Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change Malcolm Turnbull: Clean Energy Culture Wars and The Race To Build More Storage | Ep 222
Sep 10, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister of Australia and climate advocate, discusses the transformative impact of cheap solar energy on political narratives. He explores the real challenges of hydrogen as a clean energy source and debates the potential of pumped hydro for long-term energy storage. The discussion touches on the complexities of global climate politics, especially with U.S. leadership shifts, while addressing the critical notion that 'hope is not a strategy' in achieving energy security.
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From PM To Renewable Developer
- Malcolm Turnbull moved from politics into renewable energy development, running Turnbull Renewables and selling pumped hydro projects to AGL.
- He remains involved operationally and financially while focusing on long-duration storage and wind and battery projects.
A New Geopolitical Disruption
- Turnbull sees Donald Trump as the biggest global disruption and a shift from decades of US leadership on rule‑of‑law foreign policy.
- He warns middle powers must cooperate and assume more responsibility in a less predictable US era.
Rescue Dead Trade Deals Proactively
- If a major partner exits an international deal, pursue alternatives and persuade remaining parties to continue the agreement.
- Turnbull led efforts to rescue and relaunch the Trans‑Pacific Partnership as the CPTPP after US withdrawal.
