Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

German political scientist, author and climate activist Tadzio Müller is pretty dark. But even he’s having trouble coping with the news. So he’s reading dystopian climate fiction, because it’s less depressing. Most recently, friend-of-the-show Stephen Markley’s The Deluge.

Given the week that’s in it we of course had to talk about the wildfires but also the rise of Alice Weidel and Tadzio decoding her “Windmills of Shame” comment, which to a non-German just sounds like Trump with better writing but to this German sounds a lot more purposeful and sinister. 

Tadzio argues it would be a mistake to ignore the fact that there is a coherent political strategy at work behind those kind of daft-sounding comments that fly in the face of supposedly overwhelming support for climate solutions whether they’re from AfD, Donald Trump, or Nigel Farage.

Tadzio has his own book out - available later this spring in English - the rough translation of the title is Between Peaceful Sabotage and Collapse: How I Learned to Love the Future Again. But don’t wait - after you listen or watch this third chat between your friendly neighbourhood neoliberal shill here and this German gay communist being far more articulate in English than the native speaker, subscribe to his “Peaceful Sabotage” newsletter to get a sense. Unlike the grumpier, earnest end of the climate movement, the great thing about Tadzio is that he (despite being as prone to depression as I am) is just so damned funny. But we did our best to keep him honest - despite the fact that when we first spoke a year ago we both made some predictions about 2024. If anything, his dark foreboding low-balled how bad the year would be. 

In 2025 I think we’re probably more in sync. And careful listeners will hear him trail “Collapse Camp” - a successor to “climate camp” - which will be apparently a mini-festival at the end of August where you can share bushcraft and other survival tips for coming climate catastrophes while also doing the things festivals are generally known for. We’ll keep you informed. 

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction: Shame and Guilt in Politics 

01:02 The Rise of Fascism in Germany 

03:12 The Collapse of Societies 

08:33 Climate Change and Irrationality 

23:20 The Politics of Catastrophe 

38:34 A Rainbow Family and Right-Wing Politics 

39:12 Facing Fears and Political Solidarity 

39:42 FEMA and Fascist Militias 

41:39 Redefining Progressive Politics 

42:22 Personal Anecdotes and Community Engagement 

44:24 The Emotional Labor of Acceptance 

47:32 Solidarity and Collective Prepping 

49:38 Dystopian Futures and Political Realities 

55:00 Enemies and Political Negativity 

01:07:56 Looking Forward: Collapse Camp and Future Plans

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In this episode, host Richard Delevan dives into the transformative legal battles shaping the future of climate accountability. From Vermont’s trailblazing Climate Superfund law to New York’s bold move to hold oil and gas companies financially liable for adaptation costs, we explore the "pincer movement" of legislation and litigation forcing polluters to pay.

Joining the conversation is Dana Drugmand, founder of Climate in the Courts, who shares insights into the biggest legal wins of 2024 and what they mean for 2025. From Montana’s historic recognition of a constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment to groundbreaking rulings in Europe and the International Court of Justice, this episode unpacks how courts and laws are changing the climate accountability landscape.

Key Topics Covered:

• The growing momentum behind “polluter pays” laws in Vermont and New York
• Youth-led climate cases in Montana, Hawaii, and South Korea
• The role of human rights in climate litigation globally
• The International Court of Justice’s potential impact on global climate obligations
• How legal wins can drive innovation in climate technology

Links and Resources:

• Learn more about Vermont’s Climate Superfund law: Read here
• Details on New York’s Climate Superfund law: Read here
• Explore Dana Drugmand’s Climate in the Courts: Visit here
• ICJ Climate Hearings Overview: Learn more
• Polluter Pays Climate Fund Act Insights: Data for Progress

Follow Us:

• Subscribe to Wicked Problems for more climate tech insights: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 
• Support us and get our newsletter, ad-free episodes, and full show notes: wickedproblems.earth

Join us as we unpack the legal battles at the forefront of climate action and explore how they could reshape our future.

