibility.
Join Chris Caldwell in this thought-provoking session as he navigates the paradoxes of AI and climate change, urging us to rethink our values and the role of technology in shaping a sustainable future.
If you enjoyed watching this episode you might like to watch the other keynote speeches in this season.
Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables in association with the London Business School Energy Alumni Club. It brings together the best minds from academia and business, to offer their experience and expertise in the face of climate change –from game theorists to corporate diplomats, and oil industry veterans to micro-algae entrepreneurs. For more top-quality interviews with our incredible guests, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on Twitter. We’d love to have you join us!
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms. We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 2 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy. 👉 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE: https://bit.ly/3GZpd7R 👈 & ring the notification bell 🔔
Comments Off on Season2: Episode 20 – in conversation with CT Green Bank
Introducing Bryan Garcia and Sara Harari
The CT Green Bank was the first of its kind in the US and has generated over $2.4bn in green investment and abated millions of tonnes of CO2e by de-risking private finance, bringing stakeholders together, and pioneering approaches to local clean investment.
Its President and Founder is Bryan Garcia, and Sara Harari is Associate Director of Innovation and Strategy Advisor to the President.
The fascinating conversation with Chris Caldwell takes place at Yale and covers a wide range of questions and delivers us an amazing insight into the philosophy of Green Banks and this Green Bank in particular:
… having a vision of a planet protected by the love of humanity, is that you can’t have environmentalism without humanitarianism.
… you can’t save the trees by avoiding people. It is fundamentally about caring about each other. If we do that, then we are going to solve the climate crisis. But we have to be able to put our arms around each other first and then mobilize capital investment … to deliver the results that we’re after.
But I think that’s, you know, the vision of the Connecticut Green Bank…
Highlights of this episode include:
Section one: The CT Green Bank mission
Section two: How Green Bank trains private markets
Section three: From renewables to environmental infrastructure
Section four: Innovation and climate justice at the local level
Section five: Selling cleantech in red states: spreading the Green Bank model
Section six: IRA: layered incentives and smart design
Section seven: Financing climate resilience
Section eight: Elections, wishlists, and sourcing meaning
Conversations on Climate is a podcast produced by United Renewables and this episode is in association with Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
Don’t forget to share with your colleagues, friends, and family. We would love to hear your opinions and feedback, so please leave your comments on our platforms.
We talk about how the scope of the challenge before us is beyond that of any one individual or any one solution. We listen to thinkers, researchers, policymakers, and business leaders. They discuss a diversity of ideas and solutions to global climate and environmental issues and why they matter.
Season 2 is presented by Chris Caldwell and produced by UNITED RENEWABLES in association with LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL, ALUMNI ENERGY CLUB.
Please visit our YouTube channel, where all of our Conversations are available for you to enjoy.
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