Climate Conversations with Divya

Purple Figs Production

Welcome to Climate Conversations with Divya, a podcast dedicated to making hard climate discussions accessible, impactful, and actionable. In each episode, Divya speaks with experts, innovators, and actors across industries to break down climate issues, explore sustainable solutions, and quantify real-world impact. Whether you're new to sustainability or an advocate, this podcast is your go-to resource for understanding industry evolution. Think of it as your personal Masters in Sustainability in a podcast!

  1. 07/13/2025

    What is sustainable finance !? with Pranav

    In this conversation, Divya and Pranav explore the complexities of sustainability and sustainable finance, discussing the challenges and misconceptions surrounding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investments. They delve into the need for a shift from merely sustainable practices to regenerative approaches that prioritize long-term health for both the planet and economies. The discussion highlights the importance of quantifying the impact of regenerative finance and the role individuals can play in influencing financial systems through their investment choices. sustainability, sustainable finance, ESG, regenerative agriculture, climate change, carbon emissions, investment strategies, corporate responsibility, environmental impact, financial systems Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Sustainability and Its Challenges 00:27 Understanding Sustainable Finance 02:03 Defining Sustainable Finance for All 03:40 The Evolution of Sustainable Finance 05:04 Real-World Applications of Sustainable Finance 06:35 The Role of Private Equity in Sustainability 08:33 Assessing Sustainability Risks in Companies 09:57 The Limitations of ESG Investments 11:36 The Need for Genuine Sustainability Solutions 12:52 The Paradox of ESG Ratings 14:28 Rethinking Sustainability: A Focus on Longevity 18:18 Rethinking Sustainability: From Symptoms to Solutions 18:50 Regeneration in the Tobacco Industry 21:49 Quantifying the Impact of Regenerative Models 27:31 Myth Busting Sustainable Finance 33:14 Transforming Sustainable Finance for the Future

    50 min
  2. Paris ChangeNow 2025 Highlighting Innovation

    04/27/2025 ·  Bonus

    Paris ChangeNow 2025 Highlighting Innovation

    Climate Conversations with Divya was present at the ChangeNow 2025 Paris Summit and took the time to highlight innovation from a couple organisations. Tune in to meet a few of the exhibitors! 🌍 ChangeNOW was back, returning at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris, the iconic venue of the 1900 World Expo, this April 24-26th 2025. ChangeNOW 2025 gathered the most promising innovations, visionary leaders and changemakers in a spectacular World Expo of solutions for the planet.

    5 min
  3. S2E3: Daniel B. Are we living in a trash economy?

    02/20/2025

    S2E3: Daniel B. Are we living in a trash economy?

    S2E3: Circularity is a trillion-dollar opportunity waiting to scale. So why aren’t businesses embracing it? In this hearty episode, with the subtle touch of humour, our host Divya Kabra sits down with Daniel Barraclough of SYSTEMIQ to discuss: 1️⃣ The Scale of the Problem → How plastics, packaging, and textiles contribute to CO₂ emissions and global waste.2️⃣ The Broken Economics of Waste → Why virgin plastic is cheaper than recycled plastic and how subsidies distort the system.3️⃣ Circularity as a Business & Policy Solution → How Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), re-commerce, and financial incentives can make circularity mainstream.4️⃣ The Global Politics of Plastic → The role of INC-5, lobbying efforts, and why regulations matter.5️⃣ The Rise of Reuse & Circular Business Models → How Patagonia, IKEA, Apple, and Caterpillar are proving circularity can be profitable.6️⃣ The Myths Holding Back Circularity → Debunking “circularity is too expensive” and “recycling is the solution.”7️⃣ The Future of Circularity → How finance, innovation, and consumer behavior are pushing businesses to rethink waste. Chapters 00:00 ♻️Plastic: Can’t Live With It, Can’t Get Rid of It 01:57 Meet Daniel: The Guy Who Actually Knows How to Fix This 03:48 🥤Plastic Straws: The Distraction That Won’t Die 05:30 ⛽Plastic = Oil? The Connection No One Talks About 07:02 🌎Plastic’s Climate Impact: It’s Bigger Than You Think 08:37 🩸Microplastics Are in Our Blood. So That’s Fun 09:40 🧐Plastic Politics: Why Some Leaders Want More of It 10:54 The Global Plastics Treaty: Breakthrough or Bureaucratic Mess? 12:48 👕The Fashion Industry’s Dirty Secret: Textile Waste 14:20 Are Consumers to Blame? The Truth About Accountability 15:13 🎨Explaining Circularity Like You’re 5 (Literally) 17:40 Why Waste is Designed Into Our System (And How to Fix It) 21:14 🛍️How Resale & Recommerce Are Outsmarting Fast Fashion 23:14 💰♻️Can We Make Money Without Making Trash? 25:43 Circularity 101: The Business of Keeping Materials in Play 29:51 How Many Gigatons of CO₂ Can Circularity Actually Save? 34:33 Your Old Phone Is a Gold Mine—Literally 📱✨ 38:46 Turning Trash Into Profit—The Smart Way 40:36 What’s Actually Stopping Circularity From Scaling? 46:29 EPR: The Policy That Could Change Everything 53:57 The INC Plastics Treaty: Who’s Fighting It & Why? 58:17 Myths About Circularity That Need to Die Already 01:02:56 Fiber-Based Packaging vs. Plastic: Who’s Actually Winning? 01:06:11 Circularity in Emerging Markets: The Truth vs. The Myths 01:11:10 Hope for the Future: Circular Economy Solutions 01:13:49 Final Thoughts 01:15:41 Behind the Scenes: What happens after the producer says cut 🎬 01:18:16 Outro 🎧 *the opinions expressed by the guests in these episodes are fully their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of their current employers

