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20. Copium: You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do
40:14||Season 3, Ep. 20Go ad-free at wickedproblems.earth!<irony>Well it’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon.1 </irony>Hope you’re enjoying Trumpocalypse Day 8. How are you getting by? Had such a great night2 catching up with The Heat and the Fury author Peter Schwartzstein early this week that this episode is even more delayed than I thought it’d be. Before a stop on his UK book tour we buttonholed him for a sidebar earlier this week at the top of the show.For our main event I sat down with Pittsfield, MA’s finest, Dana Drugmand, a leading voice on US climate litigation, founder of Climate in the Courts and author of the One Earth Now Substack, to explore the potential for litigation to step in as a force for climate accountability and progress, especially under the new U.S. administration.This conversation drops just days after the Dutch courts’ reversal of a landmark case against Shell—a decision that, while discouraging for some, also highlights the role of judicial action as a means of enforcing corporate climate responsibility. Dana brings her unique perspective on what the post-election legal landscape could mean for U.S. climate policy. As we confront a federal judiciary more conservative than ever, she warns that the courts could become either a last line of defense or a daunting obstacle for climate advocates.One of our central topics was Project 2025, an ambitious agenda helmed by the Heritage Foundation, positioning itself to dismantle key climate policies. This agenda foresees cuts across agencies that have historically played central roles in regulating environmental impact, potentially downsizing the EPA and other scientific agencies like NOAA, while replacing civil servants with politically aligned appointees. Dana’s take is that while the federal stage may seem bleak, we shouldn’t underestimate the power of state-level litigation. States like California and Vermont are already mobilizing to hold major polluters accountable—efforts that could set national precedents, especially if cases reach the Supreme Court.Our discussion also explored the Honolulu case, which could open the door to groundbreaking discoveries about oil companies’ historical actions on climate change. This case has the potential to bring to light internal documents that could shape public understanding and policy alike, much like the tobacco litigation of the 1990s did for public health.For those who see these efforts as idealistic, Dana’s closing insights were clear: while federal barriers may grow, there’s also increasing resilience at the state and international levels. Vermont’s recent legislation, European legal frameworks, and global climate accords offer paths forward—if we can hold on to them.
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19. COP29: After the Trump Win
32:09||Season 3, Ep. 19In this episode of Wicked Problems: Climate Tech Conversations, host Richard Delavan discusses the implications of Trump's presidential election win on US and global climate policy, specifically focusing on the upcoming COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The episode explores potential rollbacks of the Inflation Reduction Act's EV tax credits and the US's possible withdrawal from international climate treaties. Richard talks to Semafor Net Zero editor Tim McDonnell about the unpredictability of Trump's policies and their potential impact on climate initiatives. The discussion also covers the roles of China and Europe in the evolving climate landscape. Additionally, the episode features insights from New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the need for community building and grassroots organizing in response to these political changes.00:00 Introduction and Overview00:43 Welcome to Wicked Problems00:51 COP 29 and the American Election02:47 Interview with Tim McDonnell06:18 Discussion on Climate Policy and Trump Administration08:57 Future of Climate Negotiations21:27 China's Role in Climate ActionJoin our community at wickedproblems.earth.25:26 Closing Thoughts and AOC's Message30:49 Final Remarks and Call to Action
18. We Resist
18:59||Season 3, Ep. 18It’s been a long night. But I thought worth turning this morning’s note into a bit more of a rough and ready talk.If you want the full thing with all the notes :In Defeat: DefianceRICHARD DELEVAN·11:22
17. COP29's Poisoned Chalice? Chatham House's Ruth Townend on Azerbaijan, COP, and Climate Leadership
24:16||Season 3, Ep. 17With COP29 in a few days, all eyes turn to Baku, a city with a complex relationship to fossil fuels, where 125 years ago, nearly half the world’s oil was produced. Today, Azerbaijan finds itself hosting the world’s largest climate summit, a moment that exposes both the country's potential as a climate leader and the contradictions of its role as a petrostate. In this episode of Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations, I sat down with Ruth Townend, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Diplomacy and Risk at Chatham House and host of their Climate Briefing podcast, who is also the lead author of Azerbaijan’s Climate Leadership Challenge – a timely report for your reading list before COP29 that examines Azerbaijan’s climate policy ambitions and the hurdles it faces as host.Get more at wickedproblems.earth.
16. Manda Scott: Any Human Power, Fiction, Tech, Climate, and Thrutopia
01:01:28||Season 3, Ep. 16For this haunted Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations, Richard Delevan is joined by celebrated author Manda Scott, known for historical fiction, thrilling plots, and a gift for exploring deep-seated mythologies that shape human struggles.In this Halloween/Samhain episode, Scott takes us through her latest novel, Any Human Power, a genre-bending work that interweaves climate, technology, politics, and mythology to probe our existential crises. Halloween, or Samhain in Celtic tradition, is when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest—a fitting setting for a discussion blending the metaphysical with the political. We dive into how stories, myths, and beliefs profoundly shape our understanding of climate change—and our responses to it.Utopia, Dystopia… or Thrutopia?Scott argues that we face more than climate change; we’re in a polycrisis—a web of interlinked existential threats that defy isolated solutions. Climate breakdown, economic disparity, and political polarization are all interwoven. Rather than focusing on dystopia, Scott introduces us to “Thrutopia,” stories that offer not only escape or survival but paths to reimagining governance, social structures, and our relationship with nature. In her view, we don’t need heroes; we need collective transformation.The Role of Myth in Modern CrisesMythologies shape how we interpret reality and help us frame complex issues in ways that feel tangible. Scott’s storytelling bridges the familiar with the visionary, drawing on Irish and Scottish influences that explore the liminal “between” spaces, echoing Samhain’s themes. As she explains, this space “between” worlds encourages us to imagine beyond the typical bounds of existence—a lens through which we can more fully grasp the challenges before us.Changing Our Relationship with Power and TechnologyScott explores a key theme: the gap between technology’s potential and its often-destructive application. Drawing on Taiwan's Audrey Tang’s vision for tech as a unifying tool, Scott reimagines social media as something that builds communities, not conflict— essential for a sustainable future. Using insights from neuropsychology, she explains how power structures hijack our fears through “limbic system manipulation.” This, she argues, is not inevitable; it is simply a reflection of our system’s structural failures. Her work calls us to confront these flaws and envision a fundamentally different world.Dive DeeperHer two podcasts, Accidental Gods and Dreaming Awake, explore regenerative futures, mythology, and spiritual aspects of climate action. Her courses offer ways to reconnect with the “web of life” and sustainable change.Among her influences are Ursula Le Guin’s ideas on human power, Kim Stanley Robinson’s climate fiction, and The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow, which reimagines human history and societal structures.Manda Scott’s novel, Any Human PowerPodcasts: Accidental Gods and Dreaming AwakeCourses: Thrutopia - Writing Our Way to a Future
15. Unusual Suspects
01:08:15||Season 3, Ep. 15In this comprehensive episode of 'Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations,' host Richard Delevan talks with various experts, including Adam Bell from Stonehaven UK and Chris Slater, CEO of Oka. They explore significant shifts in UK energy policies, the role of carbon markets and their pivotal moment in a shift from voluntary towards compliance, and innovative investment strategies in climate projects. The episode underscores the dynamic interplay between government intervention and market forces, contrasting state-led infrastructure planning with Texas's libertarian energy model. Key discussions include the impact of emerging insurance frameworks on voluntary carbon markets, Singapore's pioneering carbon policies, insights from New York Climate Week, and the importance of tax measures for climate finance. Personal motivators and practical solutions for advancing carbon market effectiveness are also highlighted, providing listeners with actionable insights into the evolving landscape of climate policy and energy planning.00:00 The End of 'Lawsonianism'02:28 Stonehaven's Adam Bell: Miliband's Quiet Revolution25:58 Chris Slater, founder of carbon insurer OkaAdam's piece in Politics Home: https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/bolt-blue-inside-energy-revolution
14. Oil Fought the Law: Standing Rock, BlackRock, and Climate Justice Cases Heating Up
26:40||Season 3, Ep. 14Host Richard Delevan is joined by Loes van Dijk, founder of Climate Court, to delve into the latest updates in climate litigation worldwide. This episode covers pivotal cases, such as the major complaint against BlackRock in France for misleading sustainability claims, lawsuits over misleading environmental impact ads, historic youth climate activism in Ontario, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's renewed legal battle against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Additionally, it explores global legal battles from Australia to Guam, illustrating how transparency and accountability are shaping the future of environmental law and climate justice.00:00 Introduction to Climate Justice00:46 Welcome to Wicked Problems01:13 Introducing Loes van Dijk and Climate Court02:22 BlackRock's Controversial Investments07:55 Greenwashing in the Airline Industry09:12 Youth Activism in Ontario11:28 Global Climate Litigation Trends12:31 Environmental Law Cases Beyond Climate14:06 Environmental Justice and the DoD Lawsuit15:10 Climate Vulnerability and Legal Responsibility17:28 OECD Complaint in the Netherlands18:51 North Macedonia's Environmental Law Victory20:05 Norway's Oil Field Controversy22:32 Standing Rock and the Sioux Tribe's New Lawsuit24:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts