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Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Richard Delevan
168 episodes
2 weeks ago

A show about climate and climate tech: the intersection of technology and capital, people and politics, that will shape the future, and whether you'd want to live in it.


Host Richard Delevan is normally trapped in the UK, but with a global view - featuring guests from VC/PE, startups, scaleups, corporates, media, and beyond.


Subscribe at wickedproblems.earth for an ad-free version, our newsletter, and member-only goodies.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All content for Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations is the property of Richard Delevan and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

A show about climate and climate tech: the intersection of technology and capital, people and politics, that will shape the future, and whether you'd want to live in it.


Host Richard Delevan is normally trapped in the UK, but with a global view - featuring guests from VC/PE, startups, scaleups, corporates, media, and beyond.


Subscribe at wickedproblems.earth for an ad-free version, our newsletter, and member-only goodies.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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News Commentary
Technology,
Business,
News
Episodes (20/168)
Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Laurie Laybourn on Overshooting 1.5°C

Bonus content at wickedproblems.earth

Overshoot, a new four-part documentary series from climate strategist and Wicked Problems alum Laurie Laybourn—goes further than nearly anyone has before. And he came back to unpack some of the key ideas in Overshoot and what he hopes people will do with it.

In Overshoot the story starts with the fact that we can no longer avoid the storm, we’ve enetered it. How to survive and steer through it—generation after generation—is the conversation we urgently need to have now. 

Drawing on interviews with diplomats, scientists, and communities on the frontlines, Laybourn dismantles the win/lose logic that has dominated climate politics since Paris and asks what it means to live in an age of overlapping crises and hard adaptation choices.

Our conversation ranges from the myth of Easter Island to the politics of “carbon sucking,” from managed retreat in Wales to the legal aftershocks of 1.5°C’s failure. It’s a clear-eyed look at what comes next—and why, even at the moment of “net zero,” we’ll be living in the most dangerous period in human history.


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2 weeks ago
43 minutes 26 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Touch the Feckin' Grass. w Bishop Martin Hayes, Jane Mellett, Eamon Ryan
Discussing the Irish contingent at the Raising Hope conference and the future of faith and climate action -Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore; former Irish environment minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan; and campaigner Jane Mellett, church manager at Irish Catholic overseas development agency Trocaire. More information at climatepilgrim.com.

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2 weeks ago
1 hour 8 minutes 54 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Who is my Tu/Akoi (Neighbour)?
Who is my neighbour? 1.5°C is about neighbours, not numbers. Climate Minister Maina Talia of Tuvalu speaks to Richard Delevan about moral clarity in climate and denies the Australian 'climate visa' is about relocating his population. More information at climatepilgrim.com.

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2 weeks ago
32 minutes 21 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, with Kumi Naidoo
Should Pope Leo endorse a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty at COP30? Climate Pilgrim Episode 2: Dr. Kumi Naidoo 'cautiously optimistic' the Vatican and others will add up to 44 countries endorsing Treaty initiative by landmark April conference in Colombia. More detail at climatepilgrim.com.

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2 weeks ago
55 minutes 13 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Confessions of a Climate Pilgrim
Did Pope Leo double down on climate for the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si'? Or change the relationship between faith and climate action? Colleen Dulle, Vatican Correspondent for America Magazine and author of Struck Down, Not Destroyed, joins Richard Delevan to discuss reactions. More info and episodes at ClimatePilgrim.com.

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2 weeks ago
56 minutes 45 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
24/7/365 Dispatchable Solar Is Real. w/ EMBER's Kostantsa Rangelova & Dave Jones

For full show notes, bonus content, and ad-free listening, check out wickedproblems.earth


In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan welcomes Dave Jones and Kostantsa Rangelova from the energy think tank, EMBER. They've spent the past year spreading the good news about the impressive advancements in solar and battery technology, particularly focusing on global trends and potential game-changers in regions such as Africa and Mexico. Despite solar only contributing to 6.6% of Mexico’s electricity, EMBER simulations indicate it could rise to 90% with optimal efficiency. In some spots like Muscat, Las Vegas, or Mexico City, almost all their power, day and night, can now be generated from just solar + battery.


The discussion covers the rapid progress and cost reductions in battery technology, the promising shift towards 24/7 solar power, the surge of solar adoption in Africa, and the significant untapped potential in Mexico. The episode highlights the transformative impact of solar and battery technologies on global energy landscapes and emphasizes the urgent need for effective policies to accelerate this transition.