    1h 19m
  4. S2 E2 Arthur Marronier: So you bought an EV. 🚘 Now What?

    02/11/2025

    S2 E2 Arthur Marronier: So you bought an EV. 🚘 Now What?

    🚘EVs are taking over. But is charging infrastructure ready? Electric cars are booming - butwhat happens when the chargers aren’t there? 🔌⚡ In this episode, our host,Divya Kabra sits down withArthur Marronnier, VP of Energy atElectra, to talk about theEV charging revolution, the grid dilemma, and what’s holding back mass adoption. In this episode, they cover:✅The state of EV charging in Europe & what’s missing✅How to scale fast charging without breaking the grid✅The hard numbers: How many chargers do we actually need?✅Busting myths: Are EVs really greener? Can the grid handle mass adoption?✅What the future of clean mobility looks like If you’ve ever wondered whetherEV charging is the bottleneck to net zero, this one’s for you. Chapters 00:00 🚗 Introduction to EV Charging and Personal Background 09:51 🔌 Wait, Why Is Charging Still So Complicated? (EV Infrastructure Deep Dive) 16:17 ⚡ Electra's Vision and Future Plans 19:25 🚀 Understanding Ultrafast Charging 23:12 🏗️ EV Chargers Are Everywhere… Or Are They? (The Real State of Charging) 29:51 📊 Numbers Don’t Lie:Quantifying the Impact of EV Charging 40:41 🤯 MYTH BUSTING: “EV Charging Will Collapse the Grid” and Other Lies 43:58 Navigating the Challenges of Energy Supply 46:10 Innovations in Charging Infrastructure 48:38 The Role of Batteries in Energy Management 51:37 ⚠️ MYTH BUSTING: “The Grid Can’t Handle EVs” (Spoiler: It Can) 53:22 💰 Why Does Public Charging Cost So Much? (The Money Side of EVs) 55:36 The Bigger Picture: EVs and Climate Change 59:49 Consumer Behavior and EV Adoption 01:06:55 Outro

    1h 7m

  5. Season 2, Episode 2 Trailer

    already too late (trailer s2 e2)

    listen to the whole conversation, go on to Climate Conversations with Divya

    1 min

  6. 01/31/2025

    S2 E1: The episode Trump did not want you to hear before the inauguration

    This wasn't a conversation I planned to have. It started as a question: How much of Biden’s climate policy will actually survive? It turned into something bigger. Climate action isn’t about good intentions. It’s about power, policy, and who gets to shape the future. The IRA is proof that economics drives change faster than morality ever will. Even those who oppose it are quietly taking the money. Even those who ignore it are benefiting. But will that be enough to keep it alive? Or was the US always one election away from undoing it all? I want to believe the IRA is untouchable. That jobs will save climate policy where politics won’t. That clean energy will win because it’s cheaper, not just because it’s right. But hope isn’t strategy. And a climate bill is only as strong as the will to defend it. The possibility of 1 billion tons of CO₂ emissions saved in the U.S. with the IRA. Maybe 2 billion more from global spillover. That still leaves 48 billion tons. If we think this is the finish line, we’ve already lost. Thanks to SEMAFOR for reaching out and nominating Tim McDonnell. And thank you, Tim, for a lively conversation and not holding back. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Climate Conversations and the Inflation Reduction Act 02:19 Tim McDonald's Journey in Climate Journalism 04:37 Understanding the Importance of the Inflation Reduction Act 06:40 The Economic Implications of Climate Legislation 08:55 The Global Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act 11:05 Political Challenges Facing the Inflation Reduction Act 12:35 IRA under the republican administration 13:38 Trump and Elon bromance: The Future of Electric Vehicle Tax Credits 15:37 Will Trump and Elon still be buddies after 4 years? 16:01 The Role of Clean Energy Jobs in the Economy 18:02 The Influence of Republican Districts on Climate Policy 20:03 The Myths and Facts of Climate Policy 22:29 Conclusion and Future Outlook 23:56 Busting Myths and Controversies 24:59 The Economic Case for Climate Action 27:40 Political Resilience in Climate Policy 32:40 the end of elon and trump bromance? 32:56 The Dynamics of Power and Influence 37:02 Conspiracy theories? 39:28 Debunking the Primary Energy Fallacy 43:20 The Global Implications of the IRA 46:51 Individual Actions and Collective Impact 50:06 end notation

    51 min

  7. Season 2 Trailer

    Season 2 Episode 1 Trailer - the episode they did not want you to hear before trump's inauguration

    Climate Conversations with Divya

    1 min
  8. Ep 5, Baptiste Laurent, ceo Vertuo, Can Urban Greening prevent LA from burning?

    01/10/2025

    Ep 5, Baptiste Laurent, ceo Vertuo, Can Urban Greening prevent LA from burning?

    Season 1 Episode 5: Reimagining Urban Spaces with Vertuo What if our cities could transform into green, self-sustaining spaces that cool the air, restore biodiversity, and make urban life more livable? 🌱 In this episode, our host, Divya sits down with Baptiste Laurent, CEO of Vertuo, a pioneer in urban greening innovation. We dive into: 💧 How water-smart, autonomous systems are reshaping urban landscapes. 🌍 The environmental and societal impact of underutilized urban spaces. 🌱 Why urban greening is not just a “nice-to-have” but a critical climate adaptation measure. We also tackle some big questions: Are urban greenery projects too expensive for cities? Can innovations like Vertuo’s systems really contribute to net-zero goals? Packed with actionable insights, real-world examples, and a look at what’s next for greener, smarter cities, this episode is perfect for anyone curious about sustainable urban innovation. 🎧 Tune in to learn how urban greening is key to addressing the 51 billion-ton climate challenge. #Sustainability #UrbanGreening #ClimateInnovation Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Urban Greening Challenges 05:36 The Importance of Biodiversity in Urban Areas 10:16 Health Impacts of Urban Greening 15:57 Innovative Solutions for Urban Greening 22:09 Real-World Applications and Success Stories 26:10 Urban Greening and Indigenous Species 27:19 Quantifying the Impact of Urban Greening 30:58 The Cooling Effect and Energy Savings 32:45 What does it mean for cities like Los Angeles 34:50 Regulations and Partnerships in Urban Greening 36:01 Myth Busting: Cost of Urban Greening 43:27 Global Context and Collaboration in Urban Solutions 48:21 The Importance of Understanding Nature

    55 min
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Trailers

About

Welcome to Climate Conversations with Divya, a podcast dedicated to making hard climate discussions accessible, impactful, and actionable. In each episode, Divya speaks with experts, innovators, and actors across industries to break down climate issues, explore sustainable solutions, and quantify real-world impact. Whether you're new to sustainability or an advocate, this podcast is your go-to resource for understanding industry evolution. Think of it as your personal Masters in Sustainability in a podcast!

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