The Future of Sustainability

How can communities design systems that create prosperity for people, business, and the planet? In this episode of the Circular Coffee Break podcast, host Michael Hanf speaks with Barri Harris and Shane Lapp, Co-Leads of Circularity.One, a whole-systems initiative in British Columbia that is pioneering new approaches to community enterprise.Shane, an engineer turned community entrepreneur, and Barri, a former CFO and transformation consultant, share how their experiences in energy and finance led them to co-create a community enterprise framework. Their model blends private and community ownership, shared governance, and distributed decision-making to reimagine how value flows.The framework is being tested through a community-owned solar pilot, where residents, municipalities, and institutions invest together. Returns are steady over 25 years, utilities save on costly grid upgrades, low-income households see lower bills, and charities cut energy costs. As Barri puts it, “It becomes a win-win-win. Financial resilience for communities, operational benefits for utilities, and long-term sustainability for investors.”But Circularity.One is about more than solar. The model is expanding to address other complex community challenges, aiming to replace siloed fixes with integrated resilience. By mapping underlying systems and co-designing solutions, communities can address challenges such as homelessness or food insecurity with shared ownership and shared benefit.The conversation also explores the shift from power to trust in leadership. Instead of top-down control, Circularity.One practices consent-based governance and circle dialogue. Leaders must let go of fear, create role clarity, and help people build decision-making skills through mentorship and practice. As Shane notes, “When organizations move from heroic leaders to trust in collaboration, they unlock collective wisdom and resilience.”Barri and Shane are clear that capitalism itself is not the problem. The challenge is how it has been harnessed in recent decades. “We like to say we are evolving capitalism,” Barri explains. “It needs to be stewarded through shared values and a vision of prosperity that is bigger than the individual.”In this episode, you will hear:• How Circularity.One blends business discipline with community practice• Why value-stack data and shared ownership make solar viable even in low-cost markets• How consent-based governance creates trust and accelerates action• Why evolving capitalism means moving beyond quarterly profit to long-term stewardship• How to get started: from circle practice to piloting community wealth projectsBy 2030 and beyond, Harris and Lapp envision communities everywhere using this framework to manage energy, food, and housing in ways that are inclusive, resilient, and regenerative. They invite listeners to explore community wealth building, experiment with circle practice, and pilot projects that move from inspiration to action.Circularity.One’s story is not only about renewable energy. It is about rewriting prosperity itself — from extraction to stewardship, from power to trust, from silos to systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slush 2025 made one thing unmistakably clear. Sustainability is no longer a side topic. It is the engine of a new wave of entrepreneurial innovation. In this special episode recorded live at Slush in Helsinki, Michael Hanf speaks with founders who are reshaping the future of energy, food, finance, and behavioural change.From wave energy devices designed for real world conditions, to next generation small wind turbines, to platforms that accelerate financing, planning, and grid integration, this episode explores the systems that are finally removing friction from the sustainability transition. We also look at how precision fermentation could rewrite the economics of protein production and how gamification can make sustainable behavior easier and more rewarding for young people.Guests include founders from Geco, Amertate Energy, Dowgo, Coeus AI, Synergi, Verley, and WasteSide. Together, their pitches reveal a transition that is speeding up and expanding in scope. The ideas presented at Slush show that the future of sustainability will be driven by simplicity, data, coordination, and a far more diverse mix of solutions than ever before. If you want a clear snapshot of where sustainable innovation is heading in 2025, this episode is a sharp and honest tour through the technologies and systems that matter most. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to make sustainable travel the norm rather than the exception? In this episode of the Future of Sustainability podcast, Michael Hanf speaks with Rebecca Thompson, CEO and Founder of Sustainable Travel Tech, about how data and transparency can transform tourism.Rebecca’s journey began as a frustrated traveler. With a background in economics and climate policy, she knew the impact of tourism on emissions, but she struggled to find easy ways to book low-carbon trips. Blogs and certifications provided pieces of information, but nothing matched the seamless experience of mainstream platforms. This gap inspired her to build Sustainable Travel Tech, a B Corp social enterprise that helps accommodation providers measure their climate impact and present verified data at the point of booking.Travel is highly emotional, and people want their holidays to inspire joy rather than guilt. Rebecca stresses that the goal is not to shame travellers but to provide clear information so they can make the choices they already want to make. Surveys show most people prefer sustainable stays, but few have time to research. Verified data can make climate impact another simple metric alongside price and amenities, while