00:00 Introduction to Mexico's Solar Potential

00:00 Global Governance Breakdown

00:36 Welcome to Wicked Problems

00:39 Introducing the Guests: Dave Jones and Constanza Rva

01:05 The Rise of Solar and Battery Technology

01:33 24/7 Solar Power: A Game Changer

01:54 Advancements in Battery Technology

02:51 Economic Competitiveness of Solar and Battery

04:38 Challenges and Innovations in Battery Production

08:17 Global Adoption and Market Dynamics

15:20 Grid vs. Battery: The Trade-Offs

21:05 Solar and Battery in Different Climates

24:27 Implications for Policy and Future Outlook

26:09 Evolution of Battery Storage

27:29 Africa's Solar Boom

27:59 Chinese Solar Exports to Africa

28:52 Utility Scale Solar in Africa

37:50 Challenges and Opportunities in Mexico's Solar Sector

47:26 Global Solar Trends and Future Outlook


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1 month ago
50 minutes 37 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Laudato Sì at 10, Pope Leo & COP30, w Dr Lorna Gold

Get bonus content at wickedproblems.earth

 Dr. Lorna Gold is the executive director of the Laudato Sì Movement, which was inspired by the late Pope Francis’ 2015 letter. That document, considered pretty radical for the leader of the Catholic Church to issue at the time, was credited by former Irish president Mary Robinson and others with influencing the Paris Agreement - and you can hear echoes of it as recently as the advisory opinion issued this summer by the International Court of Justice. 

On its 10th anniversary, Francis’ successor Pope Leo will lead the Raising Hope Conference, 1-3 October in Rome - but also available via livestream - talking about the relevance of its ideas for the situation we’re in now. More than a “Catholic” thing, it will feature people as diverse as Brazil’s climate minister Marina Silva (in the runup to COP30), climate scientist Dr. 

Katharine Hayhoe, Bill McKibben, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tuvalu climate minister Dr Maina Talia, Bianca Pitt of SHE Changes Climate, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty president Kumi Naidoo, and more. Somehow, Lorna was able to take a break from organising the event to speak to us. 

Lorna earned a PhD in economic geography from Glasgow University and author of Climate Generation: Awakening to our Childrens’ Future.

It’s a great chat and we think you’ll enjoy it.

In This Conversation

01:22 Introduction to Dr. Lorna Gold 

02:21 Personal Tragedy and Resilience 

05:29 Hope vs. Optimism 

09:17 Relevance of Laudato Si' 

13:01 International Court of Justice Ruling 

15:21 Economic Systems and Climate Action 

21:51 Pope Francis, Pope Leo and COP 30 

22:31 Upcoming Conference and Call to Action 

24:25 Personal Reflection on Climate Impact 

27:56 Discussing Future Conversations 

28:40 Mother's Role in Climate Action 

29:39 Women of Faith for Climate Justice 

31:37 The Raging Grannies and Activism 

33:12 The Sharing Economy and Climate Generation 

34:42 Sufficiency and Economic Inequality 

41:17 The Role of Storytelling in Climate Education 

44:34 Hope and Action in Climate Movements 

47:31 Pope or Nope Quiz


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1 month ago
52 minutes 56 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
How Apocalypse Makes Authoritarians, w Hanna E. Morris

Get full ad-free episodes, full show notes, bonus material, and more at wickedproblems.earth


In this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan speaks with Dr. Hannah E. Morris, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and author of 'Apocalyptic Authoritarianism.' They discuss the use of apocalyptic language in politics, the resurgence of Cold War-era narratives, and how these tropes are being weaponized to block climate action and shore up existing power structures. The conversation delves into the intersections of media, politics, and climate crisis, featuring insights on the impact of journalism on these global issues.

‌

00:00 Trump's Apocalyptic Obsession

01:19 Introduction to Wicked Problems

01:32 Guest Introduction: Dr. Hannah E. Morris

01:57 Weaponizing Apocalyptic Language

02:45 Defining Apocalyptic Authoritarianism

03:06 Trump's Influence and Climate Movement

05:13 Nostalgia and Climate Journalism

06:30 The Green New Deal and Media Narratives

11:47 Challenges in Climate Journalism

24:28 Covering Climate Now Initiative

30:02 Senator Eric Schmidt's Speech Analysis

32:59 Nationalism and American Identity

34:27 Fascist Ideologies and Historical Context

37:26 Media's Role in Shaping Nationalism

39:30 Climate Change and Political Narratives

47:26 Global Perspectives on Climate Journalism

51:37 Apocalyptic Imagery in Modern Politics

54:09 Influences and Future Directions


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1 month ago
1 hour 1 minute

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
EXCLUSIVE: Climate Heat Killed More People Than Murder in European City over 50 Years - Study

Get all the bonus material, show notes and more - and go ad-free - at wickedproblems.earth!


Unraveling the Impact of Climate Change on Zurich: Analyzing 50 Years of Data | Wicked Problems


In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan explores a groundbreaking study from researchers at Oxford Smith School's Sustainable Law Program and beyond. Joined by Dr. Rupert Stuart-Smith, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, they dive into the first-of-its-kind research examining climate change's impact on heat-related mortality in Zurich from 1969 to 2018. Discover how attribution science links global warming to nearly 1700 deaths in Zurich, the role of adaptation measures, and the growing importance of climate attribution in legal contexts. This sobering analysis offers a stark look at the real human costs of climate change and the urgent need for action.


00:00 Introduction: Zurich and Climate Change

00:31 Welcome to Wicked Problems

00:35 The Impact of Climate Change on Zurich

01:34 Introducing Dr. Rupert Stuart Smith

02:11 Study Findings: Heat-Related Mortality in Zurich

02:25 Methodology and Data Analysis

05:33 Surprising Results and Implications

14:16 Adaptation Measures and Their Effectiveness

16:31 Legal and Political Implications

18:22 The Role of Attribution Science in Courts

23:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


Also find us now at Patreon to support our work.


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1 month ago
25 minutes 50 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Tipping Points. They're not all bad. w/Steve Smith of Exeter's Global Systems Institute

Bonus content and show notes at wickedproblems.earth


Understanding Climate Tipping Points With Stephen Smith | Wicked Problems Climate Tech Conversations


In this episode of Wicked Problems Climate Tech Conversations, host Richard Delevan dives into the pivotal and pressing subject of climate tipping points with guest Stephen Smith. They discuss the warnings from the recent Global Tipping Points Conference in Exeter, where nearly 200 scientists urged immediate action to prevent irreversible climate changes. The conversation explores both negative and positive climate tipping points, the challenges policymakers face in addressing them, and the importance of storytelling in climate advocacy. Stephen Smith also highlights the potential of renewable energy and the steps needed to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the critical actions required to address the climate crisis and the hopeful pathways forward.


00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:26 Urgent Climate Crisis Call

01:29 Understanding Tipping Points

03:44 Negative Tipping Points

04:18 Positive Tipping Points

05:12 Policy Makers and Tipping Points

06:02 Interruption and Resumption

07:03 Immediate Action Required

11:20 Real-World Example: Tuvalu

14:16 Challenges in Policy Making

17:21 Positive Social Tipping Points

18:54 Renewable Energy Revolution

22:12 Barriers to Change

27:54 Accelerating Positive Change

35:10 Hope and Final Thoughts


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2 months ago
39 minutes 52 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Does Broken Britain Crave Chaos? w/Ed Hodgson, More in Common

Will Nigel Farage's Reform party succeed in demonising climate action? Or will adaptation change the conversation? Are the Tories cooked? And does Gaza create an opening big enough for Jeremy Corbyn's new party to cut into Labour support?


Richard Delevan talks to More in Common's Ed Hodgson about Shattered Britain, how Britain's "Tribes" will shape the future - and why you need to understand them if effective climate communicators are going to win.


Get all the bonus content and ad-free listening at wickedproblems.earth.


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3 months ago
50 minutes 57 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Climate Science is now International Law

Get other content and the newsletter at wickedproblems.earth.


Climate Justice: ICJ's Historic Ruling and Its Global Impact


In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delavan is joined by Professor Elizabeth Holland from Brown University to discuss a historic advisory opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ruling, initiated by Pacific Island students, declares climate science as a binding element under customary international law, obligating states to take stronger climate action. Elizabeth shares insights from her role as a science negotiator for Palau and the significance of the court's ruling for vulnerable nations and future generations. This episode also features voices from those who played pivotal roles in making this judgment a reality, emphasizing the binding nature of climate obligations and the need for continuous global cooperation.


00:00 Introduction: Climate Science as Law

00:16 The Court's Advisory Opinion

00:54 Human Impact and Cultural Struggles

01:14 End of Impunity and Legal Obligations

02:03 Interview with Professor Elizabeth Holland

02:43 Reactions to the ICJ Ruling

05:22 The Role of Small Island States

05:50 Challenges in Climate Negotiations

08:01 Legal Frameworks and Obligations

09:43 Implications for the United States

12:33 Personal Reflections and Contributions

14:34 Celebrating the Youth Movement

18:17 Art and Culture in Climate Advocacy

21:21 Generational Promises and Songs

26:38 Conclusion and Call to Action


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3 months ago
45 minutes 32 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Climate is a National Security Issue w/Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti

For full show notes, bonus content, and ad-free experience go to wickedproblems.earth!


The Intersection of Climate Change and National Security with Rear Admiral Neil: A Deep Dive


In this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan speaks with Rear Admiral Neil, former Royal Navy officer and current Professor of Climate and Resource Security at UCL, about the growing recognition that climate change is a strategic challenge impacting national security. They discuss the expanded definition of national security to include climate adaptation, various international and interdisciplinary efforts to mitigate climate impact, and how the military is adapting its strategies. The conversation covers past and present policies, the importance of societal involvement, and the role of technological advancements. Rear Admiral Neil emphasizes the need for strategic, long-term solutions, cooperation across sectors, and raises concerns about the potential for a significant crisis to wake global leadership from complacency.


00:00 Introduction to Climate Change and Security

00:26 Guest Introduction: Rear Admiral Neil

00:57 National Security and Climate Change

02:06 Impact of Climate Change on Society

03:49 Military's Role and Adaptation

04:44 Evolving Conversations on Climate Policy

09:48 Technological Innovations in the Military

19:02 International Cooperation and Policy

24:49 Challenges and Future Prospects

31:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts


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3 months ago
34 minutes 3 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Jenny Chase - Will Cheap Solar Kill The Grid?

Get full shownotes and bonus content and go ad-free at wickedproblems.earth!


In this episode, two parts:


Jenny Chase, a solar market analyst at BNF, about the dramatic rise of solar power in Pakistan. Despite scant government support, Pakistan has rapidly adopted solar energy, moving from importing a few gigawatts of solar modules in 2022 to becoming one of the largest markets. This development has led to economic and infrastructural challenges, such as grid reliability and pricing issues, and raises important questions about the future of energy systems globally.


The episode also features a conversation with Australia-based climate journalist Royce Kurmelovs, who writes for Drilled and Reneweconomy as well as many others, about a recent significant legal ruling in Australia where indigenous Torres Strait Islanders sued the government over climate change threats to their homeland. While the court recognized climate change as an existential threat, it ruled against the plaintiffs due to current legal limitations, highlighting the ongoing legal and moral challenges in climate responsibility.


00:00 Introduction to Pakistan's Solar Energy Surge

00:09 Global Perspectives and Future Trends

00:33 Australia's Energy Ambitions vs. Reality

02:24 Unreported Solar Installations in Pakistan

03:37 Economic Implications of Solar Adoption

04:49 Government Contracts and Energy Prices

16:07 Global Perspectives and Future Trends

19:39 Discussion on Pakistan's Progress

19:44 Jenny Chase's Upcoming Leave

20:41 Introduction to Climate Cases in Australia

21:42 Details of the Torres Strait Case

23:29 Impacts on Torres Strait Islands

25:14 Legal and Cultural Implications

28:37 Global Context and Comparisons

40:42 Australia's Climate Policy and Politics


Follow Jenny:

🔗 solarchase.bsky.social

🔗 Jenny Chase on LinkedIn


🌐 Follow Royce:

“Court agrees climate change is real, but throws out Torres Strait Islanders’ claim anyway” (RenewEconomy)

Also check out his most recent book: Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil

🔗 roycerk2.bsky.social


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3 months ago
50 minutes 15 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Climate Change Is Waking Up Volcanoes. Yes, Really.

Get bonus content & full show notes at wickedproblems.earth

Thick ice caps topping some dormant volcanoes may be acting like a champagne cork. Research released earlier this month suggests that by speeding up the melt of those ice caps through human-caused climate change, we’re removing the foil and the little wire cage on some trapped liquid that will taste a bit more acidic than champagne when it gets out as the cork tries to free itself.