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In this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delavan talks with energy expert Alexina Jackson about the digital transformation of the energy grid. They discuss the impact of grid-enhancing technologies, the significance of dynamic line ratings, and the role of storage and AI in optimizing the energy system. Alekshina shares her journey into the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of sustainability, digital solutions, and informed decision-making. They also explore the future challenges and opportunities in the energy landscape, focusing on economic growth, climate change, and technological advancements.

00:00 Introduction and Investment Verification

00:30 Welcome to Wicked Problems

00:31 Meet Alekshina Jackson: Energy Expert

01:08 Alekshina's Career Journey

02:36 Digital Transformation in Energy

07:40 Grid Enhancing Technologies

12:13 The Future of Energy Systems

15:29 Investment Strategies and Digitalization

21:21 Technological Innovations and AI

31:09 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

38:37 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

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Welcome to a special milestone episode of Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations! In this 100th episode, hosts Richard Delevan and Peter Schwartzstein reflect on a tumultuous yet transformative 2024, joined by a host of friends and contributors from the climate tech and advocacy world. Together, they share personal highlights, challenges, and their hopes for 2025. Here's what to expect:

• Reflections on 2024: Peter celebrates the release of his long-awaited book, while Richard ponders the year's most maddening moments, including political turmoil and the slow pace of global climate action.
• Guest Spotlights:
• Adam Bell (Stonehaven) celebrates the UK government’s ambitious plan to overhaul the power system in just five years while questioning whether they’ll muster the resolve to see it through.
• Sarah Mackintosh (Cleantech for UK) highlights the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station and the lifting of the ban on onshore wind as key milestones for clean energy.
• Rupert Read (Climate Majority Project) turns catastrophe into a rallying cry, framing 2024’s challenges as a wake-up call for strategic adaptation.
• Jenny Chase (Bloomberg NEF) marvels at the solar boom in Pakistan and speculates on which country will follow suit in 2025.
• Dr. Matt Winning (Comedian and Lecturer) lightens the mood with his reflections on climate humor and hopes for action at COP in Brazil.
• Hannah Scott (Oxfordshire Green Tech) shares progress on the Climate Tech Supercluster, building a world-leading innovation ecosystem.
• Stephen (Climate Impact) discusses the momentum around fusion energy and the launch of new conferences to foster collaboration in the space.
• Tadzio Muller (Activist) emphasizes the importance of finding agency amidst systemic crises, offering a pragmatic yet optimistic take on climate justice.

• The personal and professional victories that keep the climate tech community hopeful despite daunting obstacles.
• How politics shapes climate action, with contributors tackling the implications of global and local governance shifts, including a second Trump administration.
• The path forward for 2025: from fusion energy breakthroughs to decarbonizing transport and reshaping planning systems.

• Behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the show’s creation, including shoutouts to musical collaborators and reflections on guestlist privileges!
• A humorous exchange about the team’s occasional carol karaoke adventures.

• Climate challenges may seem insurmountable, but community, innovation, and collaboration can help shift the needle.
• As we move into 2025, clarity on problems could lead to greater clarity of purpose in tackling them.

Tune in to hear from some of the brightest minds in climate tech and policy as we celebrate the power of storytelling, advocacy, and action. Here's to 100 episodes of wickedly good conversations—and to many more ahead!

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Welcome to another episode of 'Wicked Problems: Climate Tech Conversations.' In this episode, host Richard Delevan is joined by Yehuda Borenstein, a serial climate tech venture builder and Chairman & Co-founder of the Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup RepAir. Yehuda discusses his journey and the innovations his team is working on to solve one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. From DAC technology to integrating carbon capture with renewable energy, we dive into the nuts and bolts of the solutions that could help humanity reach net zero emissions. Yehuda also addresses the challenges and criticisms associated with funding from oil companies and shares his perspective on the broader climate tech landscape. This episode is packed with insights, optimism, and practical advice on tackling climate change. Don't miss Yehuda's firsthand insights into the future of carbon capture and the technologies that are transforming our fight against global warming. Please like, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform, and consider subscribing to WickedProblems.Earth for an ad-free experience and exclusive content.

