This Climate Business Podcasts NZ / Vincent Heeringa

Two years ago Unilever Australia-NZ became a B Corp. It was the first really large corporate, with household brands Surf and Persil, to join a scheme that’s been home to environmental hero brands such as EcoStore.  Why did Unilever join? What did they discover in the process? And what impact has a major corporate had on such a spirited brand as B Lab? Vincent was joined by Cam Heath, MD of Unilever NZ and Andrew Davies CEO of B Lab.

Climate change activism is everywhere: in politics, in business, on the streets and, increasingly, in the courts. Simpson Grierson’s Nick Chapman tells Ross Inglis what’s driving the movement towards climate change litigation and just where might it take us.

Mike Casey is the CEO of Rewiring Aoteraoa, part of an international movement to accelerate the shift to a renewable, electric-powered economy. Rewiring’s first report is all about the electric home - think rooftop solar, heat pumps, EVs and so on. But Mike is also a horticulturist and a passionate advocate for decarbonising the primary sector. He has the unique ability to win over both farmers and greenies, and politicians just love being seen in front of the electric tractor at his Forest Lodge Orchard - believed to be the world’s-first, electrified, zero-fossil fuel cherry orchard. Mike spoke to Vincent.

Whether it’s swallowing bleach to treat Covid or casting climate change as a Chinese conspiracy, disinformation takes nutty ideas from fringes and mainstreams them into our popular discourse. At best, it's hilarious - seen how windmills kill dolphins anyone? But mostly it's just sad and sometimes tragic. 
What is disinformation? How is it different from misinformation? Who are the main perpetrators and the victims? No one knows more about this than Byron Clark, author of ‘Fear: New Zealand's Hostile Underworld of Extremists’ and Mandy Henk an advocate for healthy, just, and vibrant digital communities.
Together they are offering a Climate Disinformation Night Class, consisting of eight-week, Zoom-based sessions via Tohatoha, an organisation creating a fairer digital world. 

If you’ve wanted to get yourself a discounted bicycle or scooter under something like the UK’s Cycle to Work Scheme, here’s the good news: you can. Ōtautahi Christchurch-based WorkRide now offers a national ride-to-work scheme that uses a Fringe Benefit Tax exemption to slice up to 63 percent off the cost of your next commuter toy.
Ross Inglis asked co-founder Connor Read how the scheme works.

The conscious consumer movement has an impact but it’s still small - a minority of people choose to change their behaviour. Imagine if you could make your carbon footprint your bank's problem. Imagine these large institutions, with millions of customers and insights into their spending, worry about their customers’ carbon footprint. That’s the genius of new carbon disclosure laws - banks, insurances companies, airlines and other large companies must now report not only on their own footprints but their customers’ too-so-called Scope 3 emissions. And someone needs to help them do that counting.
Enter Cogo, formerly personal carbon footprint app, now being deployed by banks across Australia, NZ and the UK. Ben Gleisner, founder and entrepreneur joins Vincent to explain what’s going on with Cogo.