Dr Hannah Ritchie, a data scientist and science communicator, discusses positive trends in climate change, renewable energy, environmental issues in farming, and the societal process of making choices in addressing environmental problems. She emphasizes the need for hope and practical solutions to combat the climate crisis.

Jason Anderson, Senior Program Director at ClimateWorks, discusses international efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, the challenges in reversing emission trends, transitioning to new electrical technologies, and the importance of addressing non-CO2 gases. They also explore the potential for international regulations on super pollutants and the role of philanthropy in tackling these issues.

Prof Avinash Persaud, special envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados, discusses topics such as the Bridgetown Initiative, reducing foreign exchange risk, addressing climate change in vulnerable countries, and the challenges of coalition building. He shares insights from his career in finance, academia, and public policy, highlighting the importance of sustainable renewable energy infrastructure.

Mateo Jaramillo, Co-Founder and CEO of Form Energy, discusses their low-cost multi-day energy storage solutions based on an iron air battery chemistry. They explore the role of batteries in the energy grid, the appearance and composition of iron-air batteries, and the challenges of scaling up manufacturing and entering the European market. They also discuss the difficulties of hydrogen storage and the benefits of electrochemical cells. Overall, an insightful conversation on the future of renewable energy.

This week, Bryony’s guest is Johannah Christensen, CEO of the Global Maritime Forum. The GMF is an international not-for-profit organization, committed to shaping the future of global seaborne trade to increase sustainable long-term economic development and human wellbeing. To do so, it facilitates a wide variety of initiatives and convenes key stakeholders at the Annual Summit. Bryony met Johannah when she was working on shipping for the Environmental Defense Fund. Before becoming CEO in 2021, she was Managing Director, Head of Projects and Programmes, also at GMF. She was also previously a Programme Manager at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Johannah has a BSc in Business Administration and Modern Languages from Aarhus University and and MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School.   Links The Global Maritime Forum’s Website: https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org Professor Jim Hansen’s recent paper on aerosol pollution and climate: https://academic.oup.com/oocc/article/3/1/kgad008/7335889?login=false An article from Oxford’s Smith School on CFDs for shipping: https://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/news/contracts-difference-can-aid-shipping-industry-decarbonisation-research Michael’s most recent version of his famous “Hydrogen Ladder”: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hydrogen-ladder-version-50-michael-liebreich/ The IMO’s new strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in shipping: https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/Environment/Documents/annex/MEPC%2080/Annex%2015.pdf The announcement of the next IMO summit in Tokyo: https://www.globalmaritimeforum.org/press/global-maritime-forum-announces-tokyo-as-2024-annual-summit-host     

Alex Grant, CEO at Magrathea Metals, discusses the groundbreaking work in electrolytic technology for magnesium production. They explore the environmental impact, potential applications, and advantages of magnesium. The chapter covers replacing aluminum with magnesium, making magnesium from seawater, and the scale-up process for the project. They also highlight the positive impacts on climate change and the need for non-China sources of magnesium metal.

Naomi Oreskes, an earth scientist and historian, discusses the tactics used by climate change deniers and the role of disinformation. She explores the intersection of science and history and highlights the influence of free market ideology on environmental regulations. The chapter also delves into the rejection of science and the role of government in addressing global problems. Different approaches to combating climate change are examined, emphasizing the need for a clean and efficient economy.

Quentin Draper-Scrimshire, CEO of Modo Energy, discusses data analytics in battery energy storage and the battle between human traders and computer systems in the power industry. They also explore integrating grid scale batteries into the power market, financialization in the energy sector, and promote the guest's business.

Henrik Stiesdal, 'The Godfather of Wind', discusses his pioneering wind turbine technology, offshore turbine foundations, and innovations in thermal power storage and hydrogen. He reflects on the evolution of wind energy, the challenges of offshore installations, and the importance of reliability in turbine design. The podcast highlights European competitiveness, offshore wind farm development, and the safety implications in wind power engineering.

This week, Michael’s guest is Carine Smith Ihenacho, Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at Norges Bank Investment Group. NBIM operate the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, created to ensure responsible and long-term management of revenue from Norway’s vast oil and gas resources. The fund is the largest single owner in the world’s stock markets, and since her appointment in 2020, Carine has been outspoken in calling for robust emissions targets and climate risk reporting among its portfolio companies. Links and Related EpisodesRead Michael's write-up of the episode, arguing NBIM's investment strategy locks the world into its current climate trajectory: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mliebreich_climate-climatechange-netzero-activity-7111416212349227008-BDrC?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktopRead NBIM’s 2025 Climate Action Plan: 2025 Climate action plan | Norges Bank Investment Management (nbim.no)Explore NBIM's Annual Report 2022: https://www.nbim.no/en/publications/reports/2022/annual-report-2022/You can read NBIM's investment mandate for the Government Pension Fund Global here: https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/9d68c55c272c41e99f0bf45d24397d8c/2023.02.27_gfpg_management_mandate.pdf Read the statement made by NBIM's CEO Nicolai Tangen at the hearing of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs of the Storting (Norwegian parliament) in April 2023: https://www.norges-bank.no/en/news-events/news-publications/Speeches/2023/2023-04-18-tangen/The Guardian: World’s biggest investment fund warns directors to tackle climate crisis or face sack: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/feb/03/worlds-biggest-investment-fund-warns-directors-to-tackle-climate-crisis-or-face-sackFT: Norway’s $1.4tn oil fund to step up ESG proposals to US companies: https://www.ft.com/content/62e3c629-44cf-43f7-9682-a056f9b5c634Watch Former Norwegian PM Jens Stoltenberg on “Avoiding the Oil Curse”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f6geiVdwpk Guest BioCarine was appointed Chief Governance and Compliance Officer at Norges Bank Investment Management in 2020. She joined the company in August 2017 as Global Head of Ownership Strategies and was promoted to Chief Corporate Governance Officer in January 2018. Carine is responsible for ownership and responsible investment activities, control and operational risk, compliance and legal services.Prior to joining Norges Bank Investment Management, Carine was Vice President Legal and Chief Compliance Officer in Statoil ASA. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a lawyer, working in both financials and the oil and gas industry, as well as in law firms. She also has extensive board experience.Carine holds a law degree from the University of Oslo, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School and a Master of Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH).