We have recorded 208 episodes of the Sustainability Solved podcast. Over 20,000 followers. Guests from every corner of the climate space. And the thing that changed my thinking most was not a guest. It was a pattern.
When we started the podcast, I expected to learn about new technologies, new regulations, new frameworks. And we did. But the pattern that kept coming back, episode after episode, was this: the organisations making the most progress on climate were not the ones with the biggest budgets or the most ambitious targets. They were the ones that treated their people with empathy.
We could be much more empathetic to how hard this is for businesses. Proving people wrong, shaming them for not acting fast enough, making them feel stupid for not knowing what Scope 3 means: none of that drives action. It drives defensiveness.
The oil and gas industry learned from the tobacco industry's playbook. They spent decades sowing doubt. And our response, too often, was to respond with frustration instead of understanding.
After 25 years and 500+ organisations, the single most effective thing we can do is listen first, then help. Not lecture, not judge, not score points. Just help.
That is why we built our model at 51toCarbonZero around named Climate Success Managers, not faceless dashboards. Because the transition is ultimately a human one.
What has changed your approach to talking about sustainability with people who are not yet engaged?
#Sustainability #Podcast #ClimateAction #Leadership #ESG
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UPCOMING WEBINAR: The Scope 3 Blind Spot: What Your Supplier Data Isn't Telling You
Scope 3 emissions are often the biggest contributor to an organisation’s carbon footprint, yet many businesses are making decisions based on incomplete, outdated or estimated supplier data.
In this webinar, we’ll explore the biggest blind spots in supplier emissions data, why they matter for reporting and decarbonisation, and how leading organisations are moving beyond spreadsheets and assumptions to build a more accurate, scalable approach to Scope 3.
LIVE ATTENDANCE BONUS: complimentary gap audit of your top 10 suppliers.
Wednesday 16 September | 1pm BST
https://www.51tocarbonzero.com/webinar-supply-chain/
September Webinar
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I'm Will Richardson, Head of Ecosystems at 51toCarbonZero and a sustainability advisor with 25 years in the field. I founded Green Element in 2004 and spent two decades building it into one of Europe's most respected sustainability consultancies before it merged with 51toCarbonZero in November 2025.
Climate action is both an obligation and an opportunity, and that's the thread running through everything I write here. I co-created Compare Your Footprint, carbon accounting software recognised as a key player in the Global Carbon Accounting Software Market, and I'm a Fellow of IEMA and a Chartered Environmentalist.
Each week, I break down what's actually happening in sustainability: the data, the regulation, the greenwash worth calling out, and the practical steps businesses can take right now. No jargon, no doom-mongering, just clear thinking for people who need to make real decisions.
I also host the Sustainability Solved podcast with Charlie Luxton, 200+ episodes and counting, where we talk to the people building the solutions.
Based in Scotland. Writing for business leaders who want sustainability to make commercial sense, not just moral sense.
