EarthWise Conversations

Climate change is not a rational problem — it’s a deeply human one. And if we want real action, we need to start talking about it in a whole new way.Rune Nielsen, Cultural Anthropologist, UN Climate Communication Coordinator, and two-time Cicero Speechwriting Award winner, has spent years crafting messages that move beyond data and graphs to create authentic human connection. His book Speaking on Climate is a rallying cry to break the “climate silence” — the fact that while 85% of young people believe we’re in a climate emergency, two thirds never talk about it with anyone.In this episode, discover:Why individualising climate action is a systemic dead-end — and how to collectivise solutions that scaleThe “parent case” for climate: why values and identity can influence CEOs more than business metricsWhy two-thirds of young people never talk about climate, and how this fuels eco-anxiety and inactionHow personal stories and metaphors outperform graphs and statistics in driving changeWhy your voice matters more than you think — even if you feel powerlessHow to find unexpected overlap with resistant leaders (hint: think hobbies, family, shared passions)Rune also shares:The emotional power of peer-to-peer and one-to-one conversations in mobilising actionWhy social media can both help and harm climate movements — and how to use it intentionallyHow to equip young people with the rhetorical tools to influence policy and shape the futureThis goes beyond another climate conversation; it’s a blueprint for making climate action personal, urgent, and impossible to ignore.Connect with Rune:Find Speaking on Climate here: https://amzn.to/45uDo1oLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/runekier/Follow Earth Wise Conversations:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earth-wise-sustainabilityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthwiseconversationspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earthwise.conversationsPerfect for: Sustainability professionals, corporate leaders, environmental advocates, educators, and anyone seeking fresh, effective ways to communicate climate action.

Sustainability pioneer Scott Poynton reveals the hidden realities behind corporate environmental transformation and why most tree-planting projects fail spectacularly. As founder of The Forest Trust, Scott spent decades mediating between major corporations and environmental groups, creating the world's first no-deforestation commitments and transforming trillion-dollar supply chains.In this episode, discover:Why 90% of trees planted globally don't survive - and the specific failures at every stage from seed selection to community engagementThe inside story of Greenpeace's viral orangutan KitKat video that forced Nestlé to create the world's first no-deforestation policyHow Scott convinced CEOs of companies like Asia Pulp & Paper and Wilmar (the world's largest palm oil trader) to abandon destructive practicesThe "duck whispering" philosophy: why values-based leadership trumps data-driven approaches in creating lasting changeHow Earth Trust's radical transparency platform could end greenwashing by democratizing verificationReal stories from Ghana: why top-down development projects fail and bottom-up relationship building succeedsThe dark room negotiations that transformed entire industries - from palm oil to pulp and paperScott also reveals:Why certification schemes often become vehicles for greenwashingHow to identify tree-planting organizations that actually achieve 80%+ survival ratesThe psychology of corporate transformation: why CEOs change when you appeal to their souls, not their spreadsheetsWhy the World Bank accidentally created incentives for deforestationHow 3,300 women farmers in Ghana gained access to land for the first time through respectful engagementThis goes beyond just another sustainability conversation; it's a masterclass in authentic transformation from someone who's quietly reshaped how billion-dollar companies think about their environmental impact.Connect with Scott:Earth Trust: https://earthtrust.life/Website: https://scottpoynton.me/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-poynton/Check Out Scott's Current Projects:Earth Trust: https://earthtrust.life/ - Radical transparency platform helping organizations prove their sustainability claims with verifiable dataThe School For Duck Whisperers (Scott's Leadership Mentoring): https://www.duckwhispering.com/ - Online community teaching values-based leadership and authentic transformationPond Foundation: https://www.pond.foundation/ - Supporting companies to take serious climate action through regenerative supply chains and carbon impact reductionFollow Earth Wise Conversations:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earth-wise-sustainabilityInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthwiseconversationspodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earthwise.conversationsPerfect for: Sustainability professionals, corporate leaders, environmental advocates, development workers, and anyone seeking authentic approaches to systemic change.

Solar energy entrepreneur Andrew "Birchy" Birch reveals the explosive math behind solar's unstoppable growth and why we're about to hit peak fossil fuels. As co-founder of Open Solar - the free platform empowering 30,000+ solar professionals across 150 countries - Birchy breaks down the data that will reshape our world.In this episode, discover:Why solar will supply 50% of global energy by 2035 (and the S-curve math proving it)How Pakistan became the world's 6th largest solar market with zero subsidies in just 2 yearsThe "electric protocol" that could revolutionize energy distribution like the internet changed communicationWhy your Tesla could earn you $1,000 annually just sitting in your driveway overnightThe one policy change that matters more than all renewable energy subsidies combinedHow rooftop solar could power 100% of UK electricity demand (Google AI study confirms it)Why China's electric cars now cost LESS than petrol cars upfrontBirchy also reveals: The real economics behind the clean energy transition, why distributed energy beats centralized power plants, and how governments can accelerate progress by simply removing barriers instead of adding subsidies.From scaling a solar business to 150+ countries to working with governments worldwide, this is your insider's guide to the unstoppable clean energy revolution happening right now.Perfect for: Entrepreneurs, policy makers, investors, and anyone curious about our energy future.**Key Moments:**00:00 Introduction05:30 The maths behind solar's S-curve growth15:45 Pakistan's zero-subsidy solar success story28:12 The "electric protocol" explained42:20 Why your EV could be a money-makerConnect with us: Subscribe for more conversations with climate leaders, or find us your preferred social media platform