Zero: The Climate Race

Colum Murphy, a Bloomberg reporter, shares thrilling details from his recent test flight in an autonomous flying taxi in China. Angus Whitley discusses the industry's pivotal moment, highlighting technological advances and the massive market potential estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2040. They explore the contrasts between the cinematic allure of flying cars and the real challenges faced by key players like Ehang Holdings. V, a prior guest, adds insights on battery technology for long-range flights, emphasizing the hurdles ahead for making flying taxis a reality.

Akshat Rathi, a senior reporter at Bloomberg Green, dives into innovative climate solutions with founders Henry Bilinsky of MicroTau and Steven Vassiloudis of Novalith. They discuss MicroTau’s shark skin-inspired film that enhances airplane aerodynamics to save fuel and reduce emissions. Vassiloudis explains Novalith's cleaner lithium manufacturing process to tackle environmental challenges. Together, they highlight the optimism and hurdles of developing sustainable technologies amidst the race for net-zero carbon emissions.

Tim Latimer, founder of geothermal startup Fervo and former drilling engineer in the oil and gas sector, shares his journey towards clean energy. He discusses Fervo's recent achievements, including a new power plant in Nevada and ambitious plans for expansion in places like Kenya and Indonesia. The conversation highlights the innovative techniques borrowed from fossil fuel drilling to enhance geothermal energy production. Latimer also touches on the financing complexities of large-scale projects and the evolving role of geothermal in the green energy landscape.

Nicola Twilley, an author who examines the influence of refrigeration on our food systems and the environment, dives into the fascinating journey of refrigeration. She discusses its pivotal role in reducing food waste while revealing its paradoxical effects in rich versus poor nations. The conversation highlights refrigeration's transformation of the meat industry and its environmental implications, urging a rethink on our cold chain habits. Twilley also critiques sell-by dates and advocates for mindful consumption of fresh produce to foster sustainable eating practices.

This week, Renee Salas, an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, dives into the alarming health risks from extreme heat. She reveals that heat-related deaths among seniors could skyrocket by 370% by mid-century. Salas emphasizes that everyone is at risk, highlighting the need for systemic healthcare solutions to protect vulnerable groups. The conversation also touches on how naming heat waves could raise public awareness and drive urgent action against this silent killer.

Jason Huang, founder of TS Conductor, dives into breakthroughs in material science that enhance electrical conductivity. He discusses revolutionary carbon fiber core technology, enabling cables that carry twice the power and maintain strength. The conversation also highlights global interest in re-conductoring strategies to bolster grid efficiency. Huang addresses industry challenges and the need for advanced manufacturing to support the U.S. power grid, all while emphasizing the critical role of innovation in combating climate change.

In this engaging conversation, Keith Anderson, the CEO of Scottish Power, shares his insights on the future of the UK's electricity grid. He discusses the pressing need to transition away from fossil fuels and the exciting promise of the Great British Energy initiative. Anderson highlights challenges in finding qualified engineers to support the energy shift and the pivotal role of innovative policies in fostering an efficient energy market. The talk paints a picture of a decarbonized future and the workforce needed to achieve it.

Former BNEF grid expert Sanjeet Sanghera discusses the challenges and opportunities of upgrading the grid system for a net zero future. Topics include the need to double the grid network by 2050, the role of AI in grid operations, comparisons between grid systems in Europe, US, and China, addressing grid development challenges in Africa, and the necessity of upgrading the grid for efficient energy delivery.

Climate activist Lucie Pinson discusses pressuring banks to divest from fossil fuels. She emphasizes the importance of holding financial institutions accountable for harmful investments. The podcast explores the impact of banks' coal policies on financing fossil fuels and contrasts approaches to climate change in EU and US financial institutions.

Stacey Abrams and Ari Matusiak discuss making electrification affordable for middle and low-income families, the impact of household emissions on climate change, and whether Joe Biden is the right Democratic candidate for 2024.