Fossil vs Future

Roughly one-third of all food produced is never eaten. Beyond the financial and social costs, food waste is also a major driver of climate change. When we waste food, we waste the land, water, and energy used to produce it, and as it decomposes, it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.In this episode, James and Daisy explore the causes and consequences of food waste, sharing their experiences with organisations fighting the problem. Why do we waste so much food? What are the impacts? And what solutions are there?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Project Drawdown: Identifies reducing food loss and waste as one of the largest climate solutions across all sectors. The Felix Project: London’s largest food redistribution charity, rescuing high quality, surplus food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to over 1,200 community organisations.FoodCycle: Reduces loneliness, food poverty and food waste by cooking nutritious meals from surplus food at volunteer-run hubs. OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:Winnow: Provides AI-powered food waste monitors and digital scales in professional kitchens, giving detailed data analytics to help chefs and managers cut waste.  WEF (2022): Reports on how heatwaves and droughts have resulted in oddly shaped crops of fruit and vegetables.Tesco (2020): During the pandemic, egg demand rose 30%, prompting Tesco to sell white eggs for the first time since the 1980s. Tesco: In 2013, Tesco became the first retailer to publicly report on food waste in its own operations.PVM: At least 60% of the surface of a Pink Lady® apple must be covered by a pink blush.Oddbox: Works with growers to rescue the “too odd” and “too many” at risk of going to waste, delivering boxes of farm-fresh fruit and veg to households. Too Good To Go: The world's largest marketplace for surplus food – an app that connects consumers with surplus food from stores, cafés, and restaurants at a discount.Olio: A mobile app for sharing by giving away, getting, borrowing or lending things in your community for free, aiming to reduce household and food waste.Mimica (2018): Creator of “Bump”, a temperature-sensitive label that turns bumpy when food actually spoils. Chanzi: Uses Black Solder Fly larvae to convert food waste into nutritious protein for animal feed. SOME FACTS: UNEP (2024): In 2022, households wasted over 1 billion meals a day, while 783 million people were affected by hunger and a third of humanity faced food insecurity.UNEP (2024): Food waste results in the throwing away of more than US$1 trillion worth of food every year. In households alone, each person, on average, wastes more than the average mass of an adult human per year.IPCC (2019): During 2010–2016, global food loss and waste equalled 8–10% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions.Our World in Data (2020): If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of GHGs after China and the US.WRAP (2020): While 81% of people reported being concerned about climate change, only 37% understand how wasted food contributes to it. The Independent (2012): A wrapped cucumber lasts more than three times as long as an unwrapped one. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Democracy literally means “rule by the people” – a system designed to safeguard our collective voice through the creation of laws and institutions. But today, many democratic systems are struggling to respond adequately respond to the wicked problems the world faces, including climate change. Young people, in particular, are losing faith. In this episode, James and Daisy speak about democracy. Why does it matter? Do democratic systems empower us tackle climate change – or slow us down? How might we strengthen democracy?  SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Economist Intelligence Unit (2024) – Only 45% of the world’s population lives in a democracy, 39% under authoritarian rule, and 15% in “hybrid regimes” that combine electoral democracy with authoritarian tendencies.Centre for the Future of Democracy – Globally, millennials are most dissatisfied with democracy, and more so than previous generations at the same stage of life. Furthermore,  young people are most positive about democracy under populist leaders of both left and right. Climate Citizens – A project run out of Lancaster University that wants to transform climate policy from something that happens to people, to something that happens with people.Climate Assembly UK – Over 100+ people from all walks of life and of all shades of opinion met over six weekends in Spring 2020 to discuss how the UK should meet its net zero target by 2050. They heard balanced evidence on the choices the UK faces, discussed them, and made recommendations about what the UK should do.OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:National Geographic – The word “democracy” comes from two Greek words that mean people (demos) and rule (kratos). The first known democracy was in Athens.The Economist (2021) – The Swiss have the most pervasive system of referendums of any country in the world. Referendums are a form of “direct democracy”, in which citizens vote directly on policy questions rather than allowing elected delegates to decide (“representative democracy”). The Guardian (2025) – A majority from Europe’s Gen Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government. Rates of support varied, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%.Ipsos (2024) – Just 37% of 18-to-24 year olds voted at last July’s general election, down from 47% in 2019.GOV.UK – “Modernisation of UK democracy will see 16- and 17-year-olds able to vote in next general election.”CNN (2025) – Leaders of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran gather in Beijing for huge military parade in challenge to the West.UK Parliament – First-past-the-post is a type of electoral system. In the UK it is the system used for the election of MPs to the House of Commons and for some local government elections.UK Parliament – Proportional representation is an electoral system in which the distribution of seats corresponds closely with the proportion of the total votes cast for each party, e.g., if a party gained 40% of the total votes, a perfectly proportional system would allow them to gain 40% of the seats.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

The climate crisis is also a health crisis. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are driving more heat-related deaths, spreading vector-borne diseases, and damaging mental health – impacts that fall hardest on the most vulnerable communities. Framing climate change through the lens of health makes it personal – and the solutions preventative. Clean energy doesn’t just cut carbon; it saves lives by cleaning the air we breathe. Greener cities reduce emissions, protect us from heatwaves, and support our wellbeing. In this episode, James and Daisy explore the urgent connections between climate change and health. How is our health already being affected? How can health risks drive climate action? And what solutions offer the greatest benefits for both people and planet?  SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Outrage + Optimism (2025) – A fantastic podcast episode from Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson exploring why health must be central to climate communication. They are joined by Julia Gillard, Chair of the Wellcome Trust.  Force of Nature – Founded by former Fossil vs Future guest, Clover Hogan, this non-profit provides mental health resources and research on the rise of eco-anxiety.OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:Our World in Data (2024) – “Almost no one has “heat” or “cold” written on their death certificate, but sub-optimal temperatures lead to a large number of premature deaths.”EAT-Lancet Commission (2019) – Proposes a global planetary health diet that is healthy for both people and planet. NY Times (2025) – The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) will stop funding research on the health effects of climate change.NY Times (2025) – With 59% of its revenue coming from federal and external sponsors, Harvard’s School of Public Health faces what has been called an “existential crisis.”Smart Surfaces Coalition – Promotes the adoption of green, porous, and reflective surfaces to enable cities to decrease urban heat, save money, reduce flooding risk, and strengthen urban liveability, resilience, and equity.City of Barcelona – Offers a publicly available map of climate shelters across the city. Wellcome – Showcases climate solutions with health co-benefits, such as protecting forests in Indonesia by meeting community needs. CNN (2023) – Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, once called air conditioning “the greatest invention of the 20th century” and credited it for helping to transform the island. Verv – An AI-based smart home product that allows remote control of HVAC units, switching to standby, setting temperature points, and programming set points.NHS & UNHSA (2025) – Partnered with the UK Met Office to integrate climate science and modelling into health impact assessments and launch an impact-based Weather-Health Alerting System.SOME FACTS: WHO (2023): 37% of heat-related deaths can be linked to human-induced climate change, and heat-related deaths among people over 65 have risen by 70% in just the last two decades.Imperial (2020): Changing temperature and rainfall across Africa could increase yellow fever deaths by up to 25% by 2050.UNEP (2023): Air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to public health globally and accounts for more than 8 million premature deaths every year.The Lancet (2021): A survey of 10,000 young people (aged 16-25 years) in 10 countries found that 59% were “very or extremely worried” about climate change, and 84% were at least moderately worried. LSE (2024): The UK experienced five heatwave periods during summer 2022 with record-breaking temperatures of over 40°C in England.NHS: During summer 2022’s record breaking temperatures, England experienced an estimated 2,803 excess deaths.World Bank (2024): A changing climate could lead to excess health costs in low- and middle-income countries of at least US$21 trillion by 2050, equivalent to approximately 1.3% of their projected GDP.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the world’s highest court – has issued its long-awaited advisory opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. The Court confirmed that States have a legal duty to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions, for both present and future generations. In this episode, Daisy asks James, an international environmental law expert, what this ruling really means – and why it matters. What exactly is an advisory opinion? How might it shape decision making? What happens next? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: ICJ (2025) – The Court’s Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, requested by the UN General Assembly in 2023. It was asked to advise on two questions: (1) What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations? (2) What are the legal consequences for States under these obligations when they cause harm to the environment?Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC) – A youth-led organisation that initiated the push for an ICJ advisory opinion on climate change.  OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:Carbon Brief (2025) – Provides an overview of what the world court’s landmark opinion means for climate change. Financial Times (2025) – Philippe Sands calls the ruling a “coming of age” moment for writing environmental protection into the international legal order.Outrage + Optimism (2025) – In this podcast episode, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson react to the advisory opinion and hear from two lawyers who helped make it happen. ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (1996) – Paragraph 29 recognised a state’s obligation to respect the global environment.Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS) – An intergovernmental organization representing small island nations on climate issues.Stop Ecocide International – Leading the movement to make ecocide a crime.The Guardian (2025) – A fact check of Trump’s claims about “windmills” (wind turbines). Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Sport inspires, builds communities, promotes healthy lifestyles, and brings joy to millions around the world. But while sport is a powerful force for good, it is both a contributor to – and a victim of – climate change. In this episode, James and Daisy explore the intersection of sport and climate change. How does sport contribute to climate change? In what ways is climate change already affecting sport? How can sport drive meaningful climate action?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Forest Green Rovers – Officially recognised in 2017 as the world’s first vegan football club and widely considered the greenest football club globally.  World Economic Forum (2024) – An overview of how climate change is affecting sports, including how the Paris 2024 Olympics balanced athlete performance with safety. OTHER ADVOCATES AND RESOURCES:Forbes (2025) – Examines how the Women’s Euro 2025 is balancing growth, sustainability and climate risk. Switzerland has secured second-class travel for all ticketholders on match days and added 400 extra trains to ensure reliability.Cricket for Climate – Founded by Australian cricket captain, Pat Cummins, to use cricket as a platform to fight climate change. The Next Test – A hub for climate concerned cricket players, clubs, and fans. Sport England (2025) – Chairman Chris Boardman has called for a ‘mindset shift’ on climate change and announced a new multi-million-pound fund to create the ‘world’s greenest sports industry’. Arsenal (2018) – Installed a large-scale battery storage system capable of powering the Emirates Stadium for an entire match. Formula E – An all-electric, single-seater motorsport series. Healthy Waters Alliance – A joint initiative between World Rowing and WWF to protect freshwater ecosystems.  SOME FACTS: “Sportswashing” – The practice of an organization, a government, etc. supporting sport or organizing sports events as a way to improve its reputation.European Climate Pact (2024) – The 2016 Rio Olympics released 3.6 million tons of CO2, while the 2018 Russia World Cup released 2.16 million tons – equivalent to the emissions of 465,000+ cars on the road for a year. BBC (2025) – Next year's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico is set to be "the most climate-damaging" in the tournament's history, driven by air travel and a significant increase in the number of matches. European Climate Pact (2024) – Half of the former Winter Olympic host cities could be unable to sponsor winter games by 2050, due to a lack of snow and ice.BBC (2023) – The Alps in northwest Switzerland experienced temperatures of 20.9C over Christmas and New Year.New Scientist (2024) – By 2100, one in eight ski resorts worldwide could have no snow.Green Football – 100,000 tonnes of sportswear ends up in UK landfills annually – enough for 2,500 pieces per person in a packed Wembley stadium. The Guardian (2025) – Tennis fans faced the hottest start to Wimbledon on record this year as temperatures soared to 32C.US Open (2018) – The US Tennis Association implemented an ‘extreme heat policy’ to allow players periodic breaks during high temperatures.ScienceNews (2023) – Climate change has caused more than 500 home runs since 2010. World Athletics (2022) – 75% of athletes have experienced a direct negative impact from climate change on their health and performance.Rapid Transition Alliance (2020) – One in three British Open golf courses will be damaged by rising sea levels.Politico (2016) – Trump tried to build a sea wall to protect one of his golf courses from “global warming and its effects.”Olympics (2024) – The Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 achieved a 54.6% reduction in carbon emissions compared to previous editions. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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 m...

Demography is the study of human populations, while demographics refer to the characteristics of a population like age, gender, ethnicity, income, education, health. These traits both influence – and are influenced by – the climate crisis. In this episode, James and Daisy speak with John Elkington, a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable capitalism. Together they explore the role demographics play in shaping our climate future. What role do older generations play in shaping – or resisting – climate action? Will immigration become the main driver of population growth? How should demographic shifts inform climate solutions?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Rewilding Markets – John Elkington’s blog on how we can design - and redesign - markets to meet tomorrow's needs.Hannah Ritchie (2025) – A data-led blog showing that while the generational divide in belief and concern about climate change is small, the differences are slightly greater when it comes to views on how to address it.Project Drawdown – Family planning and education could reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by nearly 70 gigatons by 2050.Our World in Data – In 1800, the global population was 1 billion. It’s now over 8 billion. The UN projects that the global population will peak in 2086 at just over 10.4 billion people.OTHER ADVOCATESAND RESOURCES:Green Swans (2020) – John Elkington’s twentieth book, a manifesto for system change designed to serve people, planet, and prosperity.IPAT Equation – I = P × A × T – Developed by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren in 1972 to describe how impact (I) or environmental change is a function of population size (P), affluence (A), and technology (T).The Conduit (2025) – By 2050, Spain will have 8 million fewer working-age people, so it is issuing work permits to 900,000 undocumented migrants. The Bank of Spain estimated that immigration contributed a fifth of the near 3% GDP growth between 2022 and 2024.BBC (2019) – France spends more public money on families than any other OECD country. Its benefits include a ‘birth grant’ of around €950, followed by monthly child benefit and diverse family allowances, income tax reductions and state-subsidised day-care.BBC (2024) – A 2021 survey of 10,000 people aged 16 to 25 found that more than 40% of respondents in Australia, Brazil, India and the Philippines said climate change made them hesitant about having children. In France, Portugal, the UK and the US the figure was between 30% and 40%. In Nigeria it was 23%.Ingka Young Leaders Forum – A global youth advisory council where Ingka Group's senior decision-makers and the Young Leaders Forum members co-create actionable and transformational strategies together. Ingka Group is the largest IKEA franchisee. edie (2021) – At COP26, the Body Shop explored how a youth council could ensure that younger generations had their voices and issues heard by decision makers.SOME FACTS: United Nations (2017) – The population of Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the United States by about 2050, at which point it would become the third largest country in the world.UN ECA (2024) – Globally, more than 1 in 4 people will be African in 2050, from 1 in 11 in 1960.European Commission (2023) – By 2060, Europeans over the age of 65 could account for 39% of the region’s total emissions.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

The ocean is essential to life on Earth – regulating climate, producing oxygen, providing food and livelihoods, and supporting ecosystems. But it's in trouble. Today, it faces a triple crisis: overfishing, pollution, and climate change.In this episode, James and Daisy dive deep into the ocean’s role in climate stability. Why is ocean protection critical to solving the climate crisis? What were the key takeaways from the UN Ocean Conference? Can the ocean itself be part of the solution?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Ocean with David Attenborough – A stunning documentary highlighting both the beauty of the sea and the alarming ways human activity is depleting its resources.Ellen MacArthur Foundation – In 2005, Ellen MacArthur became the fastest person to sail solo around the world. Five years later, she founded the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The Foundation warns that by 2050, oceans will contain more plastic than fish by weight.UN (2025) – The Nice Ocean Action Plan is a two-part framework that comprises a political declaration and over 800 voluntary commitments by governments, scientists, UN agencies, and civil society to protect the ocean. OTHER ADVOCATESAND RESOURCES:High Seas Treaty – Covers nearly two-thirds of the ocean that lies beyond national jurisdictions. Once ratified, this treaty will help close critical regulatory gaps and guide international cooperation on ocean protection. Law of the Sea Convention (1982) – An international treaty that established a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities, including navigation rights, territorial waters, and deep-sea mining.30 x 30 – A global campaign to protect 30% of the Earth's land and ocean by 2030. It's a key target of the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022.The Precautionary Principle – A decision-making approach that emphasizes taking preventative measures when there's a reasonable possibility of harm, even if scientific evidence is not fully conclusive.Dark Oxygen – At depths of 5km, where no sunlight can penetrate, oxygen appears to be produced by naturally occurring metallic “nodules” which split seawater - H2O - into hydrogen and oxygen.Blue Economy – Refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and ocean ecosystem health. While widely used, the term lacks a universally agreed definition.Notpla – A biodegradable alternative to plastic made from seaweed.International Whaling Commission (IWC) – Established in 1946 as the global body responsible for management of whaling and conservation of whales.Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – A non-profit organisation which aims to set standards for sustainable fishing.The White House (2025) - The Trump administration signed an executive order to accelerate deep-sea mining in both U.S. and international waters.Arnold Schwarzenegger (2025) – Speaking at the Austrian World Summit, he called for unified global action to combat pollution and safeguard the planet.SOME FACTS: UNESCO (2022) – The ocean covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface and holds over 97% of its water. Phytoplankton, a tiny marine plant that lives on the ocean’s surface, produces, through photosynthesis, roughly 50-80% of the oxygen we breathe.LSE (2023) – The ocean contributes to climate regulation by absorbing over a quarter of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions and around 90% of excess heat. Without the ocean, the average surface temperature, which is currently around 15°C, would instead be around 50°C.WEF (2020) – The annual gross marine product of the oceans totals $2.5 trillion per year - which would make it the eighth largest economy, in country terms.BBC (2025) – Bottom trawling or dredging is currently allowed in 90% of the UK's Marine Protected Areas. BBC (2025) – Over 2,000 scientists have recommended to governments that all deep sea exploration be paused whilst further research is carried out; just 0.001% of the seabed has been mapped.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Activism is often defined as the act of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. But in practice, it takes many forms and means different things to different people. For many – especially younger generations – activism isn’t just a choice; it’s a necessity, driven by frustration that conventional approaches have failed. Yet, the effectiveness of more disruptive tactics remains hotly debated. In this episode, James and Daisy sit down with Clover Hogan – a young climate activist who has worked alongside the world’s leading authorities on sustainability, consulted within the boardrooms of Fortune 50 companies, and counselled heads of state. Together, they explore what activism really means today. What misconceptions surround activists? Whose power do you need to create real change? And should everyone be a climate activist? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Force of Nature – A youth non-profit founded in 2019 by Clover Hogan at age 19, focused on mobilising mindsets for climate action.TEDx (2021) – Clover Hogan’s talk, “What to do when climate change feels unstoppable” has almost 2 million views. Change Starts Now: 100 Lessons from a Full-time Changemaker (2025) – A new book by Melati Wijsen, who began campaigning at age 12 to ban plastic bags in Bali.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:The Conduit (2025) – Melati Wijsen led a panel of young climate activists to launch her new book.  Greenpeace (2022) – Volunteers reflect on what activism means to them.  An Inconvenient Truth (2006) – A documentary about former vice president of the United States Al Gore's campaign to educate people on global warming.The Cove (2009) – A documentary that analyses and questions dolphin hunting in Japan.Smart Surfaces Coalition – Committed to the adoption of smart surfaces to enable cities to decrease urban heat, save money, reduce flooding risk, and strengthen urban liveability, resilience, and equity.Doughnut Economics (2017) – Kate Raworth describes a cutting-edge economic model fit for the 21st century and the establishment of DEAL (Doughnut Economics Action Lab). Future Generations Commissioner for Wales – A pioneering role advocating for the rights of future generations in policymaking.ClientEarth – A non-profit using the power of law to bring about systemic change that protects the Earth. Youth Demand – A youth-led nonviolent civil resistance campaign demanding the UK stops arming Israel and cancels all new oil and gas granted since 2021.Just Stop Oil (JSO) – A UK-based nonviolent civil resistance group that halted its street campaigns in 2025 after achieving its major goals. Rights of Nature – In 2008, Ecuador became the first country to change its constitution to state that nature has the same rights as people.Impossible Foods – A leader in plant-based meat innovation, founded by Pat Brown.John Elkington – A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable capitalism, a bestselling author and serial entrepreneur. Currently, he is Chief Pollinator at Volans.We Don’t Have Time - The largest media platform for climate action, founded by Ingmar Rentzhog. And here is the viral meme created by Elon Musk featuring Clover – discussed in the episode. To learn more about different perspectives on climate activism and how it’s portrayed in the media:Carbon Brief (2024) – Shows that 2023 saw a record number of UK newspapers opposing climate action, almost exclusively from right-leaning titles. Green European Journal (2023) – Explores how the media portray climate activists as “enemies of society”. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Environmental law is the law relating to environmental problems – but these problems are anything but simple. Traditional legal systems weren’t designed with challenges like climate change or biodiversity loss in mind, making this one of the most diverse, evolving, and demanding areas of law today.In this episode, James and Daisy are joined by Philippe Sands KC – a leading international lawyer, professor at UCL and Harvard, and author of East West Street and the recently published 38 Londres Street. Together, they explore the role of international law in protecting the environment. When did international law begin to take environmental issues seriously? Can nature itself have legal rights? What might international environmental law look like for future generations? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Financial Times (2025) – Philippe Sands argues that our planet – not just its people – should have legal rights. “Should Trees Have Standing?” by Christopher Stone (1972) – A landmark law review article that launched the idea of legal rights for nature. LSE (2024) – Analysis of climate change litigation cases in 2023, drawing on the Sabin Center’s Climate Change Litigation Databases. Stop Ecocide International – Leading the movement to make ecocide a crime. Philippe helped draw up the legal definition: “Ecocide" means unlawful or wanton acts committed with knowledge that there is a substantial likelihood of severe and either widespread or long-term damage to the environment being caused by those acts.KEY CASES AND LEGAL CONCEPTS: Chernobyl – The most serious nuclear accident in history. Philippe’s book, Chernobyl: Law and Communication, explores the international legal aftermath of the disaster.ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (1996) – Paragraph 29 recognised a state’s obligation to respect the global environment. A new ICJ advisory opinion on climate change is expected in 2025. Chagos Islands – Philippe has long represented Mauritius in its legal battle against the UK over the Chagos Islands. In 2023, he argued that the UN’s International Telecommunication Union could deem UK-US activities there unlawful.The Gambia vs Myanmar – A landmark ICJ case against Myanmar for violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in relation to the Rohingya Muslims.Red Eagle vs. Colombia – A case involving Colombia’s protection of the pàramos ecosystems from mining. The Special Tribunal on the Crime of Aggression – Proposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, aiming to hold individuals responsible. The proposal followed this article by Philippe.  Montreal Protocol – A successful international treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – An EU carbon tariff on carbon intensive products, such as steel, cement and some electricity. The Law of Sea – Governs maritime conduct and environmental protection beyond national borders.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) – A nonprofit focused on environmental law (founded in 1989). Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law by Ian Brownlie – A foundational text in public international law. Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane – At powerful book on the legal and imaginative rights of nature. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson – A groundbreaking book published in 1962 on the environmental harm caused by the widespread use of pesticides that reshaped environmental policy.   Bill McKibben – An American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming.Thomas Buergenthal – An Auschwitz survivor who became a judge with the UN war crimes court in The Hague. Sir Nicholas Lyell QC – An Attorney General in the John Major government and Conservative MP.