Aspen UK

Nuclear energy is one of the most controversial forms of alternative energy, and the least understood. Consumers can confuse a fear of nuclear weapons with nuclear energy, and naysayers cite plant explosions or the possibility of a terror attack employing misused nuclear energy materials. Yet advancements in safety measures, regulation and technology have made nuclear energy safer than ever. In this episode, listen to our expert panel break down what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to nuclear energy. Leslie Hook, the Environment and Clean Energy Correspondent for the Financial Times moderates a discussion between Dr Sama Bilbao y León, the Director General of the World Nuclear Association; Zion Lights, activist and Founder of the evidence-based, pro-nuclear energy climate activism group Emergency Reactor; Dr Douglas Parr, Chief Scientist and Policy Director at Greenpeace UK; and Dr Nina Skorupska, Chief Executive of the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 10th January 2022.

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Lord Adair Turner, the chair of the Energy Transitions Commission talks with Marisa Drew, chief sustainability officer for Credit Suisse on tackling climate change and the challenges ahead. In this in-depth conversation, Adair answers the question: was COP26 a success or a failure? They discuss the role of policy makers, government and private sectors in this battle; and share the importance of individual consumer choices, and the changes Lord Turner has made to reduce his own carbon footprint.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 7th December 2021.

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Carbon offsetting as a solution to the climate crisis faces an inescapable barrier: time, or rather – the lack of it. Philippa Nuttall, environment and sustainability editor at the New Statesman leads this discussion on the role of carbon offsetting. On the panel is Rebekah Braswell, founding member and CCO of Land Life Company; Sabine Frank, executive director at Carbon Market Watch; Tariye Gbadegesin, co-chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee; Steve Oldham, CEO of Carbon Engineering, a carbon capture technology company; and Ariel Perez, managing partner at Vertree. Together they discuss whether carbon offsetting should have a central role in climate action; reflect on how this will work out in the long term, and share their thoughts on the action that should be taken to combat this globally.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 30th November 2021.

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Budgets vs biodiversity – how can we protect both as tensions rise in the crusade to defend our planet’s natural habitats? Simon Mundy, Moral Money editor at The Financial Times is joined by Sandra Guzman Luna, manager of the Climate Finance Programme at the Climate Policy Initiative; Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International; Dr David Obura, founding director of CORDIO East Africa; Oliver Withers, biodiversity lead within the Sustainability Strategy, advisory and finance group at Credit Suisse; and Ana Yang, executive director for the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator. They discuss how technology and innovation could help dying aspects of natural habitats; explore the issues with holding people to account for their environmental impact; and share the importance of criminal liability and how this “has the potential to change behaviour.”

This conversation is in partnership with Credit Suisse
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 23rd November 2021.

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South Africa is still recovering from an unprecedented political crisis, in which 300 people lost their lives, and goods worth billions of dollars were looted. This episode assembles South African leaders in business, education, and development, to discuss the future of their country. Andrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent, hosts the conversation with Emma Dicks, Founder and director of CodeSpace; Professor Adam Habib, Director of SOAS University of London; Nonkululeko Nyembezi, Chairman of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; and H.E. Nomatemba Tambo, the High Commissioner of South Africa to the UK. They explore what South Africa needs to remedy its ongoing challenges in youth unemployment and education, and how it can participate in the battle against climate change. 

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 20th October 2021.

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Carbon offsetting as a solution to the climate crisis faces an inescapable barrier: time, or rather – the lack of it. Philippa Nuttall, environment and sustainability editor at the New Statesman leads this discussion on the role of carbon offsetting. On the panel is Rebekah Braswell, founding member and CCO of Land Life Company; Sabine Frank, executive director at Carbon Market Watch; Tariye Gbadegesin, co-chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative Steering Committee; Steve Oldham, CEO of Carbon Engineering, a carbon capture technology company; and Ariel Perez, managing partner at Vertree. Together they discuss whether carbon offsetting should have a central role in climate action; reflect on how this will work out in the long term, and share their thoughts on the action that should be taken to combat this globally.

Wales is distinct from the rest of the United Kingdom for its strong cultural identity. The Welsh language is spoken and taught across the country to this day, and 2021 marked over a century of Labour Party domination of Welsh politics. In this episode Guto Harri, communications consultant and political commentator, hosts a conversation with Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioners for Wales; Mymuna Soleman, spoken-word artist and Founder of the Privilege Café; Dan Tram, Chartered Civil Engineer and Alumnus of the Future Generations Leadership Academy; and Rebecca Williams, Assistant Director of Conservation at the National Trust Wales. They discuss the challenges posed by inequality and climate change; the evolution of diversity of Welsh society; Wales’s world class education and transport policies; and what their country might look like 10 years from now.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 1st December 2021.

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Professor Philippe Sands and Frans Timmermans in conversation about our common future. The human rights lawyer and European Commission Executive Vice president for the European Green Deal talk with Penny Richards, managing director of the Aspen Institute in the UK. They discuss the plight of humanity in an age of climate and biodiversity crises, sharing their predictions and fears for the future; explore the increasing pressure on our fundamental values and freedoms from within and without our countries taking into account factors such as social media; and consider why we must use history, and “live with it, not in it.”

This discussion was recorded before COP26.
This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.

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This conversation is in partnership with Credit Suisse

Budgets vs biodiversity – how can we protect both as tensions rise in the crusade to defend our planet’s natural habitats? Simon Mundy, Moral Money editor at The Financial Times is joined by Sandra Guzman Luna, manager of the Climate Finance Programme at the Climate Policy Initiative; Jojo Mehta, co-founder of Stop Ecocide International; Dr David Obura, founding director of CORDIO East Africa; Oliver Withers, biodiversity lead within the Sustainability Strategy, advisory and finance group at Credit Suisse; and Ana Yang, executive director for the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator. They discuss how technology and innovation could help dying aspects of natural habitats; explore the issues with holding people to account for their environmental impact; and share the importance of criminal liability and how this “has the potential to change behaviour.”

Robin Lustig, award-winning journalist and broadcaster, leads this discussion on the future of Israel. He is joined by Mira Awad, singer, songwriter, actress, and activista; Amnon Be’eri-Sulitzeanu, co-CEO of The Abraham Initiatives; Alistair Burt, Pro-Chancellor of Lancaster University; and Ohad Zemet, spokesperson of the Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom. The panel come together to discuss the future of Israel, focusing on what the country, and the communities living within it, will look like ten years from now; share their thoughts on the future of Israel’s relationships with neighbours in the region, including Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; and predict the future of Israeli relations with Iran, the United States, other Western powers.

This episode was recorded as a live broadcast on the 12th October 2021.

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