Lithium has emerged as the “metal of the future”. It is the critical component in lithium-ion batteries, powering everything from smartphones to Electric Vehicles (EVs). The low-carbon future requires lithium. But which countries are poised to lead the way in lithium mining and what are the challenges and opportunities? Can supply keep up with rising demand? What does the future hold and who will lead the lithium revolution? Chile, which holds the world’s largest lithium reserves, is the first stop in our new “Future Metals” series. We flew to Santiago for an informative conversation with Daniel Weinstein, Partner at Urzua Abogados, covering Chile’s lithium potential, mining experience, unique advantages, and a little-known Cold War regulation that holds the key to the future.

This is the second part of our interview with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College (Defence Studies Department – Centre for Military Ethics) focusing on the military dimension of the Ukraine-Russia war. This part of our conversation focuses on the critical, next phase of the war and includes an analysis of tank warfare & air warfare; NATO’s ability to support Ukraine and adapt to the varied needs on the ground; the changing contours of the battlefield in East and South Ukraine; the critical window between now and the delivery of new weapons; and the key geopolitical and economic factors in the background. What role can Leopard 2 tanks play in the months ahead? Can fighter jets be deployed effectively? What are the pros and cons? What are the realistic expectations? Listen to this episode and find out what.

This marks the start of a new series focused on the military, political and humanitarian dimensions of the Ukraine-Russia War. In this series opener focused on the military dimension, we spoke with Dr. Marina Miron from King’s College (Defence Studies Department – Centre for Military Ethics). This in-depth conversation covers a wide range of topics including contrasting modes of military leadership; early expectations versus outcomes; the critical reasons behind Ukraine’s performance; Russia’s under-performance and lingering issues; NATO’s role, challenges and lessons learned; cyber/information warfare; the ever-changing battlefield & weapons; the geopolitical “war beyond the war”; and the key factors to consider in the critical, next phase.  

Did you know that Silicon Valley isn’t the world leader when it comes to startups? In this latest episode of The Global List Podcast, we travel to Israel for an informative, in-depth conversation with Oded Agam, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of NextLeap Ventures. You will find out how and why Israel earned the title of “Startup Nation” – with more startups per capita than anywhere else in the world. You will also find out why Israel’s entrepreneurial culture has generated so many startups and unicorns; how military service contributes to innovation & startup success; and why business and technology can also serve as a bridge to peace and progress. 

The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s most important and diverse ecosystem – representing 10% of known species and 34m people. On average, a “new” species of animal or plant is discovered in the Amazon every 3 days. So, what’s it like to find the largest tree in the Amazon and how can technology, particularly LiDAR, enhance biodiversity, forest management, and conservation? In this latest episode of The Global List Podcast, we venture deep into the Amazon for an illuminating conversation with Prof. Eric Bastos Görgens. In 2019, it was Prof. Görgens’ group of Brazilian and British researchers who located the largest tree in the Amazon, 88 meters (289ft) high. Since then, the research project has mapped even more of the Amazon using the latest in LiDAR and drone technology as well as innovative research methods.

Given climate change, rapid urbanization and food supply/security issues, how will we feed ourselves as we move into the future? Can we continue to just rely on traditional farming given weather-related issues and the impact on climate change? What role can vertical/indoor farming play in addressing the challenges? In this latest episode of The Global List Podcast, we travel to Copenhagen, Denmark, for a conversation with Anders Riemann, the Founder and CEO of Nordic Harvest – Europe’s largest vertical farm. 

Rewilding has emerged as one of the most promising strategies to mitigate Climate Change and restore Biodiversity. But how do Rewilding and Carbon Offsetting fit into the Climate Action & Environmental agenda? What are the key benefits, challenges, and success stories? In this brand new episode of The Global List, we travel to the Scottish Highlands to speak with Richard Clarke, the managing director of Highland Carbon, which creates bespoke carbon offsetting solutions for corporations. Join our latest adventure and get an insider’s view of the rewilding revolution as COP27 gets underway. 

When it comes to reducing emissions and pollution, air travel remains one of the last remaining frontiers. So, can we make air travel sustainable? What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and can it power commercial airlines in the near future? In this brand new episode of The Global List, we fly to Amsterdam, Holland, to chat with Sarah Wilkin, the Founder & CEO of Fly Green Alliance, which specializes in sustainable travel solutions for aviation & sports, as well as the wide-scale adoption of SAF. Come aboard and find out what’s on the horizon in decarbonised, sustainable travel & mobility.

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. So, how do you create your own COVID vaccine when you don’t have access to the intellectual property? In this episode of The Global List, I travel to Cape Town, South Africa, to speak with Dr. Petro Terblanche, the Managing Director of Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, which made history by creating the first-ever African COVID vaccine based on the publicly available sequence of Moderna’s mRNA vaccine. Find out how Afrigen fused innovation, science and technology to forge this breakthrough and what’s next.

The Nordic Region (Scandinavia) is a world leader when it comes to Cleantech Innovation and Sustainability. But why? What are the key factors behind this? What trends can we spot and what key lessons can we take away? In this very first episode of The Global List, we travel to Sweden to speak with Magnus Agerström, Managing Director of Cleantech Scandinavia, and we find out how the Nordic countries are tackling Cleantech, Climate Change and Sustainability.