Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations Richard Delevan

A little over a week ago, Vermont enacted the first law requiring carbon polluters to pay to clean up the damage caused by climate change, putting the money into a fund for adaptation and resilience measures. We bring back Dana Drugmand of One Earth Now and Loes van Dijk of Climate Court to talk about the implications the law might have globally, its prospects for surviving the attacks on the attribution science underlying it - which we detailed last week, and other climate litigation around the world - including a French prosecutor being asked to charge the board and management of Total with criminal charges including manslaughter.
Segment 1: Interview with Dana Drugmand
03:47 Dana Drugmand discusses Vermont's new law
04:22 how the law passed
07:48 first of its kind globally and its potential impact
12:29 expected legal challenges.
Segment 2: Broader Implications and Reactions
19:34  could such a law have passed without recent severe flooding in Vermont?
20:33 broader trend of climate accountability laws
Segment 3: Interview with Loes van Dijk
23:48 Introduction to Loes van Dijk and her work with Climate Court
24:09  importance of climate litigation for addressing climate change
24:45 Urgenda case in the Netherlands
25:40 the Peruvian farmer vs. RWE.
Segment 4: Legal Strategies and Future Outlook
26:58 power of tort law in climate litigation,
30:38 the Republican attorneys generals' attempt to block state-level climate litigation in the U.S. Supreme Court.
32:06 role of attribution science in proving climate change causality
33:50 Loes's reaction to Vermont's law, focusing on the need for a global legal mechanism to address climate change.
Segment 5: Broader Legal and Political Context
44:29 Exploration of the potential for criminal charges against corporate executives for climate-related damages, focusing on a case against Total in France.
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Credits:
* Host: Richard Delevan
* Guests: Dana Drugmand, Loes van Dijk
* Production Assistance: Theodore Delevan
* Music: Suncharmer and check out our playlist for other tunes


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In this World Oceans Day special edition of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations, host Richard Delevan dives deep into the pervasive issue of ocean plastic pollution. Joined by Will Pearson, founder of Ocean Bottle, they discuss the alarming increase in plastic production, the environmental and health impacts of microplastics, and the innovative solutions that Ocean Bottle is pioneering to tackle this global crisis.
Key Topics Covered:
* Interview with Will Pearson:
* Background on Will Pearson and the founding of Ocean Bottle in 2018.
* Discussion on the impact of microplastics on ocean ecosystems, particularly the reproduction of plankton.
* Will Pearson's personal experiences that led him to tackle ocean plastic, including his time spent at sea and witnessing plastic pollution firsthand.
Ocean Bottle's Mission and Achievements:
* Ocean Bottle's innovative model: funding the collection of 1000 plastic bottles for each product sold.
* Achievements: Reaching the milestone of collecting one billion plastic bottles.
* Expansion of collection projects in coastal communities worldwide.
Challenges and Future Goals:
* Discussion on the challenges of creating a profitable business model that also delivers positive environmental impact.
* The company's growth from a Kickstarter campaign to raising $9 million in funding.
* Future goals: Expanding the product range and digital technology to further the mission of reducing ocean plastic.
The Plastics Treaty and Recycling Issues:
* Insight into the ongoing negotiations for a global plastics treaty.
* The complexities and inefficiencies of current recycling systems.
* Potential policy changes, such as extended producer responsibility, to incentivize better plastic management.
Will Pearson's Catalysts:
* Influences that shaped Will’s approach to tackling ocean plastic, including the book "Net Positive" by Paul Polman.
* The importance of understanding the problem and the power of innovation in creating solutions.
Final Thoughts:
* Optimistic outlook on the potential to address ocean plastic pollution through collective effort and innovation.
* Encouragement for listeners to engage with and support initiatives that aim to protect the environment.
Additional Resources:
* Ocean Bottle: Website
Credits:
* Hosted by Richard Delevan
* Guest: Will Pearson
* Production Assistance and Additional VO: Theo Delevan
* Music by Suncharmer and in our Playlist:
Support the Show: please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And wickedproblems.earth

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In this milestone 50th episode, Richard Delevan interviews Akshat Rathi about his book "Climate Capitalism," discussing the intersections of technology, policy, and systemic change needed to combat climate change. Akshat shares personal stories, insights from his research, and his views on the future of capitalism in addressing environmental issues. This episode combines deep analysis with light-hearted moments, offering listeners both education and entertainment.
Key Topics:
Theories of change and the necessity of systemic reformEconomic rationale behind addressing climate changeRole of businesses and governments in fostering sustainable practicesPersonal anecdotes from Akshat's life and careerChallenges and opportunities in climate actionInsights on technological innovations and their impact on the environment
Highlights:
[02:21] Theories of Change and Climate Capitalism[07:29] Economic Rationale and Systemic Levers[13:35] Personal Anecdotes and Inspirations[18:47] The Role of Businesses and Governments[23:45] Challenges and Opportunities in Climate Action[29:22] Insights on Technological Innovations[34:17] Audience Q&A and Funniest Moments[40:00] Final Thoughts and What's Next for Akshat
Akshat's Catalysts:
The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh
Purchase on Amazon
The Best of Times, The Worst of Times by Paul Behrens
Purchase on AmazonThe Current War (Movie)
Watch on Amazon Prime Video
Additional Resources:
Buy Akshat Rathi's book "Climate Capitalism"Listen to ZeroFollow Us:
Twitter and LinkedInWickedProblems.earth
Music: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AWvHdqqNAUCJcByQEokut?si=51e8e2a837da4591



