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Shipping moves 90% of global trade – and yet it’s one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. In this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Heikki Pöntynen, CEO of Finnish cleantech pioneer Norsepower, to explore a solution that’s both elegantly simple and radically effective: modern rotor sails.

Heikki explains how Norsepower has revived and re-engineered the century-old Flettner rotor to deliver real-world fuel savings of 5–25%, with some transatlantic routes targeting a staggering 50% reduction. We dig into the physics of the Magnus effect, why side winds are a ship’s best friend, and how AI-driven automation ensures crews get maximum performance with minimal effort.

We also discuss why retrofits dominate current adoption, the growing trend of building “rotor sail ready” vessels, and how stricter IMO regulations are shortening payback times to as little as one year. Heikki shares insights on compatibility with biofuels and electric ships, and why wind propulsion will be a common sight by 2040.

This isn’t about prototypes or pilot projects – these sails are already cutting CO₂ at scale, with 26,000 tonnes saved to date. If you want to understand a proven, scalable technology that can help shipping hit net zero by 2050, this conversation will change how you see the horizon.

Listen now to learn how wind, engineering, and smart regulation could reshape maritime decarbonisation.

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I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing subscribers:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Subscribe to the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one, as well as give you access to the entire back catalog of Climate Confident episodes.

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Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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In this episode of Climate Confident, I sit down with Chris Moyer, President of Echo Communications Advisors, to unpack the tension at the heart of today’s clean energy movement: how do we keep momentum when federal politics try to slam the brakes?

Chris has spent nearly 20 years advising senators, campaigns, and climate leaders on shaping public narratives that drive real policy change. He brings insider perspective on what’s happening behind the headlines in Washington, and why it matters even if you’re far outside the Beltway.

We explore:

• How startups and states are stepping up where federal government is stepping back
• Why reframing messages around “jobs,” “energy dominance,” and “winning the future” is essential, even if it feels uncomfortable
• What’s behind geothermal’s global resurgence
• How permitting delays are silently throttling the clean energy transition
• The role of corporate advocacy, and where it’s falling short

This one’s for anyone navigating climate action in turbulent political waters, whether you're based in the US or watching its influence ripple globally.

🎧 Listen now to hear why smart messaging is becoming just as critical as smart technology.

#CleanEnergy #ClimatePolicy #GeothermalEnergy #EnergyTransition #ClimateCommunication #NetZero #PermittingReform #Greenwashing #ClimateFatigue

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing subscribers:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Subscribe to the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one, as well as give you access to the entire back catalog of Climate Confident episodes.

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If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

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Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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In this episode of Climate Confident, I spoke with Ori Shaashua, Co-founder and CCO of Gigablue, a marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) company taking a radically scalable approach to the carbon challenge.

Gigablue’s MCFS (Marine Carbon Fixation and Sequestration) method taps into the ocean’s natural carbon cycle by cultivating phytoplankton in floating substrates and using gravity, not high-energy processes, to sink captured CO₂ to deep-sea sediment for thousands of years. It’s a low-energy, high-durability method that’s already secured the largest ocean carbon removal offtake to date.

We unpack why mCDR matters, how it compares to nature-based and tech-heavy CDR approaches, and what makes ocean deserts, like those off the coast of New Zealand, ideal sites for safe and measurable sequestration. Ori also outlines their scale-up pathway: from kiloton removals today to multi-megaton capacity by 2029, and potentially gigaton-level by 2035.

We dive into the mechanics of traceability, the real costs of permanence, and why MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) is the make-or-break for CDR credibility. Ori also pulls no punches on what’s holding back progress: delayed regulation, weak compliance markets, and over-reliance on short-term carbon offsets.

If your company is thinking seriously about durable net zero strategies, or wondering how ocean-based carbon removal fits into the climate tech landscape, this episode delivers real insight.

🎧 Listen now to learn how Gigablue is pushing marine CDR from pilot to planetary scale.