00:51 Challenges in Carbon Dioxide Removal

03:09 Key Technology Areas for Climate Solutions

07:06 Interview with Yehuda Borenstein

07:24 Yehuda's Journey in Climate Tech

28:38 Innovations in CapEx and Material Efficiency

29:51 Addressing Common Questions in Climate Tech

30:23 Challenges and Solutions for Off-Takers and Customers

31:10 Carbon Capture Strategies and Market Dynamics

34:08 Innovative Approaches to Carbon Capture

39:15 Energy Requirements and Economic Implications

43:24 Storage Methodologies and Practical Demonstrations

47:41 The Role of Oil Companies in Decarbonization

49:58 Reflections on Climate Week and Industry Sentiments

55:26 CATALYSTS: Personal Motivations and Inspirations

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In this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan discusses the interconnections between climate change, geopolitical instability, and political turmoil, coined as the 'doom loop.' The episode explores how rising inflation and extreme weather events influence political movements and undermine climate actions. Delavan speaks with Roz Savage, a new MP for the South Cotswolds, about her climate and nature bill, highlighting the need for comprehensive legislation and public engagement. Later, Dr. Maria Antonia Tigre from the Sabin Center and Dana Drugman of One Earth Now discuss the implications of the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on state obligations to mitigate climate change, emphasizing the role of legal frameworks in shaping global climate action.

And a subscription at Wickedproblems.earth makes a great holiday gift!

00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks

01:03 Climate Change and Economic Instability

02:52 Political Implications of Climate Disruption

04:20 Rising Costs and Food Prices

05:51 Flooding and Insurance Issues

10:35 International Climate Litigation

12:18 Interview with Roz Savage

26:02 Ambitious Private Member's Bill on Climate and Nature

26:41 Long-Term Commitment to Climate Advocacy

27:39 Introduction to Legal Experts on Climate Obligations

28:39 Historic Moment in International Climate Law

34:44 The Role of Non-State Actors in Climate Litigation

38:16 Implications of ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change

45:18 Challenges and Opportunities in Climate Litigation

54:57 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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New times need new thinking. So Richard sits down with Jim Spencer, vet of the US renewables industry, now president and CEO of Exus Renewables North America. "Repowering" was already becoming important for getting more out of existing sites but could well become essential as electricity demand grows exponentially, the windiest sites have been developed, and political uncertainty means re-powering an existing site to make it generate more electricity could become even more attractive.

For full show notes, ad-free listening, and more, come to wickedproblems.earth.

00:00 Introduction to Power Demand

00:15 Welcome to Wicked Problems

00:58 The Evolution of Wind Energy

01:21 Jim Spencer's Journey

02:05 Challenges in Early Renewable Energy

06:09 Pivot to Wind Energy

22:38 Political and Market Dynamics

31:41 Future of Renewable Energy

36:14 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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Author of Saving Ourselves, Professor Dana R. Fisher of American University, helps make sense of where we are as 2024 comes towards its close. And the dilemma that it will have to get worse before it gets better, but there's no other realistic way through.

In this episode, we delve into the pressing issue of climate shocks, which are intensified by climate change and manifest as floods, fires, heat waves, and droughts. As we approach 2025, these disasters are expected to become more frequent and severe across the globe. Join us for an insightful discussion on how these climatic events are already affecting our world and what we can expect in the near future. Happy holidays to everyone, despite the serious topic at hand.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:45 Upcoming Content and Announcements

01:51 Climate Tech and UK Leadership

03:03 Realizations and Reflections on Climate Goals

07:11 Introducing Professor Dana Fisher

07:28 Discussion with Professor Dana Fisher

07:52 The Concept of Apocalyptic Optimism

10:06 The Role of Disasters in Climate Mobilization

14:11 The Anthro Shift Theory

21:14 Political Dynamics and Climate Policy

40:31 Climate Policy and Political Ideologies

41:02 Impact of Climate Shocks on Policy Support

41:16 Challenges of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories

42:12 Community Resilience and Local Support

42:43 Political Responses to Climate Disasters

44:07 Scientific Analysis and Public Perception

44:49 Relational Connections and Effective Communication

52:29 Lessons from Historical Movements

01:01:58 Building Community Resilience

01:06:00 Hope and Optimism in Climate Action

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Newsletter & full shownotes at wickedproblems.earth.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has taken on a landmark climate case, spearheaded by the small island nation of Vanuatu, in collaboration with youth leaders and seasoned climate advocates. It’s a story of legal innovation and breaking points.