Bob Berwyn has reported for a decade for Inside Climate News - the OG climate outlet that in 2015 broke the story of the biggest corporate scandal in history: a nine-part investigative series demonstrating how much #ExxonKnew about the effects that burning oil and other fossil fuels would have on the future climate, and then doing everything in its power to prevent anyone from stopping it.

Bob’s piece on the volcano research stopped me in my tracks. As he said in this conversation:

“the most profound thing about a study like this volcano study … is how profoundly we're changing fundamental parts of the global Earth system. I mean, we're sitting here talking about things like, ‘wow, could our activities actually cause more volcanoes?’ I mean, just the fact that we're asking this question is, ‘wow, what have we done?’ You know?”


In This Conversation

01:33 Scientific Insights on Volcanic Activity

05:20 Challenges in Climate Research

12:09 Global Climate Negotiations

20:12 Heatwaves and Public Health

23:54 Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

24:36 The Reality of Heat Waves and Their Deadly Impact

26:13 The Political Project Against Climate Science

27:07 Social Science and Climate Action

28:58 The Anti-Autocracy Handbook for Scientists

31:02 Free Speech and Authoritarianism

34:25 The Role of Legal Obligations in Climate Justice

37:05 Public Perception and Managed Retreat

40:37 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Stories

Keep Up With Bob

Bob is an essential follow on BlueSky, and his journalism for Inside Climate News does not quit. Here are links to just some of the stories we touched on:

Melting Ice Caps Could Bring Dormant Volcanoes to Life

Human-Caused Global Warming Spiked the Death Toll of Europe’s Early Summer Heatwave

New Handbook Aims to Protect Scientists From Autocratic Threats

Bonn Climate Talks Rife With Roadblocks and Dead Ends


If you think these conversations are worth listening to, share them with a friend or make an offering to the volcano gods to spare your town.


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3 months ago
45 minutes 36 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Climate has changed. For many, it's now move - or die. w/Gaia Vince

In this Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations, we’re joined by Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century, a landmark work on climate-driven migration. From the existential realities of climate displacement to the politics of denial and adaptation, it’s about what happens when we stop pretending everyone will stay where they are.

It Bad

Last week, a catastrophic flood hit Kerr County, Texas. 30 cm of rain—four months' worth—fell in hours. The Guadalupe River rose 8 metres in under an hour, swamping the area around Camp Mystic. Over 90 are dead, many of them young girls at the camp. Some are still missing.

Cue the blame game. Officials who refused to fund early warning systems claimed the event was unpredictable. Trump-era cuts had gutted the National Weather Service, yet some still pointed fingers at the agency. Others called it karmic justice or MAGA-targeted weather warfare. Conspiracy theorists went further, blaming imaginary geoengineering attacks. Marjorie Taylor-Greene tweeted: “We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering.”

Right-wing extremists, already attacking Doppler radar sites, turn tragedy into paranoia. In past hurricanes, conspiracy-fueled threats forced rescue crews to withdraw.Rapid attribution studies confirm what should be obvious: climate change makes these once-rare floods far more likely.

OK Doomer

In a now-notorious quote, Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki said “it’s too late.” Critics pounced, accusing him of defeatism. But, as we discuss with Gaia Vince, the real issue isn’t optimism vs pessimism—it’s whether we’re brave enough to face what’s actually happening.

After decades in media and PR, I can tell when people are dodging the truth—even for good reasons. In climate comms, there’s a lot of that. But we try something different here: saying what we think is true, even if it’s hard to hear.

On the Move

Gaia Vince has been writing about climate and migration for over a decade. In Nomad Century, she argues:

  • Migration is a natural response to climate change—always has been.
  • By 2070, up to 3 billion people may need to move as habitable zones shrink.
  • Governments that prepare for this now will fare better than those that deny it.

The book isn’t dystopian; it’s clear-eyed and pragmatic. It insists we have a choice: chaos, or planned adaptation.

In This Conversation

01:54 Climate Change’s Global Reach

04:24 The Reality of Climate Migration

09:24 Political Responses to Climate Change

10:44 Economic Implications and Adaptation

21:57 Innovative Solutions and Future Outlook

26:10 Australia and Tuvalu

27:06 UN, Sovereignty, and Vanishing Nations

29:00 Climate Refugees

30:05 Early Agreements

30:56 Adaptation and Relocation

34:21 Facing the Climate Reality

46:55 Can Global Governance Step Up?

