The Net Zero Business Podcast

This is the fourth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through what is probably the most important of the ten rules, Rule 4: Culture and strategy are two sides of the same coin.What many Sustainability professionals fail to understand is that actually delivering Sustainability is about change (not ISO standards etc), and change is about psychology. In this episode I explain how I fuse strategy development and engagement together from the very start of the process, to produce a strategy that key decision makers actually want to deliver.Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

If we broadly know how to decarbonise surface transport and domestic heating, what about the 'hard to abate' sectors such as steel making and chemicals? Today I'm joined by the (freshly be-chaired) Professor Jan Rosenow of Oxford University to talk through the decarbonisation of these sectors and, in particular, their scope for electrification. Here's what we discuss:The scope for electrification of low, medium and high temperature processesNovel technologies including high temperature heat pumps and electro-thermal storageEnergy efficiency and the rebound effect (aka Jevons Paradox)How electrification can be 4-5x more efficient than gas but how the 'spark gap' is hindering progressJan's top 4 policy asks to decarbonise heavy industryThe excellent Some Like It Hot report that Jan co-wrote (and I used as a cheat sheet during our discussion) is available here.This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

Late last year, UK digital network provider Openreach placed the largest order for EVs in history, making a huge leap forward not only in meeting its Net Zero ambitions, but normalising clean transport for others too. This week on the pod, Openreach's Head of Sustainability Abby Chicken joins me to talk through EVs and a whole range of other issues, including:• How Sustainability is largely a matter of change management• The energy footprint of data vs dematerialising the economy• Switching to EVs across a large and distributed workforce• Overcoming myths and misinformation• Removing and recycling redundant systems• Building infrastructure in a nature positive way• Meaningful employee engagement, by focussing on task-level asks• "Make friends first, make change later"This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

If your senses have ever been assaulted by a psychedelic pink cat rapping about recycling your electronics, then Scott Butler, Executive Director at Material Focus, must take some of the blame. This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, we talk about the world of electronic waste, including:The importance of recycling waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE)The challenges of fast tech, disposable vapes and electronic tatThe two key aspects of public engagement: facilities and motivationThe story behind HypnocatHow negative experiences outweigh positive experienceCritical minerals and the circular economy.The circular electronic fund Scott mentions can be found here.This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

This is the third of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through Rule 3: There's no point in doing the wrong thing well. What I mean by this is certain products and services will have no place in a low carbon economy (eg internal combustion engines, gas boilers etc), no matter what you do on cutting your organisational carbon footprint. If this applies to you, you will need to pivot to a low carbon business model or face bankruptcy.Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

This week on the pod, I catch up with Sustainability Consultant, Fractional CSO and fellow podcaster, Emma Burlow of Lighthouse Sustainability Ltd. Here's what we cover in our discussion:The circular economy as a value generatorDisrupting markets with circular business modelsThe psychology of the word 'waste'What is Carbon Literacy and why does it matterGenerational attitudes to climate changePushing back on misinformationFrom awareness to actionThe power of listeningThe Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

This week I'm joined by nuclear whizz Adam Bell of Stonehaven to discuss last week's UK Spending Review which invested a lot of money and political capital to rejuvenate the UK's fast dwindling fleet of nuclear power stations. We discuss the following:• Why did the building of nuclear reactors (almost) grief to a halt in 1989?• The risks of China and Russia dominating the nuclear industry• Why the construction Hinkley C is running over budget and behind schedule• Small modular reactor technology and use cases• The role of nuclear in meeting the Government's clean power objectives• Renewables today or nuclear next decade? Opportunity cost tensions• The changing role of GB Energy• Is the nuclear announcement intended to provide the Government with political cover for Net Zero?• Public opinion of nuclear energy• Fuel availability and waste disposalPhew! The density of information and insight packed into this episode could power a small grid by itself.The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

This week on the pod, I'm joined by Richard Smith of PS Planet, who I first met at the launch of 'Albert', the carbon calculator/assessment system he initially developed for the BBC and then for all broadcasters via BAFTA. In a freewheeling conversation, we discuss:Helping the broadcasting sector decarbonise through the 'Albert' carbon platformSustainability in TV programming, from Eastenders to Blue Planet IIZero carbon versus net zero, and the area under the curveMatching your language to the audience (green jujitsu!)Sustainability challenges in Universities and visitor attractionsThe importance of joy, imagination and creativity in SustainabilityYou can find Richard on LinkedIn here.This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

This is the second of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through Rule 2: Stretch yourself, but not too far – the need for ambitious yet pragmatic targets with an emphasis on the timing of targets.Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability