Episodes

  • WHAT ABOUT PLASTICS? A lifesaving innovation or a threat to our planet and health?

    WHAT ABOUT PLASTICS? A lifesaving innovation or a threat to our planet and health?
    Dec 3 2024
    Plastics have revolutionized modern life with their versatility and usefulness, but their overwhelming abundance has led to a mounting crisis. Plastic waste is everywhere: in the air we breathe, the ice on Mount Everest, the water we drink, the fish we eat, and even in human placentas. This pollution is not only devastating ecosystems but also harming our health. Adding to the problem, plastics are intrinsically tied to climate change, as most are derived from fossil fuels. In this episode, James and Daisy are joined by Aidan Charron from EARTHDAY.ORG to unpack the plastics problem. What exactly are plastics? Why are they so bad for the planet, and for us? What is the Plastics Treaty, and why does it matter? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:EARTHDAY.ORG – EARTHDAY.ORG’s founders created and organized the very first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. Since then, Earth Day Network also known as EARTHDAY.ORG has been mobilizing over 1 billion people annually on Earth Day, and every other day, to protect the planet.Babies vs. Plastics Report – Evidence is mounting that plastics, microplastics and their additive chemicals pose potentially serious health risks to humans, with babies and infants being especially vulnerable.Pets vs. Plastics Report – This report is a meta-analysis of some of the available research to date studying the impact of plastics, microplastics and their additive chemicals on the health of our pets. Plastics Treaty – In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme instated an International Negotiating Committee (INC) tasked with creating a global, legally binding memorandum tackling the pressing problem of plastics pollution. OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:Silent Spring by Rachel Carson – published on September 27, 1962, this book documented the environmental harm caused by the widespread use of pesticides and is recognizes as one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. SYSTEMIQ (2020) – “Breaking the Plastic Wave” is a global analysis using first-of-its kind modelling, showing that we can cut annual flows of plastic into the ocean by about 80% in the next 20 years by applying existing solutions and technologies. Ellen MacArthur Foundation – a charity committed to creating a circular economy, which is designed to eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature.Notpla – advanced packaging solutions made from seaweed and other natural materials as an alternative to single-use plastic. The Blue Planet – a wildlife documentary series, presented and narrated by David Attenborough, exploring the planet's oceans.UNDP (2023) – “Scientists estimate that only around 9 percent of all the plastic waste generated globally is recycled.”EARTHDAY.ORG – “More than 500 billion plastic bags – one million bags per minute – were produced worldwide last year.” World Economic Forum (2022) – “Saying no to single-use plastics is the most common sustainable lifestyle change among UK consumers. More than 60% have reduced their use of throwaway plastics.”BBC (2019) – A cotton bag needs to be reused at least 131 times to make it more environmentally friendly than a plastic bag. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokMusic: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
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    35 mins
  • WHAT ABOUT COP? A complex, outdated process or an important platform for vulnerable countries?

    WHAT ABOUT COP? A complex, outdated process or an important platform for vulnerable countries?
    Nov 5 2024
    The COP, or ‘Conference of the Parties,’ is the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), meeting annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change. This year, COP29 will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this episode, James and Daisy talk about the COPs. How did they begin? Is the process effective? What might we expect from this year’s conference? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:The Carbon War by Jeremy Leggett – this book is an eyewitness account of the climate talks, and the way the fossil-fuel vested-interests (the “carbon club”) tried to derail them.Landing the Paris Agreement by Todd Stern – from the U.S. lead negotiator on climate change, this book is an inside account of the seven-year negotiation that culminated in the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:COP29 Presidency Action Agenda Letter – outlines the fourteen COP29 Presidency Initiatives. Agenda 21 (adopted in 1992) – a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.What are the UN ‘COP’ climate change conferences? – this overview from The Grantham Institute highlights some of the important milestones from past UN climate change conferences. James was part of the Global Agenda Council of the WEF – here are some of the pieces he has contributed to: https://www.weforum.org/stories/authors/jamescameron/ James highlighted some inspiring individuals in this episode who have played key roles in the COP journey:Philippe Sands is a specialist in international law who James worked with in New York prior to the Rio Summit. Durwood Zaelke is an American environmental litigator, professor, author, and advocate, who founded the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD).Farhana Yamin is a British lawyer, public speaker and climate activist.Robert Van Lierop is a ni-Vanuatu-American lawyer, diplomat, political activist, filmmaker, writer and photojournalist.Brindusa Burrows was formerly Associate Director with the World Economic Forum and is now at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and is a visual artist. Morgan Bazilian is Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines.Philippe, Durwood, and Farhana were at some stage all part of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).If you want to dig deeper, there is plenty of academic writing on the climate negotiations. We’d recommend the names below: Professor Dan Bodansky at Arizona State UniversityProfessor Scott Barratt at Columbia UniversityProfessor David Victor at the University of California San DiegoProfessor Lavania Rajamani at the University of OxfordDr Joanna Depledge at the University of CambridgeThank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokMusic: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
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    47 mins
  • WHAT ABOUT FOOD? An unavoidable source of emissions or an untapped climate solution?

