The Sustainability Agenda

In this fascinating interview,  leading anthropologist Professor Philippe Descola discusses his latest book Beyond Nature and Culture—exploring the different ways mankind relate to nature. In this book, Professor Descola identifies four key ways in which different societies have thought about nature over time-animism, totemism, analogism, and our current relationship: naturalism, a strict separation between the cultural worlds of human beings, on the one hand, and the non-human things of nature, on the other. Professor Descola discusses how we can, and must today, learn from other ways of connecting to nature, how they can inspire us as a society. Notwithstanding what he sees as a deeply challenging time, Professor Descola finds inspiration in the activism of young people-and emerging approaches embodied in the Zones a Defendre (ZADS) in France.  Philippe Descola is a French anthropologist with a reputation as one of the most important anthropologists working today. He held the chair of Anthropology of Nature at the Collège de France between 2000-2019 and is a fellow of the British Academy and a foreign member of the American Academy of Arts. His most recent book Beyond Nature and Culture has been hugely influential, exploring the ways in which different societies have thought about our relationship with nature over time.

Stephen Macekura, an Associate Professor at Indiana University and author of 'Of Limits and Growth,' dives deep into the critiques of economic growth throughout the 20th century. He discusses how conventional metrics like GDP fail to capture true societal value, urging for alternative assessment methods. Macekura also addresses the environmental crises amplified by COVID-19 and highlights the importance of grassroots movements in driving climate action. His insights showcase the urgent need to rethink development and sustainability in our evolving world.

In an interview done earlier this year, long time climate activist James Cameron provides a fascinating insider’s perspective the on the COP— highlighting the highs and lows of various COPs over the last thirty years or so—and the COP’s greatest achievements—against a background of slow but growing momentum in the private and public sphere to deal with climate change. James also discusses the vital and growing role of the legal system in dealing with global warming. He talks about the work that he has done over this time supporting the various COPs -and COP23 in particular. James also discusses the prospects for COP26 and shares his optimism on the prospects for businesses pursuing Net Zero strategies. Fascinating and first-hand insights into international and multilateral approaches to responding to climate change.  James Cameron is an influential figure within the international climate change community. He has been engaged with environmental and climate change policy for some 30 years, working variously as a barrister, financier, social entrepreneur, and as a trusted advisor to myriad climate change and environmental organisations. He has been involved in many of the COPs over recent decades, most notably COP X in Fiji. James is called “a Friend of COP26,” advising the UK government on the upcoming COP in Glasgow in November. He is also a member of HM Treasury's Infrastructure UK Advisory Council, GE's ecomagination advisory board, is an advisor to the Climate Bonds Initiative, and a trustee member of the UK Green Building Council.

As the relationship between the US and China grows more tense, we discuss the geopolitics of climate change. What impact does geopolitics have on national responses to climate change? How is the relationship between China and the US evolving? Gerald Butts believes that geopolitics is definitional when it comes to climate change. He discusses the ways in which the international political arena around climate has become yet another theater for strategic, largely economic competition. He argues that the core objectives of nation states are becoming aligned with the core objectives of climate policy--leading to an energy transition that will proceed faster than it might otherwise have. At the same time, he believes that it is likely to be a messy transition with a lot of turbulence. Gerald Butts is a Canadian political consultant who served as the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from 2015 -2019. He is currently vice chairman and a senior advisor at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy, and leads New Climate Group, a consultancy that advises global financial firms, educational institutions, and philanthropists on strategic investments in climate mitigation and resilience, and artificial intelligence.  

In this deep dive on sustainability within the food industry, Toby identifies three key trends –resilience, disclosure and consumer awareness – driving changes within the food industry generally. He discusses Innovation Forum’s recent detailed study on smallholder farmers, responsible for a very large amount of the world's food supply. The report highlights the ongoing challenges facilitating access to better markets, the need to develop resilient smallholder farming communities, and the importance of developing alternative income streams for smallholders, now and in the future. Toby also explores unfolding agriculture developments, touching on new “forest positive” strategies, as well as the possibilities of carbon sequestration as a ‘product’ which smallholder farmers can sell to international markets. And he discusses the impact climate change and sustainability is having on the wine industry--and the work he is doing with the new cross industry Sustainable Wine Roundtable. Toby Webb is the founder of Innovation Forum a UK based purpose driven company that works in the areas of food, agriculture, land use, plastics, apparel and textiles and Scope III GHG emission. Innovation Forum brings together business executives with civil society groups, governments, academics and other experts, to find solutions to difficult supply chain challenges. He is also the founder of Sustainable Wine Ltd. and the Sustainable Wine Roundtable.