We were honored to speak with Professor Elisabeth Holland, a pioneer in climate negotiations and a guiding force behind the Pacific region’s climate leadership. Joining us was Loes van Dijk, founder of Climate Court (you should subscribe) and a returning voice on our show. Together, we explored the origins, stakes, and possible outcomes of this unprecedented ICJ case.

When law students at the University of the South Pacific were challenged to imagine actionable solutions to the climate crisis, they didn’t merely brainstorm; they created a movement. As Professor Holland recounted, these students drafted the first legal frameworks that would ultimately lead to Vanuatu’s case at the ICJ. Their mission? To hold major emitters accountable for the devastation wrought by climate change.

Professor Holland shared the remarkable origins of this effort, including the critical role of educators and leaders like Tony de Brum, whose work championed climate justice not just for the Pacific, but for the planet. This isn’t merely a legal case—it’s a bold redefinition of what global climate accountability can look like.

The ICJ case has brought to light a legal and ethical battleground that feels starkly different from the staged diplomacy of annual COP summits. Professor Holland and Loes reflected on the plain-spoken clarity of the arguments presented in The Hague—far removed from the performative consensus-building often seen in international climate negotiations.

A pivotal element of this case is attribution science—the ability to trace climate impacts to specific emitters. While still an evolving field, this science has grown increasingly robust, enabling plaintiffs to demonstrate the direct role of emissions from particular states and corporations in fueling climate disasters.

Professor Holland emphasized the transformative potential of attribution science, which entered the climate lexicon during the second assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

One of the most striking aspects of the Pacific submissions is their deeply collective ethos. As Professor Holland noted, Pacific cultures are rooted in interconnectedness—whether it’s the navigation of vast ocean expanses or the shared stewardship of fragile ecosystems. This perspective shapes their legal arguments, which often go beyond individual nations' interests to emphasize global responsibility.

“The Pacific has always been here to save the world,” Professor Holland said, echoing the late Tony de Brum’s declaration after the Copenhagen climate summit.

If you’re already a material supporter of our work, thanks. But if you haven’t, we really think that the way the world is heading needs more, not less, independent voices and forums trying to describe things as they are and discussing what to do about them. Without doomerism, or happy-clappy BS, and without fear or favour. And a sub is a great holiday gift. Come to wickedproblems.earth and maybe help keep this going. 

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Not since the Cuban Missile Crisis has a UN forum seen a debate as dramatic for the future of the species. Today the International Court of Justice in The Hague (aka “the World Court”) began two weeks of hearings to produce an advisory opinion about what if any obligations national governments have to protect against the harms caused by climate change, and what if they fail to meet those obligations. We bring you highlights of, as it were, the case for the prosecution.

Get more at wickedproblems.earth.

Speaking first was Vanuatu’s Ralph Regenvanu, and the small island’s attorney general.

Other witnesses included

* Julian Aguon, the Guam-based lawyer with Blue Ocean Law who recounted the litany of communities across the Pacific that have already fallen victim to rising seas due to climate change, forced to permanently relocate, and losing their basic right to exist under international law. Aguon also made the connection between the ICJ’s earlier ruling on Gaza, which we imagine will get some responses. [We fool ourselves talking about this in terms of future harms. With all sympathy for Tenbury Wells in northern England, Fiji has a chilling “Standard Operating Procedure” plan for phased retreat from vulnerable areas from the whole country. It is already being implemented.]

* Professor Margarita Wewerenke-Singh of the University of Amsterdam, who made an extremely cogent case of how existing law has led to key precedents we’ve covered on this show, and how those precedents relate to today’s set of hearings: the Swiss Klimasenniorren case at the European Court of Human Rights as well as other cases, and even a mention for Vermont’s ‘make polluters pay’ climate Superfund law.

* And Cynthia Houniuhi, president of Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, that Hollywood-ready plucky group of law students who did the work making the case possible.

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