Stories for the future

Navigating the transformation of the energy sector, particularly as fossil fuel giants like Equinor pivot towards renewable energy, is no small task.

This episode dives into the intricacies of this transition, highlighting the role of sustainability professionals who find themselves at the crossroads of environmental responsibility and corporate profitability.

My guest is Natasha Blisson, a seasoned expert in sustainability at Equinor, with a career journey spanning from the French Ministry for Environment to leading a team focused on managing environmental and social risks within Equinor. Her insights reveal the complexities and challenges faced by energy companies as they strive to balance ambitious sustainability goals with the realities of profitability and market pressures.

The conversation touches on the importance of collaboration across sectors—government, industry, and civil society—to create a unified front in the fight against climate change. Natasha emphasizes that true progress will require innovation not just in technology, but also in economic models and regulatory frameworks. This holistic approach is crucial for developing solutions that are both effective and economically viable, paving the way for a sustainable future.

Natasha provides a candid look at the duality of feeling like a change agent while grappling with the frustrations of an industry that has historically relied on fossil fuels.

Takeaways:

• The energy transition requires collaboration between industries, policymakers, and civil society to succeed.


• Equinor's ambitious net-zero goal by 2050 emphasizes the need for sustainable practices in energy.


• The challenge of balancing sustainability and profitability is a constant dilemma.


• Carbon capture and storage technologies are seen as vital for achieving short-term climate goals.


• Understanding the complexities of energy production helps shift perspectives from good versus bad.

How does a global company steeped in combustion engine technology navigate the energy transition?

This episode dives into the intricacies of communication and innovation at Wärtsilä, a leader in marine and energy solutions. Meet Jane Jünger, who shares her journey from journalism to leading communications in a tech giant, and now to her role at the University of Bergen. We discuss the vital role of collaboration and transparency in engaging employees and the public about sustainable practices, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in tackling climate change.

Takeaways:

• Communication is crucial in building trust and understanding around new energy technologies.


• Collaboration across different sectors is essential for driving successful energy transitions.


• Innovation should be owned by all employees, not just top management or R&D departments.


• Engaging local communities in discussions about renewable energy is vital for public acceptance.


• Academia and industry must work together to create relevant educational programs for future jobs.


• Diversity in skills and perspectives can lead to more effective problem-solving in energy transition projects.

Wärtsilä

University of Bergen

Jane Jünger

Stories for the Future

Geoscientists are essential for shaping a sustainable future, and today's conversation dives deep into how they can transition away from traditional fossil fuel industries towards more innovative and environmentally friendly roles.

I chat with Emer Caslin, a business development manager at ICRAG, who shares her journey from the oil and gas sector to exploring geoscience's contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals. We discuss the importance of engaging younger generations in geoscience, emphasizing the need for increased visibility and relevance in schools. Emer highlights the collaborative efforts between geoscientists and social scientists to tackle pressing challenges like climate change and resource management.

Takeaways:

• Geoscientists have a crucial role to play in shaping a sustainable future for humanity.


• Transitioning away from fossil fuel industries is essential for geoscientists to remain relevant.


• Engaging younger generations in geoscience is vital for the future of the field.


• The collaboration between geoscience and social science enhances understanding of environmental issues.


• Mapping geoscience to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals highlights its importance in various sectors.


• Communication skills are increasingly important for geoscientists to convey their impact on society.

Mentioned in this episode:

• ICRAG


• EAGE


• Geoscience in Action


• Emer Caslin on LinkedIn

Storiesforthefuture.com

Creating optimistic and realistic narratives about the future is essential for inspiring collective action against climate change.

In this episode, we meet Steve Willis, an author and innovator, who discusses his climate fiction novel "Fairhaven," which explores solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

Steve emphasizes the need for large-scale projects to address the climate crisis and highlights the potential for industries traditionally seen as part of the problem, like oil and gas, to contribute to the solution. The conversation delves into the importance of fostering dialogue between the traditional energy sector and renewable solutions, as well as the role of storytelling in shaping a compelling vision for the future.

Takeaways:

• Creating optimistic and realistic narratives about the future can inspire collective action.


• The oil and gas industry must adapt to meet climate challenges and leverage their resources.


• The importance of engaging diverse voices in the dialogue about climate solutions cannot be understated.


• Despair in the face of climate change leads to inaction; hope can ignite progress.


• We need multi-million dollar projects to combat climate change at the necessary scale.


• Fiction can be a powerful tool to visualize and communicate potential climate solutions.

Links referenced in this episode:

• storiesforthefuture.com


• Herculean Climate Solutions


• Fairhaven: A Novel of Climate Optimism


• Fairhaven on Amazon

Get in touch with Steve on LinkedIn

The chart and LinkedIn post mentioned in the episode

In this episode of 'Stories for the Future,' I reconnect with one of my very first podcast guests, Anders Dræge, an ex-petroleum geophysicist who shifted from a successful career in Norway's state-owned energy company, Equinor, to a new role in the insurance sector.

We discuss Anders' motivations for leaving the oil and gas industry due to environmental concerns, his transition and adaptation to a different field using skills from his previous career, and the current state and future of the energy industry. The episode highlights the importance of transferable skills and adaptability in career transitions, especially in the context of the global energy shift towards sustainability.

Takeaways:

• The guest, Anders, transitioned from a successful career in the oil and gas industry to a new role in insurance, using skills like machine learning to adapt to a different sector.


• Despite changes in the industry, Anders would still choose to leave the oil and gas sector today, highlighting ongoing concerns about environmental impact and the pace of transition to renewables.


• The podcast explores the need for better dialogue between those inside and outside the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of understanding different perspectives and bridging knowledge gaps.


• Universities and educational institutions are suggested as ideal venues for fostering constructive debates and discussions on energy transition, engaging both students and industry professionals.


• The episode touches on the complexity of balancing energy needs with environmental impact, pointing out the nuanced debates about energy shortage versus climate change risks.


• Anders expresses concern about the slow pace of change towards renewable energy, despite technological advancements and increasing global energy consumption driven by new technologies like AI.

In this episode, we delve into the complexities of the energy sector with Maximilian Haas, a geomechanical engineer at SLB.

We talk about the binary perceptions of the oil and gas industry and the crucial gray areas often missed. Highlighting Max's journey from academia to the energy sector, this episode stresses the need for open-minded dialogue and collaboration in tackling climate and energy challenges.

To learn more about Max, you can connect with him on LinkedIn

For ideas, questions or suggestions about guests, please reach out to me on Storiesforthefuture.com or on LinkedIn

We kick off the new season with a special episode featuring six different voices from the European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers (EAGE) Annual Conference in Oslo.

The episode explores how to foster better understanding and dialogue between professionals in the oil and gas sector and the general public. Key themes include energy transition, sustainability, the role of geoscience, and the importance of collaboration and trust. The episode features soundbites with geoscientists and industry professionals, discussing the dilemmas and challenges in the energy transition.

https://eage.org/

https://www.icrag-centre.org/

https://www.storiesforthefuture.com/

In season 6, I revisit a topic that is both close to my heart and relevant to my career: how can we encourage dialogue between professionals in the oil and gas industry and those outside of it?

As a professional who transitioned from oil and gas, I often find myself defending my past self, the one who wanted to highlight the positive aspects of the industry that are often overlooked or disregarded by outsiders.

The vision driving this season is that today's oil and gas giants will become tomorrow's green energy pioneers, with all the talented individuals working in the industry leading the energy transition.

My guests will include individuals who are still in the oil and gas industry, those who have transitioned to renewable energy, those with ideas on fostering understanding rather than division, and others who can see shades of gray where most see black and white.

In order to create the future, we first need to be able to imagine it.

Today, on this last episode of the season, I'm joined by Merlin Bola, an enthusiast in ecology, psychology and storytelling. Merlin's journey began with a deep interest in environmental studies, leading him to some really big questions about life and humanity.

Merlin advocates for the use of imagination as a tool to envision future possibilities, emphasizing the role of storytelling in bringing these concepts to life. His current focus is on integrating these ideas to support initiatives aimed at environmental regeneration. He believes in the power of storytelling to effectively communicate complex environmental challenges and solutions.

This is one of the most philosophical conversations I've had on this podcast, but Merlin also manages make complex ideas easy to understand so that we can make it easier for people to rally around causes that matter.

Merlin Bola on LinkedIn.

Growintoflow

For more information about this podcast and the rest of my work, please visit bycause.co

My guest today is an expert in climate communication.

Her name is Katherine Duarte, and the reason I fist noticed her, was because she was a fresh breath on my Instagram feed. I noticed that she shared important, serious and very interesting stuff about climate and sustainability, but she did it in a very funny way.

Today we discuss the complex, difficult, but very interesting topic about how to communicate hard issues like climate change.

Katherine has her very own approach where she mixes in humour and relatebility with the hard facts. She has a very interesting career journey behind her, going from academia, via teaching and media, to now helping businesses communicate better about their sustainability initiatives without greenwashing.

Links:

Katherine's LinkedIn profile.

Katherine's Instagram profile greenkathyta

For more information about what I'm up to in my own business, check out Bycause.co