Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

Get full show notes and our newsletter at wickedproblems.earth - and you can also get these episodes ad-free.

Wicked Problems: Energy Transition and Decarbonization Insights

In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into key issues and recent developments in the energy transition and decarbonization efforts. . Special guest Freya Pratty from SIFTED.eu (get her climate tech newsletter here) shares insights into the growth and challenges within climate tech companies, including an in-depth look at Octopus Energy's software success, Kraken. The episode also highlights a significant paper from Oxford University examining the potential resilience of the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act against repeal, offering a glimmer of hope in the current political climate. Professor Sam Fankhauser of the Smith School joined us. And in some good news, the episode touches on the impressive rise of EV sales in the UK, policy impacts on the electric vehicle market, and the implications of Chinese EV makers entering the market. Ben Nelmes of New Automotive and Ben Kilbey of Bold Voodoo and EVUK came round. Join us for these crucial discussions and deep dive into the future of energy and climate policy.

And clips from the Energy Transition Acceleration Forum at the British Library produced by The Carbon Trust - featuring Chris Stark of DESNZ being interviewed by Bloomberg's Akshat Rathi, Quadrature Climate Foundation's Greg de Temmermen, and Arthur Downing of Octopus Energy.

00:00 Introduction and Consumer Issues

00:34 Welcome to Wicked Problems

01:20 Upcoming Interviews and Highlights

01:51 Interview with Freya Pratty

05:22 Deep Dive into Octopus and Kraken

13:41 First of a Kind Factories

17:07 Debate on Climate Tech Terminology

29:00 Sam Fankhauser Oxford

29:00 Interview with Professor Sam Fankhauser

39:35 Navigating Congressional Influence on Climate Policy

40:22 Vulnerabilities in Renewable Energy Policies

41:16 The Role of Media and Reporting in Climate Change

41:57 Global Perspectives on Deliverism and Climate Jobs

43:28 Emotional vs. Rational Approaches to Climate Advocacy

45:16 Global Climate Legislation Trends

46:20 Anglo-Saxon Peculiarities in Climate Policy

47:51 Future Research and Projects at Oxford Net Zero

50:02 EV Sales Ben Squared

50:27 Surprising Trends in UK EV Sales

01:00:02 The Rise of Chinese EV Manufacturers

01:04:35 Challenges and Opportunities in EV Market Policies

01:15:54 The Importance of Affordable Electricity in Decarbonization

01:18:46 UK's Role in Global Climate Leadership

01:20:48 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last year we started interviewing folk in the business of solar radiation management (SRM) - aka one flavour of “geoengineering”. It’s a taboo subject. It’s sci-fi gold. It’s also something we’re going to be talking about. Particularly after famed climate scientist James Hansen and a platoon of other climate scientists published a new paper declaring not just the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5C to be in the rear-view mirror, but - as Damian Carrington in the Guardian summed it up: “The new analysis said global heating is likely to reach 2C by 2045, unless solar geoengineering is deployed.”

The reason for a lot of this acceleration in global heating, say Hansen and colleagues, is (perversely) the result of successful efforts to reduce pollution. Specifically, removing sulfur from maritime fuel. That sulfur has been causing potentially millions of deaths a year due to respiratory diseases. So it’s being phased out. Only one problem - the sulfur was having the under-appreciated consequence of reflecting quite a lot of sunlight back into space. How much? More than the entire energy output of humanity in a given year. And now that it’s been removed, enough to - according to the paper - drive half the acceleration in global heating over the past 5 years or so.

Hansen is hardly fringe for picking this up, though people don’t all agree on the significance. Zeke Hausfather, who was not involved in the research, is among climate scientist who has acknowledge this “aerosol forcing” problem. Some data of his turned up in Nat Bullard’s superb annual climate deck:

Wicked Problems is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

On the call releasing their findings, Hansen et al discussed SRM. Which (even more perversely) often involves ideas for putting sulfur dioxide back into the atmosphere. But on purpose. To cool things off. To buy time.

So here is part one of a series of conversations about SRM, featuring Kelly Wanser - the head of Silver Lining, one of the leading non-batshit-crazy outfits trying to do research on technologies that might make it possible. We’ll put out part two very soon.