storytelling around food, nature, and community experiences keeps the emotional side of travel intact.For accommodation providers, data is more than marketing. Measuring energy use and emissions creates a baseline, reveals hidden strengths, and guides investment in efficiency or renewables. Benchmarking against country averages can show where improvements are needed and highlight progress over time. As Rebecca puts it, “Without the data, you can’t show progress.”The conversation also explores broader challenges in tourism:Over-tourism concentrated in specific hotspots, often driven by social media.Certifications that are valuable but sometimes too complex or opaque for travellers to understand.Economic leakage, where local communities see little benefit from visitors.On greenwashing, Rebecca is clear: broad claims like “we are sustainable” no longer suffice. Operators should use specific, verifiable statements such as “50 percent of our energy is renewable.” At the same time, she warns against greenhushing, where fear of saying the wrong thing leads companies to stay silent about genuine progress. Verified, third-party data can help solve both problems by giving providers the confidence to communicate honestly.Looking ahead to 2030 and beyond, Rebecca envisions a travel industry where climate impact data for accommodation is as standard as flight emissions are today. Platforms like Skyscanner already display which flights have lower emissions. With enough property-level data, the same will be true for hotels, lodges, and resorts. This will create transparency for travellers, competitive pressure for providers, and better decision-making for tour operators and platforms.In this episode, recorded with Rebecca Thompson of Sustainable Travel Tech, you will hear:• Why she left policy to build practical tools for decarbonizing tourism• How emotional experiences and verified data can work together in travel decisions• Why measuring emissions is a competitive advantage for hotels• How greenwashing and greenhushing are shaping tourism marketing• What a sustainable booking process could look like in 2030The future of travel will not be defined by slogans but by trust. Data, transparency, and authenticity will determine whether sustainability becomes embedded in tourism or remains an afterthought. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you talk about climate change in a way that opens minds instead of shutting down conversations?In this episode of the Future of Sustainability podcast, host Michael Hanf speaks with Kathleen Biggins, President and Founder of C-Change Conversations, a nonprofit dedicated to creating science-based, nonpartisan dialogue about climate change.Since founding C-Change in 2014, Kathleen has led the development of the C-Change Primer, a widely acclaimed multimedia presentation that has reached more than 23,000 people in 33 states and abroad. Rather than presenting climate change as a partisan or abstract environmental issue, the Primer reframes it as a risk management challenge with tangible implications for our health, economy, and national security.In their conversation, Kathleen shares why she founded C-Change Conversations after realizing that even friends, family, and colleagues lacked a clear understanding of climate risks. She explains how the organization developed strategies to "wake people up without turning them off" by grounding discussions in credible science, relatable examples, and the universal language of risk assessment.Listeners will learn:Why climate change is best understood not as politics, but as physics, chemistry, and riskHow different audiences respond to different entry points, from family safety and health to economic competitiveness and national securityThe evolution of the climate conversation in the United States, from denial to reluctant acceptance to concerns about costHow respectful engagement can transform skepticism into curiosity and open space for dialogueWhy personal actions, when visible and shared, can be contagious and help build momentum for systemic changeKathleen also discusses the challenges of working in polarized environments and highlights the importance of local action, personal agency, and community leadership. She argues that while global momentum toward clean energy is strong, the United States faces unique cultural and political headwinds that must be addressed through trust-building and consensus.Throughout the episode, one theme stands out: nobody wants to sacrifice their children's future. By framing climate change as a matter of stewardship, risk, and opportunity, C-Change Conversations is helping to create the social will that can unlock the political will for meaningful action.This episode is for anyone who has ever struggled to talk about climate change with colleagues, friends, or family, and for leaders looking to understand how to engage diverse audiences in one of the most important conversations of our time.Tune in to hear how Kathleen Biggins and C-Change Conversations are building a wave of consensus for climate action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Future of Sustainability, host Michael Hanf speaks with Vidar Helgesen, IOC Executive Secretary of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO and former Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment. Helgesen shares his journey from politics and diplomacy to leading the UN’s central body for ocean science, and why safeguarding our oceans is one of the defining challenges of our time.The ocean is more than a vast expanse of water. It is Earth’s life-support system. It produces half the oxygen we breathe, regulates climate and weather, and sustains biodiversity and livelihoods worldwide. Yet it remains the least understood and least protected