    WHAT ABOUT FOOD? An unavoidable source of emissions or an untapped climate solution?
    Oct 8 2024
    Food is often overlooked in conversations about climate change, yet our food system contributes roughly one-quarter to one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. It is also the leading cause of biodiversity loss, and agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. Beyond environmental impacts, the food system is significantly damaging human health. In this episode, James and Daisy talk about our global food system. What is wrong with it? How much responsibility lies with big corporations? And do we need to stop eating meat? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:Project Drawdown – A great resource to learn more about food-related climate solutions. The EAT-Lancet Report (2019) – the first attempt to set universal scientific targets for the food system that apply to people and planet. Plant-Based Diets (WWF) – a science-based platform to encourage diets that are good for people and planet. There’s a calculator so that can find out whether you’re eating the right things for you and for the environment. OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:FAO (2023) – Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold: A Global Roadmap – FAO has identified 10 ‘domains of action’ that form a holistic portfolio. The Roadmap includes 120 actions, within which we can take concrete steps towards making a difference.The Felix Project: A London-based charity that rescues good, surplus food from the food industry that cannot be sold and would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to hundreds of food banks, charities, primary schools and holiday programmes. You can find ways to volunteer with them here. Tesco: In 2009, Tesco became the first business globally to set the ambition to become net zero across Group operations by 2050. In 2017, they were the first FTSE 100 company to set science-based targets for both own operations and supply chain in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5C pathway.Green Climate Fund (GCF): Health, food, and water security is an important area of work for GCF. It has funded 139 projects in this area amounting to $1.8 billion in financing.IPCC (2019): The food system is responsible for about 21–37% of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. UNEP (2021):Our global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat to 24,000 of the 28,000 (86%) species at risk of extinction.FAO (2024): It is estimated that between 713 and 757 million people, corresponding to 8.9 and 9.4 percent of the global population, respectively, may have faced hunger in 2023. Considering the mid-range (733 million), this is about 152 million more people than in 2019.WHO (2024): In 2022, 1 in 8 people in the world were living with obesity. In 2022, 2.5 billion adults (18 years and older) were overweight. Of these, 890 million were living with obesity.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokMusic: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
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    34 mins
  • WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COST? A burdensome expense or a worthwhile investment?

    WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COST? A burdensome expense or a worthwhile investment?
    Sep 10 2024

    It’s too expensive to make the change, isn’t it? The financial cost of addressing climate change is often used as a reason not to act. However, while estimates for how much the green transition will cost are indeed high, these numbers are dwarfed by the increased social and economic costs that we will incur if we continue with business as usual.


    In this episode, James and Daisy explore the financial “cost” of climate action. What are the costs of acting on climate change? What are the costs of not acting? Is it detrimental for us to delay taking action?


    SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

    • The Oxford Martin Programme on the Post-Carbon Transition – James contributed to this programme that was seeking to find out how we identify, model, and trigger sensitive intervention points to rapidly transition to a post-carbon society.
    • RMI have some great resources on the costs of transition and the exponential change we’re already seeing. In June 2024, they published this informative paper on The Cleantech Revolution.


    OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:

    • Climate Policy Initiative (2023): In 2021/2022, CPI tracked USD 1.3 trillion per year in global climate finance.
    • Climate Policy Initiative (2024): “CPI estimates that climate finance needs to ensure global temperatures do not rise above 1.5°C range from USD 5.4 trillion to USD 11.7 trillion per year until 2030, and between USD 9.3 trillion and USD 12.2 trillion per year over the following two decades. These needs are dwarfed by the increased social and economic costs that will be incurred under business-as-usual (BAU) warming scenarios (which CPI estimates to be at least USD 1,266 trillion) and will only worsen the longer action is delayed.”
    • RMI: “Financing the energy transition is a story of capital reallocation. Over the next seven years, renewable capex will roughly double and fossil fuel capex will roughly halve under core IEA scenarios. Falling fossil fuel capex will therefore provide half of the growth in renewable capex.”
    • Samsung have developed a solid-state battery that boasts a 600-mile range, 9-minute charging time, and 20-year lifespan.
    • Our World in Data (2020): Why did renewables become so cheap so fast? Renewable energy technologies follow leaning curves, which means it makes sense to invest in and scale these technologies now.


    Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation:

    LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok


    Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3


    Producer: Podshop Studios


    Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.


    Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
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    44 mins
  • WHAT ABOUT NUCLEAR? A low-carbon energy source or a threat to our safety?

    WHAT ABOUT NUCLEAR? A low-carbon energy source or a threat to our safety?
    Aug 27 2024

    Nuclear energy holds great potential to contribute to power sector decarbonisation. It is a carbon-free and extremely energy dense resource that produces no air pollution. However, it comes with significant drawbacks: not only is nuclear energy very expensive, but the byproduct is radioactive material that can be extremely toxic and is long-lasting, leading to safety fears.


    In this episode, James and Daisy discuss the benefits and challenges of nuclear energy, one of the most contentious topics within the environmental movement. What exactly is nuclear energy? What role should nuclear power play in the transition to cleaner energy? And how do the risks of nuclear energy compare to the risks posed by climate change?


    SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:

    • Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth – a book by James Lovelock that puts forward the idea that life on earth functions as a single organism.
    • Our World in Data (2020): What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy? Fossil fuels are the dirtiest and most dangerous, while nuclear and modern renewable energy sources are vastly safer and cleaner. This article is also a useful resource to explore global data on nuclear energy production: Nuclear Energy.


    OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:

    • IEA: Nuclear power accounts for about 10% of electricity generation globally, rising to almost 20% in advanced economies.
    • Terrestrial Energy is a Canadian nuclear technology company working on Generation IV nuclear technology.
    • Verv is an AI-based smart home product that sits next to your electricity or smart meter and analyses your home energy data at its source. In 2018, a Government-backed trial in Hackney used Verv’s renewable energy trading platform to enable customers with renewable energy supplies and battery storage to sell surplus power directly to neighbours.
    • The Guardian (2024): The cost of completing Hinkley Point C (a nuclear plant in Somerset) will be between £31bn and £34bn, although if completion is delayed to 2031 costs would rise to £35bn.


    Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation:

    LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok


    Music: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3


    Producer: Podshop Studios


    Huge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.


    Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
  • WHAT ABOUT CRITICAL MINERALS? A necessity for clean energy technologies or a harmful new dependency?

    WHAT ABOUT CRITICAL MINERALS? A necessity for clean energy technologies or a harmful new dependency?
    Aug 13 2024
    Nearly every aspect of our lives depends on minerals. From mobile phones and cars to medical devices and laptops, these essential elements are everywhere. The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy hinges on critical minerals. However, their mining and processing can lead to significant environmental and social challenges.In this episode, James and Daisy explore the complex issues surrounding the supply of critical minerals. Can we bridge the gap between supply and demand? How can we navigate the escalating geopolitical tensions? Can we trust the mining companies? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:Toxic Cost of Going Green: a 23-minute documentary from Unreported World investigating cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Material World: A Substantial Story of Our Past and Future by Ed Conway: Read this book to learn more about the six most crucial substances in human history: sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium.Morgan Bazilian: As the Director of the Payne Institute and a Professor of public policy at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Bazilian offers compelling insights into mining and energy security.Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change: Listen to this podcast by Michael Liebreich and Bryony Worthington where each week they have a conversation with a leader in clean energy, mobility, climate finance or sustainable development. They have recent episodes on topics related to critical minerals, including battery recycling. Simon Evans: Follow Simon on social media for more insights on the energy transition, including critical minerals. Simon covers climate and energy policy for Carbon Brief, a UK-based website covering the latest developments in climate science, climate policy and energy policy.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:IEA: “To hit net-zero globally by 2050, would require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 than today.”IEA: “A typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car.”SUN Mobility aims to accelerate the adoption of electric mobility with their battery swapping technology. This technology enables users to purchase their electric vehicles without a fixed battery pack and subscribe to a battery swapping service that allows them to simply swap a depleted battery for a fully charged, temperature-controlled battery pack.The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive) is a European Community Directive that, together with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive became law in February 2003. The WEEE Directive set collection, recycling and recovery targets for all types of electrical goods. MIT Climate: “In 2021, over 7.5 billion tons of coal were extracted from the ground, while the IEA projects that the total amount of minerals needed for clean energy technology by 2040 will be under 30 million tons.”McKinsey: Mining is not seen as an attractive industry for young talent in Canada – 42% of respondents, aged 15 to 30, definitely would not consider working in mining, and 28% probably would not. Pollination commissioned a new independent legal opinion, which concludes that directors subject to the law of England and Wales should have regard to relevant nature-related risks.National Grid: In the UK, power provided from coal was responsible for only 1% of electricity generation in 2023, compared to 2018 when coal represented 5.1% and 2013 when 39.6% was generated by coal. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokMusic: “Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows” by Nick Nuttall, Reptiphon Records. Available at https://nicknuttallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/just-because-some-bad-wind-blows-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review and organisation that we depend upon.Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on navigating the transition away from fossil fuels to a sustainable future.
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    41 mins