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In our 49th episode, Richard Delevan is back with a stellar lineup featuring our long-awaited interview with solar analyst Jenny Chase from Bloomberg NEF, about the second edition of Solar Power Finance without the Jargon, as well as her views on geese, grids, and scifi.
And with European Parliament elections just days away, we speak to two climate tech journalists in Ireland for insights about how events might play out for industries seeking some policy certainty. John Reynolds, a freelance journalist whose work you can find in The Currency, and Paul O'Donoghue, the Ireland reporter for Renews.biz. We discuss the current state of climate issues, renewable energy developments, and the challenges and opportunities in the climate tech sector. Jenny Chase shares her journey in solar finance, her views on virtual power plants, and the potential of solar energy in Africa. John and Paul provide updates on Ireland's renewable energy landscape and the impact of European elections on climate policies.
Jenny Chase's Book:
* Solar Power Finance without the Jargon: The Second Edition by Jenny Chase Amazon
Jenny Chase's Catalysts:
* China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh Amazon
* The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson Amazon
* The Expanse Series by James S.A. Corey Amazon
* For All Mankind on Apple TV+ Apple TV+
Publications Mentioned:
* The Currency
* The Irish Independent
* Renews.biz
Follow Our Guests:
Jenny Chase:
Twitter: @solar_chase
LinkedIn: Jenny Chase
John Reynolds:
LinkedIn: John Reynolds
Twitter: @johnreynlds
Paul O'Donoghue:
LinkedIn: Paul O'Donoghue
Twitter: @paulodonoghue93
Subscribe & Support:
* Join our member feed at wickedproblems.earth for an ad-free experience and exclusive content.
* Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter: @rdelevan,

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In this episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations, Richard Delevan interviews Wil Burns, Co-Director of the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal at American University. They delve into the critical role of carbon removal technologies, exploring their evolution from fringe concepts to mainstream climate strategy. The discussion covers the science, ethics, and policies essential for implementing these technologies responsibly.
Timestamps:
02:46 - Wil Burns discusses his journey into carbon removal research and the importance of addressing carbon removal alongside decarbonization.
05:19 - Urgency and Scale of Carbon Removal
The necessity of large-scale carbon removal to meet Paris Agreement goals and the increasing urgency as emissions continue to rise.07:08 - Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal
Wil explains the mission of the institute and the significance of the term "responsible" in carbon removal practices.10:05 - Criteria for Responsible Carbon Removal
The importance of avoiding mitigation deterrence, ensuring real commitments, and focusing on equity and justice.13:56 - Challenges in Carbon Removal Implementation
Discussing storage issues, pipeline expansions, and resistance from various communities.16:27 - Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Approaches
The potential and challenges of ocean alkalinity enhancement and other ocean-based carbon removal methods.22:50 - Voluntary Carbon Markets and Compliance
The future of voluntary carbon markets, the need for compliance markets, and the challenges in establishing robust methodologies under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.29:31 - Geoengineering and Solar Radiation Modification
The potential future conversations around geoengineering and solar radiation modification as climate impacts worsen.
Resources and Links:
Institute for Responsible Carbon RemovalPlan Sea PodcastCarbon 180Carbon PlanSubscribe & Support:
Enjoyed the episode? Please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.For ad-free episodes and exclusive content, consider becoming a subscriber at Wicked Problems - 30% off annual membership this week.Stay Connected:
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedInSubscribe to our newsletter at Wicked Problems.Credits:
Written and edited by Richard DelevanProduction assistance by Theo DelevanMusic by First Aid Kit - "Silver Lining" (check our playlist)
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In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan interviews Ernest Scheider, author of 'The War Below' and senior correspondent at Reuters. They explore the challenges and dilemmas related to obtaining critical minerals necessary for the energy transition. Topics include the ethical trade-offs between mining and biodiversity, the role of critical minerals in electronics and electric vehicles, and the geopolitical implications of mineral sourcing. They also examine the approaches of the U.S. and China towards critical mineral supply chains, and discuss the potential impact of the upcoming U.S. election on the industry. Will Trump 2.0 open up the floodgates of mining projects in unexpected places?
For full show notes and links to Ernest Scheyder’s Catalysts, go to wickedproblems.earth. 

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