“You can’t build a clean energy future if you abandon the communities that powered the old one.”

In episode 4 of our Concordia Summit Series, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Curtin, VP of Energy Transitions at The Rockefeller Foundation, to explore the future of the global carbon market — and why we need it to deliver on real decarbonization, not just accounting wins.

👉 What you’ll hear:

• A deep dive into the rise — and fall — of trust in the voluntary carbon market, and what it takes to rebuild credibility.
• An explanation of the pioneering concept of the “energy transition credit” — how retiring a coal plant, replacing it with dispatchable clean power, and engaging the workforce gives us a new model.
• Why a “just transition” isn’t optional — how lives, communities, and supply chains matter just as much as emissions numbers.
• The role that philanthropies, standards bodies, and national governments must play to make this work.
• Short- vs. long-term economics of making coal to clean conversions viable.

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About The Green Hour Podcast

The Green Hour Podcast is a global platform that connects sustainability leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to share insights on sustainable solutions. With a growing audience across six continents, The Green Hour continues to be at the forefront of global conversations on environmental action.

🌎 Website: https://thegreenhourpodcast.com/

🎥 Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/bh9wrW6jbXc?si=yFqfpIrUzxE3l6md

🎥 Watch more from the Summit Series ’25: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyjdkjacNUyEFCys09rl4OiibZgERPLdB&si=bNFWs0XdLSYN5Ava