Get the Book

Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval remains one of the most honest, practical guides to climate adaptation out there. Listen to the conversation—and get the book.

Tips, Bribes, and Abuse

Guest idea? Want to help us do more of this? Or just dying to tell us how crap we are? Reach out on Bluesky or email us at info@wickedproblems.uk—and maybe stand us a pint.


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4 months ago
53 minutes 39 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Abundance v Activism at London Climate Week (w Yasmine Abdu, Michael Spiekermann, Charles Perry)

Get bonus content and notes at wickedproblems.earth.

Is the “Abundance” discourse - and you can fit most iterations of it in a spectrum from Aaron Bastani and Zohran Mamdani to Ezra Klein to Elon Musk - an inspiring vision of the future or a dangerous delusion? Is insisting on “limits” just realism or is it pathological pessimism? And where does climate tech fit into all that?

We think the answers to these questions are kind of important. So we were excited to talk it through onstage at Extreme Hangout during London Climate Action Week at Ladbroke Hall; with climate tech entrepreneur Yasmine Abdu, co-founder of Fridays for the Future Michael Spiekermann, and BP exec to sustainability strategist Charles Perry.

Enjoy!

Wicked Problems is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

02:27 Michael Speakman's Journey from Activism to Policy

03:36 Yasin Abdu's Carbon Track Initiative

04:51 Discussion on Abundance vs. Limits

15:19 Charles Perry on the Stellar Vision

24:30 Debating the Future of Energy and Policy

28:18 Reconciling System Change and Longevity

28:44 Building an Ecosystem of Corporate Support

29:39 Avoiding Venture Capital for Mission-Driven Impact

30:58 Choosing Entrepreneurship Over Activism

32:18 The Power of Bottom-Up Movements

37:31 Identifying the Villain in Climate Narratives

50:29 Hope and the Global Sustainability Revolution

52:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

All the Outros

Many thanks to our panel and our partners at Extreme Hangout for bringing us on to their stage!


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4 months ago
55 minutes 16 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Why, yes. I AM thinking about the Roman Empire. With Solitaire Townsend.

Get all the show notes and bonus content at wickedproblems.earth!

How am I gonna be an optimist about this? This conversation’s official exit music is from Bastille. But stick around for a twist.

Turns out it’s not just men who think about the Roman Empire.

Polymath raconteuse Solitaire Townsend - sustainability consultant, co-founder of Futerra, UN envoy, award-winning author of the non-fiction The Solutionists - wasn’t just thinking about Rome. She’s wondering, ‘what if I combine some Roman Empire stuff with climate fiction in an alt-history universe in a novel featuring a kick-arse heroine?’ And gets herself a two-book deal.

Pre-order Godstorm from our Bookshop.org site or wherever you get good books.

Wicked Problems is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As a cli-fi/alt-history nerd with shelves stuffed with riffs on Rome from Gibbon to Mary Beard with stops for Asimov’s Foundation series, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be the first to introduce Solitaire Townsend as “novelist” on a podcast.

We talk about her turn to fiction, why now, why the alt-history genre, kick around ideas about alt-history from Philip K. Dick to Star Trek (with some Ursula le Guin because why not), and how she deploys the form to tell a cautionary tale about a world that could have been a lot worse off in its climate breakdown — where Rome never fell, because of the 2nd-century CE invention of the combustion engine.

As Solitaire says, if we started burning oil under Marcus Aurelius, climate change would have started much sooner. The warming and rising seas fuel extreme weather events called “God-storms”, caused - according to the Imperial version of Fox News - by lack of piety.

Most of that is in the background only creating the more personal, intimate world in which her characters struggle - including a gladatrix-turned-governess seeking to rescue her charge from nefarious clutches and kicking serious arse along the way.


In Conversation

00:28 First Podcast as a Novelist

00:56 Pitching 'Godstorm'

02:18 Background and Career of Solitaire Townsend

02:37 Solitaire, Sustainability Caesaris

04:01 Nonfiction Writing Journey

05:49 Role of Storytelling in Social Change

07:22 Transition to Fiction Writing

08:14 Discovering a Passion for Writing

10:24 Exploring Alternate History

14:05 Speculative Fiction and Personal Interests

17:26 Themes and Inspirations for 'God Storm'

20:14 Character Development and Empathy

22:14 Reflections on Ursula Le Guin and Sci-Fi

27:21 Conclusion and Book Pre-Order Information

Pre-order Godstorm from our Bookshop.org site.