00:00 Introduction to the Climate Crisis

00:28 The Doomsday Clock and Climate Realities

01:57 Hansen's Climate Predictions

02:55 Aerosol Forcing and Global Warming

05:10 Purposeful Global Cooling

08:04 Interview with Kelly Wanser

11:07 Silver Linings' Mission and Climate Interventions

23:19 Challenges and Ethical Questions

31:32 Introduction to Luke Eisman and Make Sunsets

31:50 Neal Stephenson's Influence and Geoengineering Concept

32:45 Luke Eisman's DIY Approach to Geoengineering

34:05 Critique of Non-Expert Interventions

35:10 Challenges in Atmospheric Science

37:51 Responsible Research and Global Perspectives

40:10 The Importance of Atmospheric Monitoring

47:56 Global South and Climate Risk Research 5

2:55 The Montreal Protocol and Climate Agreements

54:54 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come to wickedproblems.earth for full show notes.

Sophie Hall of ETH Zürich joins Richard Delevan to discuss her research into using game theory to embed more fairness into the algorithms that increasingly control the services we rely upon for our everyday lives.

00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems

00:04 The Role of AI in Critical Infrastructure

01:01 AI's Impact on Society and Ethics

03:19 Trust and AI in Life-or-Death Situations

04:57 Personal Anecdotes and AI's Everyday Influence

07:23 AI in Energy and Infrastructure

08:48 Ethics and Fairness in AI Algorithms

11:29 Interview with Sophie Hall: AI and Fairness

12:47 Sophie's Research and Its Real-World Applications

26:21 Challenges and Future Directions in AI and Policy

45:02 Conclusion and Call to Action

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get more at wickedproblems.earth

So much is happening that it’s hard to drink from the firehose of US executive orders on energy and crazy chaos orangutang screeches on presidential letterhead, UK debates about growth versus climate, and parsing the statements of tech broligarchs to the only people left who can hold them accountable – their investors during earnings calls this week.

And that’s before we get to Heathrow and a Scottish court ruling that the Rosebank field was unlawfully given permission because it ignored carbon emissions – which I’m sure peaked the interest of lawyers for the 16 Just Stop Oil protestors facing some of the longest sentences ever handed down for non-violent protests.

So we’ve got a mega-episode for you this Friday the last day of January. 

We’ve got climate comedian and UCL academic Matt Winning, along with climate journalist and BlueSky maestro Dave Vetter to help make sense of all of that. And we’ve got Adam Grant Bell of the UK consultancy Stonehaven, who after decades in and out of government has a pretty good sense for these things, setting some odds on what’s going to happen this year in getting enough renewables built to achieve the UK government’s goals of hitting clean power by 2030. And he thinks the UK government might this year finally move away from a national price for electricity and to a system where cheaper electricity from things like wind and solar will be reflected locally, something Octopus’s Greg Jackson and others have been calling for and could radically change decisions about where power gets generated and where you site things like factories that will use it.

And because we can’t ignore that chaos orangutang with nuclear weapons, US-based Financial Times journos Amanda Chu and me aul mucker Jamie Smyth of Energy Source join us.

00:13 Government's Role in the Chaos 

00:18 Trump's Impact on Renewable Energy 

00:45 Weekly Recap and Upcoming Topics 

01:11 Elon Musk

02:31 Climate and Energy Policies

04:37 Interview with FT Journalists 

05:49 Tracking Executive Orders 

09:41 Impact on Renewable Energy Projects 

10:29 Texas and Clean Energy Growth 

12:48 Energy Policy and Executive Authority 

13:49 Challenges in Renewable Energy Development 

15:58 Geopolitical Factors and Market Dynamics 

20:11 Future of Renewable Energy Auctions 

36:55 Enhanced Geothermal and Government Policies 

37:31 Small Modular Reactors and Long Duration Storage 

38:22 Chancellor's Speech and Planning Reforms 

39:30 Environmental and Climate Change Debates 

40:37 Rosebank Ruling and Oil and Gas Projects 

42:48 Interview with Dave Vedder and Matt Winning 

44:34 AI Advancements and Energy Implications 

53:46 Heathrow Expansion and Sustainable Aviation Fuel 

01:04:43 Closing Thoughts and Upcoming Events

If you’re enjoying the tunes, check out the whole outro playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AWvHdqqNAUCJcByQEokut?si=2f56f6d68d2c4bff

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine living in Los Angeles. Imagine that you actually wrote something nearly 10 years ago that pretty much nailed the fire we’re seeing this month. Imagine you put 10 years of your life into writing a novel that cut no corners and tried to make real the stakes and the conflicts those disasters would bring up – as a warning to act sooner. Now imagine the worst person in the world taking credit for your work while using the tragedy – that you forsaw – to turn people against the solutions that would do something to stop more of these disasters happening in future.

How Stephen Markley, author of 2023 novel The Deluge, is keeping it together despite all the above I will never know, but I’m grateful he could make time to speak with me this week. And do suggest future guests to me on BlueSky or in the comments below.

Share

00:19 Predicting the Fire Disaster

01:05 Reflecting on the Current Week

02:12 Living Through the Fire

03:43 The Role of Environmental Regulations

04:21 Interview with Stephen Markley

06:26 Stephen's Experience During the Fires

11:23 The Political Landscape and Climate Policy

26:43 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan interviews Laurent Segalen, co-host of Redefining Energy, about his North Atlantic Transmission One - Link project. The discussion covers the project's ambitious goal of connecting the energy grids of North America and Europe via a 6 GW undersea cable to increase energy security and resilience, especially in a world increasingly dependent on renewables. Laurent shares his personal journey that led him to this project, including the influence of key historical events and past experiences in energy trading and investment. The conversation touches on the technical, financial, and geopolitical aspects of the project, as well as the challenges and feasibility studies conducted. The episode concludes with insights into the project's potential security implications and future developments.

00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems

00:45 International Energy Connections

01:57 The Future of Global Energy Trade

03:58 Interview with Laurent Seguelin

04:51 Laurent's Early Influences

11:43 The Birth of Scope 2

16:46 The North Atlantic Transmission Project

24:19 Feasibility and Future Prospects

26:43 Starting the Project: Initial Challenges and Collaborations

27:54 Wind Data Analysis: Newfoundland and Ireland

28:51 Hydro and Wind Energy Developments

30:55 Investor Discussions and Independent Reports

34:34 Technical and Logistical Considerations

40:53 Cost and Feasibility of the Project

45:56 Security Concerns and Strategic Importance

48:14 Final Thoughts and Future Outlook

51:54 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For full show notes, ad-free listening, and our newsletter, check out wickedproblems.earth.

In this episode of Wicked Problems, Richard Delevan talks with Laurie Laybourn of the Strategic Climate Risks Initiative and James Dyke from the University of Exeter. They tackle the stark reality that the preemptive climate strategies have largely failed and emphasize the need to leverage state capacities discovered during crises like COVID-19 to address the climate emergency. They explore concepts such as 'derailment risk' and discuss the potential catastrophic outcomes of the climate crisis, highlighting the vital need for dramatic policy changes and the role of academia, policymakers, and the private sector in combating climate change. The conversation also touches on the moral implications of surpassing the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold and the cynical role of fossil fuel interests. Dyke and Laybourn underscore the urgency for immediate, effective climate action and cooperation at a global scale.

00:00 Introduction: Extraordinary Times and Climate Challenges

00:20 The Climate Crisis: A Battle Unfought

00:59 Real World Conversations: Experts Weigh In

02:38 Introducing Laurie Laybourne and James Dyke

03:40 The Doom Loop: Climate and Economic Risks

11:05 Cascading Risks and National Security

13:33 State Capacity and Climate Action

24:42 Geoengineering: The Last Resort?

30:30 Complacency in Risk Assessments

31:45 Geoengineering and Emergency Toolkits

32:51 The Urgency of Climate Action

34:53 Societal Change and Optimism

38:22 Financial Markets and Climate Risk

44:39 The Role of Private Capital

54:30 The Reality of Climate Protests

01:01:26 Concluding Thoughts and Future Outlook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last few days we’ve been tracking some of the nominees for Donald Trump’s Insane Clown Posse Cabinet. Starting with Chris Wright at Energy (better than expected!) and then Lee Zeldin at EPA (and NGL was fun to watch him get stuffed into a locker by Bernie Sanders, Ed Markey, and Sheldon Whitehouse). But after 9 hours of hearings watched for you, here’s the final Trump energy boss - Interior Sec nominee and potential head of the National Energy Council, North Dakota governor and billionaire Doug Burgum. 