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Climate change is increasing the risk of damage from unexpected events such as extreme weather and natural disasters. While steps can be taken to reduce the risk, they can’t eliminate it entirely – that’s where insurance comes in. It allows people to transfer financial risk and protect themselves from financial losses. In this episode, James and Daisy discuss insurance. How is insurance changing with our changing climate? Will certain areas become uninsurable? Can the insurance industry help build a more resilient future?  SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Allianz SE (2025) – Allianz board member, Günther Thallinger, warns that the global financial system is at risk and that escalating extreme weather events could soon make some risks uninsurable. Howden & BCG (2024) – This report highlights insurance as critical to mobilising $10 trillion of committed climate transition investment.David Howden is CEO of Howden and has written extensively about the problem of the insurance protection gap. OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:AXA (2024) – In the 2024 AXA Future Risks Report, climate change is identified as the top risk for both experts and the general public in all international regions surveyed. This marks the third consecutive year that climate change has been ranked as the top global risk by AXA.World Economic Forum (2024) – “Unlike traditional insurance, parametric policies focus on the magnitude of a specific type of an event, with a simple, straightforward payout process.”Environmental Finance (2025) – An innovative wildfire insurance product offers lower premiums and deductibles as incentives for sustainable forest management. AccuWeather (2025) – Estimates total damage and economic loss from LA wildfires of between $250 billion and $275 billion. News Statesman (2025) – “California created an insurer of last resort in 1968, the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) plan, following a spate of brush fires and riots in the state over the decade. (An insurer of last resort is an insurance company or government entity which provides insurance for entities which are considered high risk or uninsurable).”The Loss and Damage Fund – At COP27, it was agreed to create a fund that will help low-income developing countries offset the damage from natural disasters caused by climate change.Carbon Brief (2023) – An interview with Robert Van Lierop reflecting on the three-decade journey to a loss-and-damage fund. Countries negotiated the world’s first climate change treaty in 1991, which featured the word “insurance”. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Shortly after we recorded our episode on populism, two major developments in the UK prompted us to do this follow-up. First, former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair called for a major rethink of the UK’s net zero policy. Then, the right-wing populist party Reform UK made significant gains in the English local elections.In this episode, James and Daisy talk about these events and reflect on what they might mean for climate action in the UK. Was Blair’s report a missed opportunity to make a meaningful contribution? What did he get right – and where did he go wrong? And could this shift pose a threat to climate action? THE REPORT: The Climate Paradox: Why We Need to Reset Action on Climate Change (2025) – The report published by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on 29th April 2025. SOME RESPONSES TO THE REPORT: LSE techUK Energy Transitions Commission Michael Liebreich Outrage + OptimismADDITIONAL RESOURCES:Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener – This strategy sets out the policies and proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy to meet its net zero target by 2050.IEA (2025) – As the Chinese economy and domestic transport sector undergo significant transformations, demand for the most widely consumed oil-based fuels – including gasoline, jet fuel and diesel – declined marginally in 2024. EVs currently account for about half of car sales in China. BBC (2025) – “Nigel Farage's Reform UK has made big gains in English local elections, cementing it as a prime challenger to Britain's traditional main parties. It won 677 of around 1,600 seats contested on Thursday across a clutch of mainly Tory-held councils last contested in 2021.”Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Populism is a political approach that claims to speak for “ordinary people” – those who feel ignored or left behind established elite groups. Around the world, populist movements frequently frame environmental action as elitist, out of touch with the priorities of “real people.” In this episode, James and Daisy discuss the rise of populism. What exactly is populism? How is it shaping public attitudes towards climate action? How must the climate movement adapt?  SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: ·     The New Statesman (2025) – “It’s time for climate populism” – an interesting article by Caroline Lucas and Rupert Ready. Caroline Lucas, the former MP and Green Party leader, has warned that the rise of populism and the acceleration of the nature and climate emergences are becoming increasingly interlinked. ·     Yale Program on Climate Communication conducts scientific research on public climate change knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour, and the underlying factors that influence them. OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:·     Greg Jackson – The founder of Octopus Energy has said "British people support net zero, but not if bills rise. We need to reform the market urgently to maintain public backing for cutting emissions. Clean energy can be cheaper to generate, but our outdated market means consumers don’t benefit. Billpayers are forking out billions to switch off wind farms on windy days while households and industry struggle with high bills - instead of enjoying cheaper energy. A modern market could save tens of billions over the next 15 years."·     The Guardian (2025) – A Channel 4 study, Gen Z: Trends, Truth and Trust, found 52% of Gen Zers thought “the UK would be a better place if a strong leader was in charge who does not have to bother with parliament and elections”. 33% of those aged 13-27 agreed that the UK would be better off “if the army was in charge”, and 47% agreed that “the entire way our society is organised must be radically changed through revolution”.·     The Order of the Day – A book by Éric Vuillard telling the story of the pivotal meetings which took place in Germany in the run-up to World War Two. ·     The MIT Press Reader (2021) – “Populism is on the rise. From 1990 to 2018, the number of countries with populist leaders increased from four to 20.”·     Sky News (February 2025) – A YouGov poll showed Reform UK leading for the first time, topping the poll at 25%, ahead of Labour at 24% and the Conservatives at 21%.  ·     E3G (2024) – This article provides a clear overview of the politics of populism and climate action. ·     Sabin Center for Climate Change Law – This Climate Backtracker identifies steps taken by the Trump-Vance administration to scale back or wholly eliminate federal climate mitigation and adaptation measures. Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok You can also now watch us on YouTube. 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.

War engages our fight or flight instincts. When immediate threats like conflict arise, they often overshadow slower-burning, long-term crises like climate change.In this episode, James and Daisy talk about war. How does climate change fuel conflict? How does war, in turn, hinder efforts to combat the climate crisis? How do we avoid trading one existential threat for another?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Conflict and Environment Observatory – CEOBS was launched in 2018 with the primary goal of increasing awareness and understanding of the environmental and derived humanitarian consequences of conflicts and military activities.The Military Emissions Gap – This site is dedicated to tracking, analysing and closing the military emissions gap, bringing together the data that governments report into one place.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:NATO (2023) – Here are some remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg from the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.ND-GAIN Country Index – Summarizes a country's vulnerability to climate change and other global challenges in combination with its readiness to improve resilience.United Nations – Today, of the 15 countries most vulnerable to climate change, 13 are struggling with violent conflicts.Sir Christopher John Greenwood - After being called to the Bar by Middle Temple, he became a Fellow of Magdalene in 1978 and later Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics, specialising in international humanitarian law. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1999 and elected by the United Nations as a Judge of the International Court of Justice in 2008. That same year, Magdalene named him an Honorary Fellow.The Third Man –A classic thriller written by Graham Greene and starring Orson Welles in which a writer sets about investigating the death of a friend in post-World War II Vienna.Stop Ecocide International – Ecocide law provides a route to justice for the worst harms inflicted upon the living world in times of both peace and conflict, whenever and wherever they are committed.CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) – CND campaigns to rid the world of nuclear weapons - the most powerful and toxic weapons ever created, threatening all forms of life.Stop the War Coalition – Stop the War was founded in September 2001 in the weeks following 9/11, when George W. Bush announced the “war on terror”. Stop the War has since been dedicated to preventing and ending the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere.UK Parliament (2024) – In the 2023/24 financial year, the UK spent £53.9 billion on defence.UK Parliament (2025) – The Prime Minister has committed to spend 2.5% of the UK’s gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027. UK Parliament (2025) - The Prime Minister said the government would “fully fund our increased investment in defence” by reducing aid spending from 0.5% of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3% in 2027.Ministry of Defence (2024) –  In 2022, total military expenditure of NATO members was $1,195bn and total worldwide military expenditure was $2,240bn, as estimated by SIPRI. The USA was the world’s largest spender, accounting for 39% of the total global spending.The Week (2025) – Only 11% of people aged 18-27 say they would fight for the UK.Reuters (2025) - Poland wants to spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence in 2026. Poland now spends a higher proportion of GDP on defence than any other NATO member, including the United States. It plans for this year's spending to hit 4.7% of GDP. Institute for Security Studies – The global military carbon footprint currently accounts for around 5.5% of global emissions – more than Africa’s entire footprint.Listen to War by Edwin Starr here!Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

ESG – short for Environmental, Social, and Governance – is a framework for evaluating how companies manage sustainability-related risks and opportunities. In ESG investing, environmental, social, and governance factors are integrated into investment decisions, alongside traditional financial metrics. In this episode, James and Daisy discuss ESG. How has sustainable investing evolved? Why is there a growing backlash against ESG? What is greenhushing?  SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: John Elkington, a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable capitalism, coined the phrase “people, planet, profit” in 1994 to describe the Triple Bottom Line. Originally intended as a tool to drive systems change and transform capitalism – not just as an accounting framework – Elkington later called for a "product recall" of the concept.21st Century Investing: Redirecting Financial Strategies to Drive Systems Change by William Burckart and Steve Lydenberg – This book explores the evolution of investing from traditional models to sustainable approaches that consider environmental and social factors. The authors advocate for a third stage: system-level investing, where investors actively support and enhance the stability and health of the social, financial, and environmental systems on which they depend for long-term returns. Aniket Shah is Managing Director and Global Head of Sustainability, Transition and Washington DC Strategy at Jefferies, a top global investment bank. We enjoyed this 10-minute video where he speaks about ESG and Impact Investing.  SYSTEMIQ (2025) – This essay “Shock Therapy” explores what a deep reset of the sustainability movement might look like. Part of The Blue Whale Inquiry, it draws on insights from interviews with over 50 leaders across business, finance, government, politics, and civil society to understand what it takes to shift stubborn economic systems. OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:United Nations (2004) – ESG first appeared in the UN Global Compact report “Who Cares Wins”, developed with twenty financial institutions. It encouraged the financial sector to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into analysis, asset management, and brokerage.EU Taxonomy – allows financial and non-financial companies to share a common definition of economic activities that can be considered environmentally sustainable.IEA (2024) – “Global energy investment is set to exceed USD 3 trillion for the first time in 2024, with USD 2 trillion going to clean energy technologies and infrastructure. Investment in clean energy has accelerated since 2020, and spending on renewable power, grids and storage is now higher than total spending on oil, gas, and coal.”CDP – a global non-profit that runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system. The Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD) – a global initiative to develop guidance for businesses and financial institutions to understand and report on impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities related to people. Growing inequality is recognized as a systemic risk with economic and political implications for global markets.Brundtland Report (1987) – Our Common Future, published by the UN, defined ‘sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".Morningstar (2025) – “Despite reduced fund flows, global sustainable fund assets reached an all-time high of USD 3.2 trillion at the end of 2024, an 8% increase from the previous year and more than quadruple the size in 2018. Europe remains the leading market, housing 84% of the assets.”Generation Investment Management – “Generation is a pure-play sustainable investment manager. It is all we do. It is all we will ever do.” – Founded in 2004 by Al Gore and David Blood, Generation is a dedicated sustainable investment firm focused on long-term value, integrated sustainability research, and strong client alignment. It has demonstrated that mission-driven investing can deliver superior returns.Octopus (2024) – The Future Generations Report 2024 – “Celebrating the impact that you, as an Octopus shareholder, employee or customer, have on the world.”Dame Julia Anne Hoggett DBE, a British banker and risk manager, became CEO of the London Stock Exchange in April 2021. With a background in development economics focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, she believes the job of the capital markets is “to facilitate the investment that creates the invention, production, jobs and productivity that drives the economy, improves real incomes and peoples’ lives”. As noted in the episode, some state funds have been withdrawn from investors applying ESG policies. For example, in March 2022, West Virginia pulled assets from a fund managed by BlackRock, citing the firm’s “net-zero investment strategies that would harm the coal, oil and natural gas industries.”Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-3Producer: Podshop StudiosHuge thanks to Siobhán Foster, a vital member of the team offering design advice, critical review an...

Water is essential for all life on Earth, yet climate change is disrupting the natural water cycle, altering where, when, and how much water is available. In many ways, climate change expresses itself through water. In this episode, James and Daisy talk about the vital role of water. What is the water cycle? How will water security will be impacted by the changing climate? What can we do about it? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Is a River Alive? by Robert Macfarlane – At the heart of this book is a single, transformative idea: that rivers are not mere matter for human use but living beings – who should be recognized as such in both imagination and law.Mina Guli is a renowned water advocate and ultrarunner who has dedicated her life to solving one of the world’s most urgent issues - the global water crisis. Following a successful 15-year career in law, finance and climate change, Mina founded Thirst - a non-profit focused on changing how we think about water. In March 2022, for the #RunBlue campaign, Mina set out to run 200 marathons in just one year, finishing the race at the first global UN water conference on World Water Day, 22 March 2023. This World Water Day on Saturday, March 22 2025, runners from around the world united for the #WorldWaterRelay - the largest global relay for water.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:CDP – a global non-profit that runs the world’s only independent environmental disclosure system. Over 24,800 companies, representing two thirds of global market capitalization reported through CDP on climate change, forests and water security.Stuart Orr has been with WWF since 2006 and works with the private sector on a range of water related activities, from water footprint to public policy engagement. WWF estimate freshwater ecosystems have an economic use value of $58 trillion, or roughly 60% of global GDP. Water.org – a global nonprofit organization working to bring water and sanitation to the world, founded by Matt Damon and Gary White. Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) is launching its first biodiversity-focused bond fund, offering fixed-income investors a way to support nature conservation.NASA (2023) – There are more than 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth. Natural History Museum – The ocean has an average depth of approximately 3.7 kilometres (or 2.3 miles).USGS (2019) – About 71% of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5% of all Earth's water. Only 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater - the amount needed for life to survive.World Bank (2017) – Globally, 70% of freshwater is used for agriculture. World Bank (2023) – 2 billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress. WaterAid – Diarrhoea caused by dirty water and poor toilets kills one child under the age of five nearly every two minutes. WaterAid – A staggering 90% of all natural disasters are water-related.Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTokYou can also now watch us on YouTube.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-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.

Flying is one of the most carbon-intensive activities. In fact, if you fly, it is probably the most polluting thing that you do. Yet, aviation remains one of the toughest sectors to decarbonise, as battery technology and alternative fuels still struggle to match the efficiency of jet fuel.In this episode, James and Daisy – who both love travelling – confront the challenging topic of aviation. What are the environmental impacts of aviation? Should we stop flying? What are the alternatives?SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:Mike Berners-Lee is a researcher and writer on carbon footprinting and has written articles on how cutting aeroplane contrails is an easy climate win. - https://www.ft.com/content/d0292413-5fcf-4ab9-b738-8da289fd4987Carbon Brief (2020) – This article calculates the true climate impact of aviation emissions and describes the impact of CO2 and non-CO2 effects. - https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-calculating-the-true-climate-impact-of-aviation-emissions/ OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:The Seventh Carbon Budget (2025) – Section 7.6 describes the UK’s aviation emissions and the Balanced Pathway for the aviation sector. - https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/The-Seventh-Carbon-Budget.pdfThe Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed in 1944 and went into effect in 1947. It established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and set the framework for global civil aviation.The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a carbon offset and carbon reduction scheme to lower CO2 emissions for international flights and curb the aviation impact on climate change. CORSIA uses market-based environmental policy instruments to offset CO2 emissions: aircraft operators have to purchase carbon credits from the carbon market. - https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/CORSIA/Pages/default.aspxJack Sweeney shares information about the locations of private planes of the rich and powerful on his social media accounts, including Elon Musk and Taylor Swift. - https://x.com/Jxck_Sweeney?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorClimate Perks – The employee benefits scheme which gives staff the opportunity to take extra days off work if they choose low-carbon travel rather than flying when they go on holiday. - https://www.climateperks.com/ IPCC (1999) – There is a range of options to reduce the impact of aviation emissions, including changes in aircraft and engine technology, fuel, operational practices, and regulatory and economic measures. - https://www.ipcc.ch/report/aviation-and-the-global-atmosphere-2/ Our World in Data (2024) – “Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions. But it has contributed around 4% to global warming to date.” - https://ourworldindata.org/global-aviation-emissionsICAO (2019) – 65% of aviation’s CO2 emissions are in international airspace and, therefore, do not necessarily “belong” to individual nation states. - https://www.icao.int/environmental-protection/Documents/EnvironmentalReports/2019/ENVReport2019_pg17-23.pdfCarbon Brief (2025) – “A forest twice the size of Greater London would need to be planted in the UK to cancel out the extra emissions from the expansion of Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton airports.” “…offsetting these emissions would require more than 300,000 hectares of trees to be planted within just a few years. This equates to all the trees planted in the UK since 2000.” - https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-would-need-forest-twice-size-of-london-to-offset-new-airport-expansion/ Thank you for listening! Please follow us on social media to join the conversation: LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/fossil-vs-future/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/fossil_vs_future/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fossil_vs_future You can also now watch us on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@fossil_vs_future 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-3Producer: Podshop Studios - https://www.podshoponline.co.uk/ 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.