Climate Confident

Send me a messageMost people don’t think about carbon emissions when they think about the internet—let alone digital advertising. But here’s the kicker: the ad tech ecosystem is responsible for roughly the same emissions as the global aviation sector. Yes, really.In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I spoke with Frank Maguire, SVP of Product Marketing & Sustainability at Equativ (formerly Sharethrough), about the often-overlooked climate impact of digital ads. We broke down how every impression, bid, and page refresh contributes to a complex, energy-intensive infrastructure—and what’s actually being done to clean it up.Frank shared how programmatic advertising works, why the auction-based model generates such high emissions, and what’s being done to make ad delivery more efficient. We explored GreenPMPs (Private Marketplaces) that strip out high-emission inventory while improving performance, the role of AI in optimising and complicating emissions, and why industry collaboration is key.We also discussed how regulation like the EU’s CSRD is pushing companies to measure and act on their digital carbon footprint—and why that matters for brands, platforms, and consumers alike.If you’ve ever wondered how something as invisible as online ads can have a tangible climate impact—or how business can respond—this episode unpacks it all.Listen now to learn how the ad tech world is confronting its emissions problem, and what it means for sustainability in digital infrastructure. Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sat down with Stuart Thompson, President of ABB Electrification Service, to unpack one of the most overlooked but critical fronts in the climate transition: industrial decarbonisation.Industry accounts for around a quarter of global energy-related carbon emissions, and much of that stems from outdated infrastructure, unreliable grids, and a historic reliance on cheap fossil fuels. Stuart leads a $1.4 billion division with 5,000 engineers working across 50 countries to modernise that very infrastructure, and in this conversation, he shared exactly what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change.We explored:Why energy security, cost, and carbon goals often pull in different directionsHow modernising old assets can cut both emissions and costs - without ripping everything outWhy battery storage “as-a-service” is taking off, especially when paired with AI for energy optimisationThe role of the circular economy in electrification, from recycling components to extending asset lifeWhat’s holding companies back (hint: underinvestment and inertia), and how ABB is helping them move fasterIf you’re a business leader navigating energy volatility, emissions targets, and infrastructure risk, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at how to align climate goals with operational needs.Listen now to hear why electrification isn’t just about new tech  - it’s about rethinking ownership models, resilience, and risk.Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageHi folks, Tom Raftery here.Just dropping into your feed to let you know there’s no new Climate Confident episode this week - I’m taking a short break to recharge and get ready for some brilliant conversations I’ve got lined up in the coming weeks.But don’t worry, the podcast will be back next Wednesday at 7am CEST, as always, with another inspiring story of climate action and innovation.In the meantime, if you’re missing your climate fix, remember there’s a massive back catalogue of over 220 episodes to explore, from cutting-edge carbon removal tech to climate policy deep dives, it’s all there and ready for you to binge.And if you’ve been getting value from the show, consider supporting the podcast. For as little as €3 or $3 a month, you can help keep Climate Confident independent. You’ll find the link to become a supporter below.Thanks so much for listening — and I’ll see you next week!👉 Explore past episodes: https://www.climateconfidentpodcast.com👉 Support the podcast: Support Climate ConfidentSupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Ciaran Flanagan, who leads Siemens’ Global Data Centre business, to unpack the evolving role of data centres in our energy and climate systems.We dig into the data centre’s journey from a “sausage machine” of power-hungry servers to a potential hero in grid stability and renewable energy adoption. Ciaran shares how data centres in Ireland, despite consuming up to 20% of national electricity, are driving economic growth and pioneering greener practices.We explore why digital twins are more than a buzzword, enabling smarter design and cutting resource waste. Ciaran also explains how AI’s explosive demand pressures the grid while offering real-time energy optimisations to make data centres more sustainable.Key highlights:The role of data centres as catalysts for renewable energy growthHow digital twin technology can cut construction emissions and energy useAI’s double-edged impact on data centre sustainabilityThe regulatory shift pushing data centre operators to report and reduce emissionsWe also touch on the often-overlooked economic benefits of data centres, from direct jobs to the broader tech ecosystem.The report I referred to in the podcast is available here.Listen in to learn how the data centre industry is pivoting from climate problem to climate solution.Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Sangeeta Waldron, a communications professional and author of What Will Your Legacy Be?, to explore how our personal choices and narratives shape the climate fight.We cover a lot of ground. Sangeeta shares how her time in the Himalayas revealed the harsh realities of climate change and sparked her lifelong commitment. We also dig into how indigenous knowledge can fill crucial gaps in scientific data, and how personal actions and systemic change go hand in hand.A standout point for me was Sangeeta’s insistence that our climate legacy starts much earlier than we think – as soon as we’re old enough to make informed decisions. She also challenges us to rethink the role of media in the climate debate, exposing the risks of misinformation and greenwashing.Another highlight? The idea that hope and optimism, not just grief, can drive climate action. I found this especially relevant in a world flooded with doomsday narratives.We wrap up with a powerful reminder: even small daily actions can add up. As Sangeeta puts it, reconnecting with nature - even briefly - is a simple but potent step.Tune in to hear how storytelling, personal responsibility and collective will can move the needle on climate. And let me know your thoughts, are you seeing the same challenges and solutions in your corner of the climate conversation?Connect with Sangeeta on:LinkedInBlueskyInstagramThreadsSupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I’m joined by Angel Hsu, associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill and founder of the Data-Driven EnviroLab. We dive deep into how AI can be used to combat climate misinformation and bring real accountability to climate pledges.Angel and her team have built two domain-specific AI tools, ChatNetZero and ChatNDC, designed to help policymakers, researchers, and business leaders navigate the chaos of climate targets, national climate plans, and net zero claims. Unlike generic chatbots, which often hallucinate facts or pull from questionable sources, these tools are trained on verified, climate-specific datasets and come with built-in safeguards against misinformation.We also unpack why generic AI tools like ChatGPT fall short in this space, how climate policy is lagging behind AI innovation, and what it’ll take to close that gap. Angel shares insights from her work with the Net Zero Tracker, the IPCC, and her current NSF-backed initiative to boost AI integrity in climate mitigation.If you’re in policy, sustainability, or just trying to make sense of what’s greenwashing and what’s not, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Listen now to learn:Why domain-specific AI beats generic models in climate accuracyHow ChatNetZero flags weak net zero targetsWhat policymakers can do today to use AI responsiblyWhy transparency in data, and in AI, is non-negotiableFor more, about Angel, and her team's work, visit https://datadrivenlab.org/Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this week's episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I’m joined by Bryan Parkes, Head of Innovation Acceleration at Zespri, the world’s largest marketer of kiwifruit. Bryan shares how Zespri is taking a bold, practical approach to climate resilience through its Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund - an annual US$2 million commitment to agricultural innovation funding.We dig into why Zespri is using a venture clienting model—not venture capital—to attract global solutions for the kiwifruit industry. Instead of taking equity, they offer grants and technical support to agri-tech startups, making it easier to pilot and apply new ideas quickly.From using moth-inspired biosensors to detect rot early, to field trials of biochar for long-term carbon storage and soil health, Bryan outlines how they’re making sustainable agriculture grants work in the real world. We also discuss how this work aligns with Zespri’s ambition to become carbon positive by 2035, and how many of the solutions being tested could be transferable across other crops and food systems.If you’re involved in agri-tech, sustainability, or food innovation, this conversation offers deep insights into one of the most hands-on approaches to funding for agri-tech startups. It’s a look into a funding model that prioritises environmental sustainability grants and scalable impact over PR hype.Keywords: Zespri ZAG Innovation Fund, agricultural innovation funding, sustainable agriculture grants, kiwifruit industry innovation, climate resilience funding, funding for agri-tech startups, environmental sustainability grants, agri-tech funding opportunities, Innovation Fund, agritech support.Support the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageHow do we scale nature-based