Burgum is a fan of “clean coal”, “methane capture”, and “energy dominance” - and while he says he acknowledges climate change doesn’t think it matters next to using more coal to build more AI data centres to beat China. But like the LA fires, whether or not you believe in climate change, climate change believes in you. 

And if Doug Burgum becomes Interior Sec he will be responsible for brokering a deal next year to replace the expiring 100-year-old agreement between the Western US states including 40 million people to divide up the flow of the Colorado River. But in 2026, the Colorado will be in the middle of a 10,000-year-drought and a long-term decline - all due to climate change. Meaning there is a lot less to go around. 

We would have loved to hear more informed questioning about claims about the track record of carbon capture or rebuttal of nonsense claims that eg 'solar is more expensive than coal'. Even Angus King from Maine, almost certainly the best of the bunch, barely laid a glove on him.

Join us at wickedproblems.earth to get these episodes ad-free and to get our newsletter and other content. Starting tomorrow, independent media that will offer insight and analysis without fear or favour will be more important than ever. But together we'll get through this.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get full coverage and ad-free content at wickedproblems.earth

In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan delves into the intense political landscape following Donald Trump's return to the White House and the subsequent Senate confirmation hearings for key nominees responsible for climate and energy policy. This detailed episode features in-depth discussions on climate and energy, examining the roles of various nominees, including former Congressman Lee Zeldin, in shaping future policies. Key highlights include probing questions from Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Ed Markey, who challenge Zeldin on his stance towards climate change and the fossil fuel industry. Additionally, the episode touches on the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act, the significant power wielded by the Department of Energy, and the critical issue of water rights in the context of the Colorado River. This episode promises a rich blend of urgent climate discussions, political dynamics, and the stakes for future U.S. energy policies. For listeners seeking a deeper understanding of these pivotal hearings and their potential impact on climate action, this episode is a must-listen.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:05 Trump's Influence on EPA and Fossil Fuel Politics

00:57 Senate Confirmation Hearings Overview

01:49 Climate and Energy Policy Debates

02:29 Chris Wright's Nomination for Energy Secretary

03:45 Lee Zeldin's Hearing and Climate Concerns

06:22 Sheldon Whitehouse's Opening Remarks

13:55 Senator Whitehouse Questions Lee Zeldin

19:18 Senator Ed Markey's Climate Change Concerns

31:57 Conclusion and Call to Action

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get our full coverage at WickedProblems.earth.

In this episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations, host Richard Delevan takes a closer look at the political theater surrounding the Senate confirmation hearings of Chris Wright, the Trump administration’s 2025 nominee for U.S. Energy Secretary. Wright, a vocal advocate for fossil fuels and CEO of Liberty Energy, has sparked controversy with his industry-first approach to energy policy and public comments dismissing the urgency of climate change.

We unpack the political, environmental, and cultural implications of Wright’s nomination, asking hard questions about how his potential leadership could shape America’s energy future.

• Chris Wright’s Energy Vision: Wright’s track record at Liberty Energy and his public statements on energy policy. How does his vision align—or clash—with the realities of a warming planet?
• The Confirmation Drama: Key moments from the Senate hearings, including fiery exchanges over Wright’s commitment to renewable energy investments and grid modernization.
• Fossil Fuels vs. Climate Policy: What Wright’s nomination signals about the Trump administration’s energy priorities in 2025 and the broader implications for global climate efforts.
• The “Non-Psychopath” Lens: A closer look at the surprisingly candid remarks from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle questioning whether Wright’s policies reflect a balanced, forward-thinking approach—or a dangerous return to fossil fuel dominance.
• Impacts on Climate Tech: How Wright’s potential confirmation could affect the U.S. energy landscape, from renewable energy incentives to innovation funding for climate tech startups.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.