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our world, enabling computers to learn and solve problems in ways that can seem human. This powerful technology is already being used to benefit the environment – optimising efficiencies, predicting weather patterns, and mapping ecological impacts. However, the immense computing power required for AI comes at a cost, consuming vast amounts of energy and other critical resources.In this episode, James and Daisy talk about AI. What exactly is AI? What are its environmental impacts? And with AI now deeply embedded in our daily lives, how can we ensure it evolves responsibly to benefit all humanity? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS: Code Dependent: How AI is Changing Our Lives – This book by Madhumita Murgia explores the impact of a set of powerful, flawed, and often exploitative technologies on individuals, communities, and our wider society.Liebreich: Generative AI – The Power and the Glory (2024) – Michael Liebreich examines the transformative potential of generative AI, particularly in creative and industrial sectors.OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:Mo Gawdat – The Former Chief Business Officer at Google X published Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World, a roadmap detailing how humanity can ensure a symbiotic coexistence with AI when it inevitably becomes a billion times smarter than we are.Perplexity AI – A conversational search engine that uses large language models to answer queries with sourced citations. 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.IBM (2024) – A clear overview of AI and how it works. BBC (2025) – “Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to "build baby build", as he announced plans to make it easier to construct mini nuclear power stations in England and Wales.”Goldman Sachs (2024): “On average, a ChatGPT query needs nearly 10 times as much electricity to process as a Google search.”Google (2024): “Our total GHG emissions were 14.3 million tCO2e, representing a 13% year-over-year increase and a 48% increase compared to our 2019 target base year—primarily due to increases in data center energy consumption and supply chain emissions” ITU (2023) – Approximately 67% of the world's population (5.4 billion people) is now online. In Africa, that figure is just 37%. UNCTAD (2024) – “The production of a single 2 kg computer requires the extraction of a staggering 800 kg of raw materials.”Also, we looked up data centres in Ireland… The Guardian (2024) – Ireland’s growing fleet of datacentres used 21% of its electricity, an increase of a fifth on 2022. 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.

The fashion industry is huge. Fuelled by social media, influencer culture, and powerful marketing, we’re constantly tempted to buy new clothes at low prices. But behind these bargains lie devastating consequences for the environment and poor conditions for garment workers. In this episode, James and Daisy dive into our obsession with fast fashion and its hidden costs. What are the environmental impacts of the fashion industry? Do different generations approach fashion differently? What can we do to change our consumption habits? SOME RECOMMENDATIONS:Less – A book by Patrick Grant considering the crisis of consumption and quality in fashion, and how we might make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things.Let My People Go Surfing – A memoir by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of outdoor clothing company Patagonia.  OTHER ADVOCATES, FACTS, AND RESOURCES:The Fashion Pact – A non-profit organization forging a nature-positive, net-zero future for fashion, through CEO-led collaboration.WRAP – A global environmental action NGO focused on creating a circular economy for textiles and other industries. Fashion for Good – A global platform for collaborative innovation in the fashion industry. The Australian Wool Industry Insetting Program has recently been launched by Woolmark, Pollination, and Landcare Australia and will connect apparel brands with Australian woolgrowers looking to reduce emissions through nature-based solutions. Mina Guli – CEO of the Thirst Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing awareness, driving stakeholder urgency and delivering meaningful action on fresh water.The Aral Sea was once the world’s fourth largest body of inland water but it has shrunk to a tenth of its size over the past fifty years due to human interference, causing severe environmental and social consequences. SAGES is a textile industry start-up that offers a sustainable alternative to the synthetic fabric dyes currently on the market, by turning food waste into natural dyes. They are supported by Undaunted, a hub for the UK’s climate innovation community. Grist (2024) – “Shein is officially the biggest polluter in fast fashion. AI is making things worse.” – An article about fast fashion giant, Shein, with some shocking statistics. Ellen MacArthur Foundation – “Every second, the equivalent of a rubbish truck load of clothes is burnt or buried in landfill.” “…in the last 15 years, clothing production has approximately doubled.”thredUP (2022) – “1 in 3 Gen Z say they feel addicted to fast fashion.”UNEP – “About 60 per cent of material made into clothing is plastic, which includes polyester, acrylic and nylon textiles.”Earth.Org (2025) – “The the industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.”McKinsey (2025) – “The fashion industry is worth around $1.7 trillion and over 300 million people work across its global supply chains.” McKinsey research also indicates that most fashion brands could reduce their emissions by more than 60 percent for less thatn 1 to 2 percent of their revenues. 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.

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.

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.