carbon removal without greenwashing or over-promising? That’s exactly what I explore in this episode with Lisett Luik, co-founder of Arbonics.We all know forests are powerful carbon sinks. But turning that into credible, measurable climate action is harder than it sounds. Lisett shares how Arbonics is using satellite data, digital twins, and over 50 layers of land analysis to help landowners across Europe grow new forests or manage existing ones for long-term carbon storage, without defaulting to clear-cutting or monoculture plantations.We discuss the difference between planting trees and restoring ecosystems, how continuous cover forestry can deliver carbon and timber, and why Europe’s underused farmland holds massive potential for afforestation. Lisett also tackles the big issue of trust in carbon markets - explaining how dynamic baselines, data transparency, and strong EU regulations are helping improve the integrity of nature-based carbon credits.If you work in sustainability, forestry, or carbon markets, or you just want to understand the real role of nature-based solutions alongside tech like direct air capture, this episode is for you.Listen now to learn how technology and nature can work together to deliver scalable, high-quality carbon removal.Find out more at https://arbonics.com, and connect with Lisett on Bluesky here.Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I spoke with Laura Miranda Perez, Chief Communications & Sustainability Officer at Oxford PV, about one of the most important developments in solar tech today: perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.We unpacked how Oxford PV’s approach improves solar panel efficiency from the typical 20–22% to over 30%, and why that matters not just for land use, but also for grid capacity, system costs, and the speed of global decarbonisation. Laura also explained how tandem cells work, why silicon has hit a performance ceiling, and how perovskite offers a new path forward.We dug into the real-world implications:Why higher efficiency panels lower the cost of electricity, not just hardwareHow tandem solar can reduce emissions by 20% or more, even compared to conventional solarWhat’s holding Europe back in solar manufacturing, despite strong deployment figuresWhy utilities, not just residential customers, are driving early demand for Oxford PV’s techLaura also addressed common misconceptions about solar, including whether it works in cloudy weather and the overblown concerns about solar panel waste.If you’re working in clean energy, manufacturing, or just curious about where solar is headed, this is a must-listen conversation.🔗 More on Oxford PV: https://www.oxfordpv.comListen and subscribe at https://www.climateconfidentpodcast.comDigital Disruption with Geoff Nielson Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper

Send me a messageIn this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I speak with Alexei Beltyukov, co-founder of Universal Fuel Technologies, about a new approach to producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), using a process they call flexiforming.Unlike traditional methods like HEFA or Fischer–Tropsch, flexiforming allows producers to use a much wider range of feedstocks, from mixed alcohols to naphtas and renewable waste streams, and turn them into jet fuel, renewable diesel, or chemicals. This flexibility is critical as SAF demand surges, especially with EU mandates requiring a rising share of SAF in jet fuel starting in 2025.We explore:Why SAF is the only viable decarbonisation path for long-haul aviation (for now)What sets flexiforming apart from conventional SAF productionHow current SAF mandates and incentives (EU vs. US) shape supply and pricingWhy scaling SAF requires compatibility with existing refinery infrastructureThe role consumer awareness might play in driving airline demandAlexei also makes the case for slow but steady growth in SAF adoption, pointing to its current double-digit annual growth and comparing its trajectory to that of electric vehicles 10 years ago.If you're working in energy, fuels, aviation, or sustainability policy, or you’re just trying to understand how we decarbonise one of the hardest-to-abate sectors, this episode offers a clear, grounded perspective.🔗 Listen now and learn more at climateconfidentpodcast.com#sustainableaviationfuel #SAF #decarbonisation #aviation #cleantech #climatechange #renewablefuels #energytransition #climateconfident #podcastSupport the showPodcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's amazing supporters: Jerry Sweeney Andreas Werner Stephen Carroll Roger Arnold And remember you too can Support the Podcast - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent Climate Confident episodes like this one.ContactIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - get in touch via direct message on Twitter/LinkedIn. If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover the show. CreditsMusic credits - Intro by Joseph McDade, and Outro music for this podcast was composed, played, and produced by my daughter Luna Juniper