Zero: The Climate Race

In this episode, the hosts discuss the conclusions of COP28 and the potential impact of transitioning away from fossil fuels. They explore the significance of the COP agreement and the democratization of AI. They also highlight unfinished business at COP28 and the commitment to the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal.

Guest Patrick Verkooijen, Head of the Global Center on Adaptation, discusses the history of climate adaptation finance and negotiations at COP28 on adapting to climate change. The podcast explores the growing financial gap in climate adaptation, local solutions, innovative mechanisms, financing through Special Drawing Rights, funding climate finance via levies and taxes, and unexplored challenges in adaptation, including the psychological impact of climate change.

Former US Vice President Al Gore discusses breaking the petrostate stranglehold on climate progress and the influence of oil companies in shaping COP agenda. He highlights the need to phase out fossil fuels and reform consensus-based decision-making. Gore emphasizes the role of capitalism in addressing climate change, the importance of reelecting Biden, and the power of transparency and data. The podcast also includes a segment thanking listeners and promoting the Bloomberg Green newsletter.

Explore the challenges and opportunities in tripling renewables by 2030, including the need for government support and acceleration in the wind sector. Learn about the role of hydropower as a complement to solar power and the scalability of renewables. Discover the efforts to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 and the significance of doubling energy efficiency and decarbonizing multiple sectors. Dive into solar power finance updates, the importance of batteries, and the potential of hydrogen as a storage solution.

This podcast episode discusses COP28 and the challenges of reaching a common text agreement. Christiana Figueres shares her insights as the former head of the UNFCCC and discusses the role of the fossil fuel industry in negotiations. The podcast also explores climate anxiety, accountability in climate negotiations, disappointment with oil executives, and the importance of transparency in leadership.

Avinash Persaud shares the Bridgetown Agenda, a plan to reform the global financial system for clean technologies in developing countries. The challenges of investing in renewable energy projects and the need for currency risk hedging are discussed. The podcast explores solutions to address the climate crisis and the importance of reforming the World Bank and IMF. The leaders of World Bank and IMF are supporting the Bridge Town 2.0 agenda to break the current deadlock.

The UN Climate Conference COP28 starts next week. Before Akshat heads to the conference he’s joined by Aaron Rutkoff, the editor of Bloomberg Green, to talk about what COP’s current controversial president Sultan Al Jaber has accomplished so far and what he must achieve.  They also decode COP jargon like “orderly decline,” discuss the stakes for the UAE’s biggest diplomatic exercise and expectations for the final communiqué. Listen to related episodes:  Carbon removal's magic number   Big promise, little success: The state of carbon capture  We need trillions to fix the climate. Finally there's a serious plan.   A kingdom built on oil now controls the world’s climate progress Read articles mentioned in this episode:  UAE's Oil Boss Sultan Al Jaber Has a Plan to Fix COP28  John Kerry’s Promise of ‘Millions’ for Climate Damages Criticized by Activists  COP28: How to Tell If a Climate Deal Will Succeed or Fail Fill out Bloomberg Green's climate anxiety survey Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd and our senior producer is Christine Driscoll. Special thanks to Stacey Wong and Kira Bindrim. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit bloomberg.com/green. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China has become the dominant force in battery production with three times the capacity of the rest of the world combined by 2025. The podcast explores the rise of CATL, the world's largest battery maker, and its collaboration with Germany. It discusses the impact on the German car industry and the global economy, and provides a historical overview of batteries. The chapter also explores the development and viability of lithium-ion batteries and how CATL led the battery race through their partnership with BMW and global expansion.

This podcast discusses the importance of carbon removal technologies in achieving net zero emissions. It explores funding opportunities, government programs, and challenges involved in carbon removal. The chapter also highlights the energy requirements, cost implications, and obstacles faced in achieving carbon removal. Overall, it provides valuable insights into the complexities and crucial nature of carbon removal.

Jim Hagemann Snabe, Europe’s top industrialist and chairperson of Northvolt, discusses achieving climate goals, zero-emission shipping, and competing with the Chinese battery industry. They also explore policy changes, incentives in green technology transition, and the role of leadership in driving the zero carbon transition across various sectors.