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

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Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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Is climate doomism stopping us from acting? In this episode, I speak with climate economist Michael Jakob, author of The Case Against Climate Doom, about why despair is not just unhelpful, it’s inaccurate.

We explore the real economic tipping points that are accelerating decarbonisation: plummeting costs for solar, wind, storage, and EVs. Michael argues that the shift to clean tech isn’t about idealism, it’s about basic economics. When renewables are cheaper and more reliable, adoption becomes inevitable.

We dig into the role of carbon pricing, the importance of framing climate action around opportunity, not sacrific, and the political realities holding back faster policy change. Michael also shares examples from countries like Ethiopia and Vietnam, where rapid transitions are already underway.

We talk about the limitations of international climate negotiations, the growing role of culture in shaping climate awareness, and why fear alone doesn’t drive actio, agency does.

If you’re working in business, policy, or sustainability, this conversation offers a critical reframing: the future is still in our hands, and in many places, it’s already arriving faster than expected.

🎧 Listen in to learn:

• Why clean energy economics is turning the tide
• What governments and markets are getting right
• How to communicate climate risk without paralysing your audience

🔗 Check out Michael’s book (available free) at ct-economics.net

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

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Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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In this episode of Climate Confident, I sat down with Kanika Chandaria, Climate Lead at Agreena, to explore one of the most overlooked yet high-impact climate solutions: soil.

We talked about why regenerative agriculture is gaining traction, not just as a nature-based solution, but as a scalable, economically viable climate strategy. Kanika broke down how soil has the potential to sequester 2–5 gigatonnes of CO₂ annually, making it a key lever for companies aiming to meet net zero targets.

We also got into the challenges: from the financial barriers facing farmers to the complexity of MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification) for soil carbon. Kanika explained how Agreena combines satellite imagery, AI, and selective soil sampling to deliver robust data at scale, data that’s now being used not just for carbon markets, but to inform sustainable loans and supply chain initiatives.

We examined the growing role of the private sector in climate action, especially as policy delays continue in the EU and US. And we discussed the importance of interoperability, why regenerative farming solutions need to work across carbon markets, food systems, and financial products.

If you’re a business leader thinking seriously about decarbonisation, soil carbon may be the high-impact tool you’ve been missing.

🎧 Listen now and find out why soil is emerging as the next frontier in climate strategy.

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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Most climate policies focus on cutting emissions. But what if the real issue is what’s being left off the table, fossil fuel production itself?

In this week’s episode of Climate Confident, I speak with Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, about why global climate goals are doomed if we keep expanding fossil fuel supply while trying to cut demand.

Tzeporah explains how the Paris Agreement never once mentions the words “oil,” “gas,” or “coal”, despite 86% of emissions coming directly from them. She lays out the case for a global treaty to phase out fossil fuel production, how countries like Colombia are already stepping up, and why we need a just transition framework that includes debt relief and international cooperation.

We discuss:

• Why fossil fuel expansion continues despite climate pledges
• The $7 trillion in annual subsidies distorting energy markets
• The role of Global South nations and equity in the energy transition
• How “net zero” has been weaponised as a delay tactic
• And why renewables alone won’t solve the crisis unless we stop digging the hole deeper

This is a frank look at what it really takes to deliver on climate targets, and why we can’t keep ignoring the supply side of the problem.

🔗 Learn more at fossilfueltreaty.org

🎧 Listen and subscribe at climateconfidentpodcast.com

#climatepolicy #fossilfuels #justtransition #energytransition #climateconfident #carbonemissions #netzero #sustainability #supplysideclimatepolicy

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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Most people don’t think about carbon emissions when they think about the internet—let alone digital advertising. But here’s the kicker: the ad tech ecosystem is responsible for roughly the same emissions as the global aviation sector. Yes, really.

In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I spoke with Frank Maguire, SVP of Product Marketing & Sustainability at Equativ (formerly Sharethrough), about the often-overlooked climate impact of digital ads. We broke down how every impression, bid, and page refresh contributes to a complex, energy-intensive infrastructure—and what’s actually being done to clean it up.

