Share
A Dictionary of Finance
The digital pixie dust clean-up
When we speak of the virtual world and storing things in ‘the cloud’, we seldom stop to realize that our digital climate impact is not virtual at all
Many people see digitalisation as this magical pixie dust that Tinker Bell sprinkles on old industries to make them all environmentally friendly. Stop printing newspapers and get your news online and suddenly your environmental footprint is down to zero, right?
Wrong.
In this episode of the Monster Under the Bed podcast we learn:
· What is the climate impact of the digital sector?
· What is Jevon’s paradox?
· What is the digital sector doing to clean up its act?
· That even when digital services use renewable energy, it might be using up renewable energy that otherwise might be used by more critical sources. So we should hold off on all those cat videos
· How can you personally curtail the CO2 emissions of our own use of technology?
My guests on this episode are the European Investment Bank’s head of division for digital infrastructure Harald Gruber and risk manager Shirley Rizk. They are but two of the many experts at the EU bank who are helping me challenge various rumours, myths, and misconceptions that we are trying to overturn on this series of podcasts.
Each episode features one ‘monster under the bed’ something that we are scared of, or mistakenly believe to be true. Check out our episodes on urbanisation, healthcare, education and much more.
Look up Monster Under the Bed on your phone’s podcast app, and click ‘Subscribe’ or ‘Follow’. This way you can sleep soundly without worrying about missing any episodes – and during the night Tinker Bell will sprinkle a new episodes into your phone for you!
Also, please rate and review us, and give us feedback – I’m @AllarTankler on Twitter.
More episodes
View all episodes
Getting to space: Europe's rocket challenge
15:02|Come with us to the factory floor of PLD Space in Spain, where hundreds of engineers and technicians are putting together a rocket in a building that used to make shoes. We look at Europe's plan to launch more of its own rockets in a market now dominated by the US and meet the companies who aim to get that job done. From the team that brought you A Dictionary of Finance. Subscribe to Invested by Europe, for more episodes like this one and for bonus interviews with Europe's rocket founders.
The New Space Revolution
14:04|When Elon Musk founded SpaceX, he set off a chain reaction that reshaped the global space industry. A former SpaceX engineer turned European investor, a rocket founder in a converted shoe factory in Spain, a banker at the European Investment Bank and the Inspector-General of the European Space Agency explain how Europe is responding. From the team that brought you A Dictionary of Finance. Subscribe to Invested by Europe for more episodes like this one.
Why space matters so much right now
16:01|From the people who brought you A Dictionary of Finance, a new season of Invested by Europe called Euros in Space. Subscribe to Invested by Europe so you don't miss any of the 30 episodes on the New Space business. Here's the first episode: Europe owns two of the world's most advanced space systems, Galileo and Copernicus, but it spends just 10% of what the US invests in space. Experts from the European Space Agency and the European Commission explain how satellites shape daily life in ways most people never notice. We also look at how Russia's invasion of Ukraine exposed Europe's dependence on foreign rockets, and why closing the investment gap is a strategic imperative.
Euros in Space
01:07|From the people who brought you A Dictionary of Finance. Euros in Space is the latest season of Invested by Europe, from the European Investment Bank. It explores the people, the companies, and the money behind Europe's space economy. 30 episodes that follow the rocket builders, satellite makers, investors, and institutions working to secure Europe's place in the new space race. Subscribe so you don’t miss any of them.
15. Invested by Europe: Why deep tech matters for Europe’s economy and everyday life
16:04||Season 1, Ep. 15Deep tech is often described as the opposite of conventional or “shallow” technology. Rather than focusing on incremental improvements in software or business models, deep tech is driven by scientific breakthroughs aimed at solving real-world problems that persist over time. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Jussi Hätönen, head of European Innovation Council Fund investments at the European Investment Bank, explains: what deep tech really means how it differs from traditional tech innovation why it takes longer and costs more to develop why getting deep tech right is essential for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and sovereignty.
14. Invested by Europe: How sustainable liquid fuels will decarbonise aviation and shipping
10:46||Season 1, Ep. 14Gasoline prices are rising, and while drivers can switch to electric cars, other sectors face fewer alternatives. Aviation, shipping and heavy transport still rely on liquid fuels — and electrification is not yet a realistic option for many of these fleets. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Tiago Lopes, a senior engineer at the European Investment Bank, explains: what sustainable liquid fuels are why they are critical for aviation and maritime transport what is preventing them from being produced at scale in Europe what is at stake for Europe’s energy security and strategic autonomy.
Invested by Europe: How Cleantech is Driving Europe’s Energy Transition
18:06|Cleantech is no longer a niche sector. It is at the heart of a full‑scale industrial transformation, shaping how Europe produces energy, decarbonises industry and builds a more resilient economy. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Sofia Viola, an investment officer at the European Investment Bank, explains: What cleantech is today — a clue: it’s more than just renewable energy Why energy storage is critical to balancing renewable supply and demand Why batteries are crucial to stabilising the power system Why industrial decarbonisation is essential for competitiveness How the EIC Fund supports cleantech startups and scale‑ups Why access to long‑term capital remains a key challenge in Europe What makes her optimistic about the future of cleantech The conversation also explores why cleantech represents a major economic opportunity — and why scaling these technologies will be decisive for Europe’s energy transition.
Invested by Europe: Why Biotech is Vital to Europe’s Economy as well as its Health
14:54|Biotechnology is one of Europe’s most important — and most challenging — innovation sectors. From vaccines and drugs to medical devices and digital medicine, biotech underpins Europe’s health systems, competitiveness and economic sovereignty. In this episode of Invested by Europe, Antoine de Lachaux, head of the life science and biotech unit at the European Investment Bank, explains: What biotech means — from pharmaceuticals and vaccines to medical devices and digital health Why life sciences are strategically important for Europe Why biotech innovation takes time, carries high risk and requires patient capital How Europe’s fragmented market makes scaling more difficult than in the United States What the proposed Biotech Act could change for European companies How the EIB supports the sector, including its early investment in BioNTech Why artificial intelligence is set to accelerate drug development, diagnostics and regulatory processes The conversation also looks at why Europe needs a truly European investment ecosystem to help biotech companies grow to global scale — and why this is a sector Europe cannot afford to outsource.
Invested by Europe: Why Critical Raw Materials Are Key to Europe’s Future
23:00|Critical raw materials are everywhere — in your phone, in solar panels, in wind turbines, and in the batteries that power the energy transition. But where do these materials come from? Why does Europe depend so heavily on them? And how can we build more secure, sustainable, and diversified supply chains? In this episode of Invested by Europe, Lerato Kotelo, critical raw materials specialist at the European Investment Bank, explains: What is a critical or strategic raw material Why technologies like batteries, solar panels and wind turbines depend on them How Europe can diversify its supply and reduce dependence on fossil Why recycling and innovation are so important How do new approaches like extracting lithium from geothermal brines work How responsible partnerships with global producers can create win‑win outcomes Lerato also shares insights on Europe’s mining history, today’s rapidly changing extraction technologies, and how innovation is making mining safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.