part of our planet. Only 27 percent of the seafloor has been mapped, and vast regions of marine life remain undiscovered. As Helgesen warns, “We need to learn more and faster about the ocean.”Together, Michael and Vidar explore:The role of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in coordinating global ocean science and turning knowledge into policyWhy investing in ocean observation such as satellites, buoys, tide gauges, and data sharing is critical for disaster preparedness, agriculture, fisheries, and climate actionThe growing importance of international agreements like the High Seas Treaty and the 30x30 biodiversity pledgeHow businesses and industries can support sustainable ocean economies and why innovation will be key to unlocking opportunities in food, health, and technologyThe challenges of public awareness, including why plastics have captured attention while issues like nutrient pollution, dead zones, and destructive fishing remain under the radarPractical steps individuals can take as consumers, from choosing sustainable seafood to supporting better ocean policiesHelgesen calls the ocean “the beating blue heart of our planet,” reminding us that all societies depend on its health, whether we live by the coast or thousands of kilometers inland. From rainfall patterns and food production to weather extremes and marine biodiversity, our futures are tied to the ocean’s fate.Looking ahead to 2030 and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, Helgesen envisions a world where ocean knowledge is not just generated by scientists but widely shared, owned, and acted upon by governments, industries, and citizens alike. Building this collective awareness, he argues, is the essential first step toward safeguarding the ocean for future generations.Tune in to hear why the ocean must move to the center of the sustainability agenda and what we can all do to keep our planet’s blue heart beating strong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Future of Sustainability podcast, Michael Hanf speaks with Dr. Debbie Saunders, Co-Founder and CEO of NatureHelm and Founder and former CEO of Wildlife Drones. Debbie’s career spans more than 25 years as a conservation ecologist, moving from hands-on fieldwork with endangered migratory birds to building groundbreaking technologies that help businesses and researchers better understand and protect biodiversity.Debbie shares her personal journey from tracking parrots in Australia to founding two deep-tech ventures that are transforming how society engages with nature. With Wildlife Drones, she pioneered a radio-telemetry system that allows researchers to track dozens of animals simultaneously across challenging landscapes. Today, that technology supports conservation projects worldwide, from pangolins in Vietnam to finches in the Galápagos Islands. But her story didn’t stop there. Recognizing that biodiversity data was fragmented and underutilized, Debbie launched NatureHelm to bring clarity, intelligence, and actionable insights to corporations and supply chains.The discussion explores the intersection of science, technology, and entrepreneurship, and how these can work together to scale solutions for the planet. Debbie explains how NatureHelm aggregates data from diverse sources, integrates ecological knowledge, and leverages AI to identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities for businesses. Whether it’s understanding the role of pollinators in supply chains, visualizing global migratory patterns from a single urban site, or mapping the ecosystem services behind water use, NatureHelm helps companies move beyond reporting into meaningful action.Throughout the conversation, Debbie highlights the challenges and opportunities of building biodiversity intelligence:Why businesses often underestimate their biodiversity footprint and how to change that mindset.How regulatory frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) are driving corporate engagement.Why technology alone is not enough, and why user-centric design and storytelling are essential to building impact.The critical role of resilience, from regenerative cotton production in India to sustainable asset managers advancing industry standards.Debbie also offers candid insights into her entrepreneurial path: the importance of validating ideas, securing funding, and surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision. Her advice to young researchers and aspiring change-makers is simple yet powerful, be passionate, create value, and keep going despite the sceptics.This episode is both a call to action and a source of hope. It shows that with the right blend of ecological expertise, innovative technology, and business leadership, companies can contribute to a nature-positive future while strengthening their own resilience. From parrots to platforms, Debbie Saunders’ journey illustrates how personal passion can grow into global impact.Tune in to hear how biodiversity intelligence is reshaping the future of sustainability and why every business, whether in fashion, food, technology, or finance, has a role to play in protecting the ecosystems that sustain us all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Howard Yu, the LEGO Professor of Management and Innovation, and Peter Hinssen, an entrepreneur and author, explore navigating disruption in a rapidly changing world. Yu emphasizes that future-ready companies excel at both short-term performance and long-term transformation, highlighting the crucial role of software in the automotive industry. Hinssen introduces the concept of the 'never normal,' advocating for adaptability and continuous foresight. Both guests stress the need to eliminate outdated practices, urging leaders to foster innovation and embrace change.