Frank shared how programmatic advertising works, why the auction-based model generates such high emissions, and what’s being done to make ad delivery more efficient. We explored GreenPMPs (Private Marketplaces) that strip out high-emission inventory while improving performance, the role of AI in optimising and complicating emissions, and why industry collaboration is key.

We also discussed how regulation like the EU’s CSRD is pushing companies to measure and act on their digital carbon footprint—and why that matters for brands, platforms, and consumers alike.

If you’ve ever wondered how something as invisible as online ads can have a tangible climate impact—or how business can respond—this episode unpacks it all.

Listen now to learn how the ad tech world is confronting its emissions problem, and what it means for sustainability in digital infrastructure.

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sat down with Stuart Thompson, President of ABB Electrification Service, to unpack one of the most overlooked but critical fronts in the climate transition: industrial decarbonisation.

Industry accounts for around a quarter of global energy-related carbon emissions, and much of that stems from outdated infrastructure, unreliable grids, and a historic reliance on cheap fossil fuels. Stuart leads a $1.4 billion division with 5,000 engineers working across 50 countries to modernise that very infrastructure, and in this conversation, he shared exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.

We explored:

• Why energy security, cost, and carbon goals often pull in different directions
• How modernising old assets can cut both emissions and costs - without ripping everything out
• Why battery storage “as-a-service” is taking off, especially when paired with AI for energy optimisation
• The role of the circular economy in electrification, from recycling components to extending asset life
• What’s holding companies back (hint: underinvestment and inertia), and how ABB is helping them move faster

If you’re a business leader navigating energy volatility, emissions targets, and infrastructure risk, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at how to align climate goals with operational needs.

Listen now to hear why electrification isn’t just about new tech  - it’s about rethinking ownership models, resilience, and risk.

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

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Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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Hi folks, Tom Raftery here.

Just dropping into your feed to let you know there’s no new Climate Confident episode this week - I’m taking a short break to recharge and get ready for some brilliant conversations I’ve got lined up in the coming weeks.

But don’t worry, the podcast will be back next Wednesday at 7am CEST, as always, with another inspiring story of climate action and innovation.

In the meantime, if you’re missing your climate fix, remember there’s a massive back catalogue of over 220 episodes to explore, from cutting-edge carbon removal tech to climate policy deep dives, it’s all there and ready for you to binge.

And if you’ve been getting value from the show, consider supporting the podcast. For as little as €3 or $3 a month, you can help keep Climate Confident independent. You’ll find the link to become a supporter below.

Thanks so much for listening — and I’ll see you next week!

👉 Explore past episodes: https://www.climateconfidentpodcast.com

👉 Support the podcast: Support Climate Confident

Support the show

Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

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In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Ciaran Flanagan, who leads Siemens’ Global Data Centre business, to unpack the evolving role of data centres in our energy and climate systems.

We dig into the data centre’s journey from a “sausage machine” of power-hungry servers to a potential hero in grid stability and renewable energy adoption. Ciaran shares how data centres in Ireland, despite consuming up to 20% of national electricity, are driving economic growth and pioneering greener practices.

We explore why digital twins are more than a buzzword, enabling smarter design and cutting resource waste. Ciaran also explains how AI’s explosive demand pressures the grid while offering real-time energy optimisations to make data centres more sustainable.

Key highlights:

• The role of data centres as catalysts for renewable energy growth
• How digital twin technology can cut construction emissions and energy use
• AI’s double-edged impact on data centre sustainability
• The regulatory shift pushing data centre operators to report and reduce emissions

We also touch on the often-overlooked economic benefits of data centres, from direct jobs to the broader tech ecosystem.

The report I referred to in the podcast is available here.

Listen in to learn how the data centre industry is pivoting from climate problem to climate solution.

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Podcast supporters
I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters:

• Jerry Sweeney
• Andreas Werner
• Stephen Carroll
• Roger Arnold

And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.

Contact
If you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn.

If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show.

Credits
Music credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper