50 Shades of Green: A Climate Group Podcast

We’re looking at climate jobs - specifically how the concept of a green job has evolved across various industries and how governments and the private sector have adapted to changing labor circumstances in the energy transition. First, Climate Group’s Executive Director for North America Angela Barranco joins with Maggie Thomas, Special Assistant to the President for Climate at the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy for the inside scoop on what to expect from some new federal labor initiatives like the American Climate Corps. Then, guest correspondent Liisa Kaufman, our Senior Manager of North America Industry, speaks to Climate Group CEO Helen Clarkson and Pete Rose, Senior Director of Stakeholder Relations at Hydro Quebec, to discuss how new climate jobs are shaping the transition to net zero.   

In this episode, we take a deep dive into COP28 – what does this iteration of the UN’s annual climate conference mean for the future of climate action? First, we join with join with Champa Patel, Executive Director of Governments and Policy at Climate Group to give us a recap of the conference and provide insight on the role of NGOs and subnational stakeholders in the decision-making process. Then, we speak to John Morton, Managing Director, and Head of Americas at Pollination Group, a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, to discuss the role of climate finance in shaping the global transition to net zero.  

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we’re bringing together some of the top minds in media and advertising to explore the role of marketing, entertainment, and journalism in shaping positive climate action and understanding. We speak to Chuck Monn, Creative Director at Go Humans and former Executive Creative Director of Apple’s Media Arts Lab, about the power of messaging and branding on climate action.   Climate Group’s Adam Lake then dives the impact of some of the most influential print and broadcast media on covering climate change. He sits down with Shyla Raghav, Chief Climate Officer of TIME, and Steve Bodow, former Executive Producer and Showrunner of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj and The Daily Show, to explore the intersections and parallels between print and entertainment, and if these forms of media have the power to change the world. 

Networks like Climate Group's ⁠Under2 Coalition⁠ and ⁠Regions4⁠ are making significant progress to accelerate climate action at the local level. In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, we speak with Nehmat Kaur, Head of Under2 at Climate Group, and Héloïse Chicou, Climate Action Lead at Regions4, to discuss the latest advancements, achievements, and challenges facing subnational climate governance ahead of COP28.

In the latest episode of 50 Shades of Green, Climate Group's Adam Lake joins with Dr. Jeffrey Shaman, Interim Dean of the Columbia Climate School and Joshua Amponsem, Strategy Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund, to explore the connection between climate change and human health, and the interdisciplinary policy solutions needed to address this linkage in a just and equitable way. Check out the Climate Week NYC website to learn more about all of our wonderful community partners and stay engaged with all of the events happening September 17-24.

In episode seven, we hear from Climate Group Head of Communications for North America, Adam Lake, and Secretary of the New York City Agriculture Collective, Sarah JanJua, as they discuss the current state of food security in the city and how we can drive progress toward a more equitable future.

In episode 6, we join with Climate Group Executive Director for North America Angela Barranco and Christine Harada, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council (FPISC), to discuss the most pressing climate issue facing the US today: implementation of key climate investment laws like the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In episode 5 we join together with Anna Wong, Manager of Zero Emission Vehicle Regulations at the California Air Resources Board, and Terry Niemeier Director of Electric Vehicles at the Government of New South Wales, to dive into the varying electric vehicle policy landscapes in the US and Australia. Both California and New South Wales are members of the ZEV Community Project. ZEV Community brings together all levels of governments to share and learn about exciting ZEV (zero emission vehicle) initiatives taking place around the world.

We're closing out the year at Climate Group and 50 Shades of Green with reflections on COP27 from Jebi Rahman, Head of Climate Transparency and Pathways at Climate Group, and a year of climate progress Rhiannon Williams, our North America Communications Manager

In episode 3, we cover some amazing highlights from Climate Week NYC and talk sustainable food with Joy Lehman from Meatless Monday. 

Episode two of 50 Shades of Green highlights several Climate Week NYC events at the intersection of climate action and the arts and features a conversation with Emily Bice, playwright and creator of before the flood. To register for these wonderful events, go to climateweeknyc.org. For more information and tickets to before the flood, go to beforethefloodplay.com.

Our inaugural episode highlights some amazing events focused on the theme of environmental justice and features an engaging conversation with Diandra Marizet Esparza, Executive Director of Intersectional Environmentalist. Learn more about the amazing work IE is doing in the environmental justice movement and follow along on their Instagram @intersectionalenvironmentalist.