Can motorsport help fast-track the hydrogen economy? And what does it take to build the world’s first hydrogen-powered off-road racing series from the ground up?In this episode of The Future of Sustainability podcast, host Michael Hanf speaks with Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme H, the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport championship, launching in 2025. Building on the success of Extreme E and Formula E, Extreme H is more than a race. It is a testbed for innovation, a global media platform, and a bold experiment in sustainable mobility.Together, we explore how motorsport can become a powerful engine of change in the energy transition, accelerating innovation in hydrogen fuel cells, logistics, and storage systems. Russell, a pioneer at the intersection of sport and purpose, shares how Extreme H is designed to deliver real-world impact far beyond the racetrack.In this episode, we discuss:🔹 Why hydrogen is a critical component in the clean mobility mix🔹 How Extreme H is built to validate hydrogen at every level, from fuel cells and safety to infrastructure and public perception🔹 The technical challenges of racing hydrogen vehicles in extreme environments🔹 How collaboration with automakers, energy companies, and regulators enables innovation🔹 Why equality, inclusion, and storytelling are integral to the championship’s broader sustainability agenda🔹 How Extreme H uses media and short-format racing to engage new generations and global audiences🔹 The long-term vision for hydrogen adoption in sectors beyond cars, including aviation and shippingRussell also discusses the unique role of motorsport in compressing innovation cycles and explains why the series is structured to allow OEMs like Toyota, Hyundai, and General Motors to test and showcase their hydrogen technologies. By creating an open but focused platform centred on hydrogen innovation, Extreme H aims to deliver both return on investment for manufacturers and inspiration for millions of fans.This is not just about sport. It is about creating the conditions for systemic change in how we think about performance, energy, and the future of transportation.🎧 Tune in to hear how Extreme H is reimagining racing as a tool for sustainable transformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Future of Sustainability, we dive into a conversation that challenges how we think about innovation, technology, and impact. Host Michael Hanf is joined by Serish Gandikota, internationally recognised expert in Frugal Innovation and Frugal AI. Serish is the co-founder of InnoFrugal and co-leads the Frugal AI Hub at Cambridge Judge Business School. His work spans continents and sectors, pushing forward a bold but practical vision: innovation should be inclusive, efficient, and sustainable; not just powerful.We live in a time where AI is developing at breakneck speed. But while large language models and high-performance computing are gaining ground, the gap between those who can access these technologies and those who cannot is also growing. The mainstream AI narrative focuses on scale, speed, and raw power but what about the communities, organisations, and governments with limited infrastructure, budgets, or bandwidth?Enter Frugal AI: an approach that asks not how big or complex a system is, but whether it truly serves its purpose with minimal waste and maximum value. In this episode, Serish breaks down what Frugal AI means in practice. We explore five core principles behind it: compute efficiency, climate-aware design, cultural and linguistic inclusion, affordability, and local relevance.Throughout the episode, Serish shares stories from across the globe, from rural India to African cities and European municipalities, highlighting how innovation looks radically different depending on context. Whether it’s developing voice-based AI for illiterate populations, or deploying mobile-first tools in low-connectivity environments, Frugal Innovation is about making technology work for the realities people live in, not the other way around.We also unpack the importance of rethinking total cost of ownership in AI deployments. Serish explains why many public and private sector organisations underestimate the long-term energy, financial, and operational costs of AI systems and how frameworks developed at Cambridge aim to address that.A central theme of the conversation is mindset. Serish draws a clear line between short-term tech enthusiasm and long-term systemic change. He emphasises the importance of shifting away from a one-size-fits-all model of innovation toward a more context-aware and partnership-driven approach. Impact, he argues, doesn’t come from a single product or platform. It comes from trust, uptake, and working closely with local communities to develop and scale solutions that last.Listeners will also hear about the work of the Frugal AI Hub and its Adoption Labs, which match local challenges with startups using Frugal AI techniques to create meaningful, scalable outcomes.Key topics include:What is Frugal AI and why it mattersThe global innovation gap and why context is everythingPractical examples from India, Africa, and EuropeThe hidden costs of AI and how to plan for long-term sustainabilityThe role of mindset, policy sandboxes, and inclusive procurementHow to get involved in the Frugal AI ecosystemTo learn more, visit frugalai.org or join the Frugal AI Initiative on LinkedIn and WhatsApp.If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. Your support helps us bring more voices, insights, and stories to The Future of Sustainability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This short preview introduces the Waves Gathering, taking place 11–13 September in Finland. Host Michael Hanf is joined by organizers Thomas Holm and Sara Lindeman to share what makes Waves unique, the themes of unlearning, collaboration, and finding new pathways, and why this gathering matters now.Learn more: www.wavesgathering.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.