In this fascinating interview, Nigel Topping, the UK's High-Level Climate Action Champion discusses the prospects for the upcoming COP26 in November in Glasgow. Against a background of growing momentum for change, Nigel reflects on the goals and expectations for COP26 -- and identifies some of the outstanding issues to be addressed over the coming months. Nigel discusses the growth and development of the carbon offset market, Net Zero, and the growing corporate commitments of Race to Zero, a global campaign Led by the High-Level Climate Champions for Climate Action. Nigel also disucsses the vital importance of resilience -and the Race to Resilience campaign that aims to catalyse a step-change in global ambition and action for climate resilience, not only withstanding climate shocks but flourishing in spite of them. Nigel Topping is the UK's High-Level Climate Action Champion, appointed by the UK Prime Minister in January 2020.  The role of the high-level champions is to strengthen collaboration and drive action from businesses, investors, organisations, cities, and regions on climate change, and coordinate this work with governments and parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Nigel was most recently CEO of We Mean Business, a coalition of businesses working to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon economy. Prior to that he was Executive Director of the Carbon Disclosure Project, following an 18 year career in the private sector, having worked across the world in emerging markets and manufacturing.

In this wide-ranging interview, Jeremy Lent discusses his fascinating new book Web of Meaning which combines findings in cognitive science, systems theory and traditional Chinese and Buddhist thought, to develop a framework that integrates both science and meaning in a coherent whole. Jeremy discusses what he sees as an essential problem at the heart of our current worldview: how man is separated from nature which is seen purely as a resource. He highlights a very different perspective, common to many indigenous peoples, how we are interrelated, not just all humans related to each other, but seeing all of the living earth around us all of life as being our relations. Jeremy also shares his long standing criticisms on the structure of the modern corporation and its role in society, in light of the recent Shell climate litigation, and the election of new directors to the board of Exxon, instigated by a small activist investor-which has been called the oil industry’s “Black Wednesday.” Jeremy is an award winning author and founder of the nonprofit Liology Institute, dedicated to fostering a worldview that could enable humanity to thrive sustainably on the earth. His writings investigate the underlying causes and the patterns of thought that have led our civilization to its current sustainability crisis. The Patterning Instinct is a cultural history of humanity’s search for meaning, traces the deepest dark of foundations of our modern worldview. His most recent book is Web of Meaning: integrating science and traditional wisdom to find our place in the universe. It has recently been published in the UK and is published in the US in July. Born in London, England, Lent received a BA in English Literature from Cambridge University, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and was a former internet company CEO. He lives with his partner in Berkeley, California.

In this fascinating interview, Daniela discusses the eye-opening sums of money needed to achieve a transition to a low carbon economy - $1 trillion-$2 trillion a year to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century, according to some estimates-- and how this can be funded. She explores the evolving relationship between the public sector and private finance - a renewed partnership—and how to assure that any new flows of private capital go into genuine green investments, rather than greenwashing. At the heart of this discussion: Daniela’s recent research on investors' plans to to “escort and derisk” private capital investments in the global south.  Daniela Gabor is associate professor in economics at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She holds a PhD in banking and finance from the University of Stirling (2009). Her main interests are in macro-finance, monetary theory and central banking and she has published on central banking in crisis, on the governance of global banks and the IMF, and on shadow banking and repo market. She has a special interest in the way  finance is being restructured to deliver on current environmental goals..

Dr. Jason Hickel discusses degrowth as a solution for sustainability. He challenges the pursuit of GDP growth, advocates for prioritizing renewable energy, and emphasizes global justice. The conversation explores the necessity of social democratic welfare policies, the implications of degrowth for different countries, and initiatives towards post-growth economic policies. The urgency of social change and political mobilization for climate action is highlighted.

Professor Wendy Brown, a prominent political theorist at UC Berkeley and author of In the Ruins of Neoliberalism, delves into the persistent grip of neoliberalism on politics and economics. She critiques how market-driven ideologies undermine democratic values and climate action. Wendy explores the complex relationship between corporate sustainability and profit motives, urging a rethink of economic models for genuine ecological progress. The conversation highlights the need for renewed democratic engagement and collaboration to tackle the climate crisis and ensure a sustainable future.