Climate Solutions with Gaby and Shaila iClima Earth

Joan Collell is CEO and co-founder of FlexiDAO. FlexiDAO is harnessing the revolution in blockchain technology to enhance transparency, a much-needed prerequisite for a successful low carbon transition. The innovation has been well received, with Collell’s fledgling company already partnered with global giants like Microsoft and Vodafone. The current system of green energy traceability relies on certificates which do not reflect the physical reality of the grid hour by hour. With the intermittency of renewable sources this is becoming a significant problem for those trying to set credible net zero targets, making FlexiDao an increasingly attractive prospect.
Join us as Joan offers a fantastically simple explanation of the technology, which effectively matches business consumption with renewable energy output statistics to determine whether supposedly ‘green’ energy can actually be termed so. There is huge scope for a scale-up of FlexiDao’s solution, with the company looking at once to cover entire value chains for the organisations it is already involved in, while also expanding its reach to new players. Like GHGSat (Episode 13), this is one of those rare single solutions that could genuinely move the needle on global decarbonisation. Watch this space!

Georgia Stewart is CEO and co-founder of Tumelo, a revolutionary platform for shareholder engagement. In this episode, Georgia shares with us her vision of a financial system where shareholders are more connected to the companies they invest in, giving them greater control over the impact of their money. She also offers a fascinating insight into current trends and appetites within the shareholder engagement space. Tumelo has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2018, and it is inspiring to hear about the like-minded partners that have jumped on board with the company (of which we are proud to be one!)

As the adage goes, what gets measured gets managed. Whether or not Peter Drucker actually uttered these famous words, nowhere do they ring truer than in the realm of greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to curb their production have regularly been hampered by a failure of measurement, particularly through initiatives in the financial sector. Indeed, our guest Stephane Germain notes that emissions are currently measured by teams of consultants travelling from site to site with expensive cameras, costing incumbents an obstructive amount. “We are bringing a unique set of data to the world at a time when they really need it.”
Happily, Germain has a solution. Climate change is riddled with moon-shot ideas, but this is one of the few that has real backing and real, expansive, potential. His idea, which combined a fascination with space and a love for the physical environment was catalysed by rapid progress in the miniaturisation of technology in the early 2000s. It turns out to be remarkably simple, to fit a small satellite with a gas spectrometer. This spectrometer detects light absorbed by greenhouse gases, thus verifying their presence. In 2011, Germaine founded GHGSat Inc on this idea, and his satellites now orbit the planet 15 times a day, funded by clients such as Shell, Chevron and Total. “The world needs to know how much methane is emitted, and needs to act on it now”
Germain’s idea has come at the perfect time. COP26 saw significant action on methane emissions and disclosure, with the UK and US two of the major countries working to implement mandatory climate related disclosure. He speaks candidly on the potential of his product, seeing potential clients from government, through industry, agriculture and power generation, to the financial services sector. Indeed he can already count many in these sectors as clients. In terms of climate change, Germain believes that methane is a low hanging fruit. Contrary to popular discourse, he argues, a large proportion of methane emissions occur in scenarios where there are well known, and often affordable, or even profitable, mitigation options. Could all this signal a step change in climate change mitigation? We see no reason why not.

Deborah Fuhr is Managing Partner and Founder of ETFGI, the dominant independent research and consulting house offering insights on the entire global industry of ETFs, ETPs and service providers. Tune in for a fascinating insight into the history and merits of ETFs. Debbie was one of the first to see the potential of these transparent, tax efficient, liquid and fundamentally democratic financial tools. The growth in the sector over the last few years has been particularly notable, with Debbie highlighting some fascinating drivers of this trend, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Our chat ends with some inspiring insights into the role of women in the financial sector.

"Just Have a Think" host Dave Borlace joins Gaby and Shaila to discuss his viral YouTube channel videos about the Climate Crisis, and the importance of having honest conversations about what can actually be done by 2030 without leaving young people feeling apathetic or full of despair.

Philip Berntsen is the co-founder of the Swiss company Frigg, which uses blockchain to allows investors to invest in sustainable projects at the asset level at minimal cost. Here, he talks to Gaby and Shaila about how Frigg adds liquidity to existing sustainability projects and the possibilities of cryptocurrency and sustainability.