The Net Zero Business Podcast

There is huge interest in nature-based solutions for climate change, and the success of these mainly comes down to carbon retention in soil. In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to award-winning Professor of Environmental Engineering Karen Johnson (who also happens to be my partner of 30+ years and, yes, this is the kind of thing we discuss over breakfast) about how soil holds (or loses) carbon, the scope for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil, and why it is much more complicated than people think.since we uploaded the episode, Karen has noticed she misspoke on adding waste to soils - she meant to say she fully approves of doing so. The early bird offer for Net Zero Business Academy can be found here:https://www.terrainfirma.co.uk/net-zero-business-academy-2025-early-bird-offer-open/Podcast branding by our friends at Avery & Brownhttps://www.averyandbrown.com/

We won't get to Net Zero without Net Zero buildings. So it's not before time that a Net Zero Carbon Building Standard has been drafted by a cross-section of all the major construction sector groups in the UK. In this episode, I'm talked through the new standard by Will Arnold of the Institution of Structural Engineers who served on the standard's Technical Steering Group. The pilot Net Zero Carbon Building Standard can be downloaded here.Click here for details on Net Zero Business Academy 2025.Podcast branding by our friends at Avery & Brown.

As we come to the end of a tumultuous 2024, I'm joined by a crack team of pundits – 'OG' Sustainability Superstar Lucy Siegle and the ever-wise Executive Editor of BusinessGreen.com, James Murray – to pick over the key events including elections and COPs, nominate our climate heroes and villains, and we make some predictions for 2025. And, of course, we talk about what we think of Jaguar's big pink car.For the Net Zero Business Academy early bird offer click here.Podcast branding by our friends at Avery & Brown.

Blimey. It has been a year since I first launched the Net Zero Business Podcast. In this special birthday episode, I explain exactly why I started the podcast, before drawing out five big things I have learnt over the last year and 50+ episodes. It is a subjective list, regular listeners may have other learning points or respond to some of mine with a 'duh'. If you have feedback or an issue you would like me to cover let me know here.I reference quite a few interviews, so instead of a huge list here, it's easier to browse them all via this link:https://shows.acast.com/the-net-zero-business-podcast/episodesLooking forward to the next year of the pod!The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to LifePodcast branding by our friends at Avery & Brown

This week's episode features a fascinating exploration of regenerative buildings with David Cheshire, UK Sustainability Director of infrastructure consultants AECOM and author of Regenerative by Design: Creating living buildings and cities published by RIBA. We dig into what a 'net positive' building would look and feel like, how they work in practice and how the market is responding to new possibilities. Make sure you listen to the end!This episode is brought to you by Net Zero Business Academy, our unique programme of online training webinars. The very early bird offer of a 50% discount expires on 30 November 2024 – click here for more details.Podcast branding by our friends at Avery & Brown.

Thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Solitaire Townsend, Founder and Chief Solutionist of Futerra, and author of the fab new(ish) book, The Solutionists. We discuss what a Solutionist is, positivity vs doom, greenwash, creativity and engaging leaders in Sustainability. Don't miss this one!More the Net Zero Business Academy 2025 early bird offer here.Podcast branding courtesy of our friends at Avery & Brown.

Ever since the 1992 Earth Summit, we have been urged to "Think Global, Act Local". All too often this slogan has manifested itself in small scale projects, but what about creating sustainable cities? In this episode I talk place-based Sustainability with Florian Wupperfeld, world-leading placemaking/social sustainability expert and CEO of LCD Ventures, a UK-based data-driven urban innovation company offering placemaking services and socially sustainable solutions.This podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd. For full details of Net Zero Business Academy 2025 and our generous very early bird discount click here.Podcast branding courtesy of our friends at Avery & Brown.

Management Peter Drucker said "culture eats strategy for breakfast" and nowhere is this more true than in Sustainability. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if people aren't bought into Sustainability then nothing will change. Here I explain why so many people fail to engage with Sustainability and why standard engagement techniques often fail. I call my approach Green Jujitsu and I explain how the idea developed over many years of experience. For more on Green Jujitsu, check out our on demand course on Udemy: Green Jujitsu: Smart Employee Engagement for SustainabilityPodcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

In this episode, I'm joined by two hugely experienced doctors and Sustainability champions Matt Sawyer and Mike Tomson who have edited a new book, Environmentally Sustainable Primary Care. Our discussion takes in the huge and complex overlap between healthcare and planetary care, how to engage busy people and the challenges/opportunities for small businesses to embrace Sustainability.The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to LifePodcast branding courtesy of our friends at Avery & Brown