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.

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

🚘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

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

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

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:

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

Season 1 Episode 4: In this episode of Climate Conversations with Divya, we sit down with Lucas Maurice, a deep tech expert specializing in battery technology, critical minerals, and sustainable energy solutions. Together, we unravel the complexities of a sector that’s crucial to fighting climate change but not without its controversies.

We explore:

Lucas brings insider insights and practical solutions to light, breaking down myths and offering a clear-eyed view of the challenges ahead. Whether you’re curious about the future of clean energy or simply need a break from holiday chaos, this episode is the perfect listen to recharge your curiosity.

🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation! With our host Divya Kabra

#ClimateConversations #Sustainability #EnergyTech

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lucas and His Background

04:39 The Importance of Batteries and Minerals in Climate Solutions

07:12 Current Trends in Battery Technology

10:25 the duck curve

12:11 Political Factors Affecting Battery Technology Development

14:45 The Future of Battery Technology in Europe

18:00 Playing the myths-and-controversies game

19:25 Myths and Realities of Battery Technology

21:35 Conclusion and Future Outlook

23:55 why NorthVolt failed

27:16 Geopolitical Pressures and Industry Dynamics

30:10 interconnected economy, rethinking transportation and urbanism

32:45 Quantifying Impact: The Role of EVs and Energy Storage

33:43 Electric Vehicles are not clean? "low-cabon" technologies and the unexpected myth-busting

35:53 EV's in Texas - a catastrophe!

37:55 story of the buried wind turbines

39:00 FINALLY!!! Quantifying all the impact - what's good and what's bad?

44:57 destroying the Death Star

45:08 Americanizing things?

46:54 Ethics of Mining: Balancing Benefits and Social Responsibility

49:44 Alternative technologies to traditional mining

50:46 Innovative Mining Technologies

52:32 the next big breakthrough in batteries

54:43 Advice for Startups and Investors

56:47 in all this craziness

57:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Perspectives

58:53 Outro

🎙️ Season 1, Episode 3: Biodiversity Protection and Business Accountability
In this episode of Climate Conversations with Divya, we’re joined by Martina Constantino to explore the vital role of biodiversity protection in business sustainability. Martina shares how her company is helping businesses comply with the European Union’s biodiversity regulations and prepare for the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Together, we delve into the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, what it means for companies, and how biodiversity impacts are being quantified to create measurable change.

📊 Quantifying the Impact:

🌾 Food Security: Pollinators, critical for 75% of global food crops, contribute $235–577 billion in annual crop output. Their protection ensures resilience against biodiversity loss.

🌳 Carbon Sequestration: Restored ecosystems could absorb up to 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, representing ~5% of the global emissions target.

🌱 Climate Action: Scaling biodiversity efforts globally could reduce emissions by 4-5 billion tonnes annually, advancing us 8-10% toward the net zero 2050 target.

💡 Whether you’re a business leader, a sustainability advocate, or someone curious about how biodiversity protection is transforming industries, this episode provides actionable insights and real-world examples to inspire change.

🔥 Subscribe now to Climate Conversations with Divya to uncover the strategies and innovations shaping a more sustainable future!

📖 Glossary:

• Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): A regulation by the European Union requiring companies to disclose sustainability and environmental impact data in their annual reports.
• European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS): Reporting standards under the CSRD that define what companies must disclose regarding sustainability.
• Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): A framework for assessing a company's long-term impact on the environment, society, and corporate governance.
• Mean Species Abundance (MSA): A metric that quantifies biodiversity levels by comparing species abundance in an area to their abundance in an undisturbed environment.
• EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030: A plan by the European Union to halt biodiversity loss and restore natural ecosystems by 2030. Learn more here.

Link for 3Bees

Link for the host

Chapters

00:00 Sound Bite and Bee Sounds!

00:52 Intro and why we are not in a Mad Max Dystopia

02:24 What does Martina do?

03:15 EU's Biodiversity Laws and Why Biodiversity Monitoring?

05:31 EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and what does it mean for comapnies?

08:15 Mandatory Reporting and Corporate Responsibility

10:07 Cool ass demo, fireflies, and growing up on a beach and ecological reserve!

14:05 turtles eating plastic confusing it for jellyfish :(

14:38 quantifying some impact part 1: let's talk numbers

17:55 cool ass demo 2: platform predicting the future and bee sounds!

18:14 Future of Biodiversity Initiatives

25:19 emotional moment, and Divya losing her shit and crying!

26:32 quantifying the impact part 2: polinators and the economy

29:49 51 billion tons! and the net-zero 2050 target

32:57 Communicating Biodiversity and Climate Resilience

33:53 acts of god??

36:34 The Myths and Misconceptions Game! myths about biodiversity explained

46:31 developing nations and the burden of conservation

48:59 Call to Action for CEOs and Governments

50:49 getting kicked by a kangaroo? swimming with sharks?

52:57 outro

FoodTech—buzzword or game-changer? 🌍 In this episode, ⁠I ⁠sit down with Adrien Villalonga, senior associate at Big Idea Ventures, to chew on the innovations reshaping the way we produce and consume food. From alternative proteins to sustainable farming, we explore the delicious intersection of technology and climate action.

💡 What’s on the table:🔍 The jaw-dropping impact of alternative proteins on global emissions.🌱 How startups are tackling food waste and creating new eco-friendly solutions.📊 Quantifying the climate savings: Can FoodTech really save us a billion tons of CO2?

Whether you’re a foodie, a climate advocate, or just curious about what’s next in sustainability, this episode is your backstage pass to the FoodTech revolution.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by our guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of their employers or affiliated organizations.

🎧 Tune in now and find out why FoodTech might just be the future of food!

Chapters

00:00 Intro and How Adrien and I met

03:34 Evaluating Startups for Investment

06:18 Breakthroughs in Alternative Proteins

09:32 Challenges in Precision Fermentation

12:28 Emerging Innovations in Sustainable Food

15:35 Consumer Perception of Lab-Made Foods

17:56 The Perception of Lab-Grown Meat

21:57 The Role of Policy in Cultivated Meat

22:19 Quantifying Impact in Climate Tech

27:51 Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Choices

30:08 Emerging Technologies and Challenges in Sustainability

34:14 Looking ahead