Exit Music



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4 months ago
33 minutes 22 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
The Long Heat (with Wim Carton)

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In 2024, Wim Carton and Andreas Malm released Overshoot - How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown. It was praised and critiqued in various quarters - but we included it in our books of the year because it’s a) beautifully written - with plenty of lateral-thought LOLs and b) was perfectly timed to come out just as the data was increasingly at odds with the “Keep 1.5 Alive” stuff of “incantatory governance” - the magical thinking that seems to be a really complicated way of avoiding some obvious, but difficult, choices. But Overshoot was just the first half of a 2-parter.

In the final part, out in October, The Long Heat - Climate Politics When It’s Too Late, Carton and Malm take up the challenge about what to do about it. Will adaptation, carbon dioxide removals, and geoengineering be topics seriously engaged with? Or will they just be a new version of finding ways to avoid the fossil fuels “stranded assets” conversation we’ve avoided having for 35 years of climate politics?

In this conversation, we spend a lot of time talking about carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, revealing their roots in extending fossil fuel use, and argues for the necessity of political change to make meaningful progress.

But we ended up in an unexpected place. The book, surprisingly to me when I read it, concludes (however reluctantly) that CDR is going to be necessary. But that it needs to be decoupled from a system full of perverse incentives and moral hazard on meth and towards a re-framing of CDR as a public good.

What’s in the Conversation

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

00:17 Host Introduction and Upcoming Events

02:27 Guest Introduction: Wim Carton

04:48 Discussing 'Overshoot' and Climate Politics

06:13 The Role of Fossil Fuel Companies

16:38 Adaptation Strategies and Challenges

18:43 Technological Solutions and Their Limits

20:07 Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

20:51 The Concept of Negative Magic

21:41 Problematizing Reversibility

22:43 Political Economy of Carbon Dioxide Removal

24:08 Klaus Lachner and Carbon Removal

28:05 Startups and the Political Economy

31:07 Challenges in Carbon Removal Market

35:36 The Role of the State in Carbon Removal

40:12 Concluding Thoughts and Future Discussions


Get the Books

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Come get em at our Bookshop.org shop!

Next episode out very soon is with Solitaire Townsend - talking about her debut novel - a cli-fi/alt-history/Roman-Empire mashup - Godstorm. What if Rome invented the combustion engine, so it never fell?


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4 months ago
44 minutes 16 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations
Covering climate in India (with Rishika Pardikar)

Full show notes/bonus content at wickedproblems.earth


Join host Richard Delevan on Wicked Problems as he engages in a compelling conversation with Indian journalist Rishika Pardikar. They discussed Rishika's extensive work covering environmental and land rights issues in India, including her stories from the coalfields of Central India and the impacts of major development projects on tribal lands. Rishika shares insights into India's complex climate and energy landscape, the challenges of effective climate reporting, and the cultural intricacies of her homeland. And what Western climate narratives keep getting wrong about India - and what they might learn by listening to voices like Rishika's.


00:58 Meet Rashika Kar: Environmental Journalist

01:47 Rishika's Journey into Environmental Reporting

02:21 Land Rights and Tribal Communities

03:24 Mega Projects on Tribal Lands

05:06 Challenges in Reporting from India

11:56 India's Coal Belt and Energy Transition

16:59 The Future of Energy in India

22:51 The Efficiency of Indian Appliances

24:00 The Politics of Climate Science

24:36 Challenges in India's Forecasting Capabilities

27:54 The Intersection of Religion and Science

28:53 Controversial Studies and Their Implications

32:01 The Role of Journalism in Climate Action

36:36 India's Climate Action Plans

40:10 Future Reporting and Closing Thoughts


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Show more...
4 months ago
42 minutes 47 seconds

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

A show about climate and climate tech: the intersection of technology and capital, people and politics, that will shape the future, and whether you'd want to live in it.


Host Richard Delevan is normally trapped in the UK, but with a global view - featuring guests from VC/PE, startups, scaleups, corporates, media, and beyond.


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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.