Shaken Not Burned

There’s no denying that continuing to treat the natural world as we do will lead to ecological breakdown. We don’t seem to take into account how our consumption of natural resources affects the planet – which, ultimately, may stop providing those resources in the first place. UK economist Kate Raworth has developed a model, called doughnut economics, which provides an alternative system where humans can thrive without breaching planetary boundaries. In her landmark book, “Doughnut Economics: seven ways to think like a 21st century economist,” she suggests seven transformation points in our current economic system. In this week’s episode, Giulia explores this framework with Carolina Eboli and Jo Woods, board members of the London Doughnut Economy Coalition. The interview covers the Coalition’s work at a local level, engaging communities in South London while acknowledging the urgency to maintain a global perspective in addressing these issues.The conversation also touches upon the challenges for businesses in integrating the doughnut principles in their operations. While some companies have successfully implemented them, adopting this mindset isn’t straightforward, as each business navigates its unique context. Yet, this shouldn’t discourage action; ultimately, operating within planetary boundaries means future-proofing and building an organisation for the 21st century and beyond.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

From heating and cooling to construction materials and power demand, buildings are responsible for up to a third of global emissions – but rarely get the political or media attention they deserve. This week, Felicia talks to Lord Adair Turner, chair of the Energy Transitions Commission, to explore why that needs to change now.We dig into why electrification is the only real path to decarbonising the built environment, and why heat pumps – not hydrogen – are the smarter, more efficient bet for home heating. Better insulation can drive down energy costs; we urgently need to upgrade transmission and distribution networks, despite the costs and complexity because, without them, electrification can’t deliver.We also look at the opportunity for the Global South to leapfrog outdated systems and build smarter from the ground up, designing cities and buildings that are efficient by default, not by retrofit.It's clear: there’s no single solution. We need a range of solutions and systemic shifts, tailored to place and purpose, including smarter design, reuse of excess heat, and flexible demand systems that reduce pressure on the grid.If we’re serious about climate action, we can’t keep ignoring the buildings we live and work in. The transition won’t succeed without them, and done right, it could mean lower energy bills, healthier homes, and a more resilient future. This is not about net zero targets but about what we build today, and how we power it tomorrow.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

In this week’s episode Felicia Jackson talks to Phil Korbel, co-founder and director of advocacy at The Carbon Literacy Project, about what it truly means to move beyond awareness into action.Too often, climate conversations are filled with well-meaning phrases and distant threats. We hear about melting ice caps, rising seas, and catastrophic futures—but what do these really mean for our daily lives, our work, and our ability to shape the world around us?We dive into what carbon literacy actually is: not another layer of theory, but a practical framework that helps individuals and organisations understand their carbon impact and, crucially, do something about it.Phil shares stories of real people, from corporate executives to shop floor staff, who have shifted not just how they think, but how they act. Whether it’s changing how a company sets its net-zero targets, or how a single employee reimagines waste in a retail store, these are stories of measurable, empowering change.If you’re interested in learning more about carbon literacy for your organisation, or for yourselves, you can find out more at www.carbonliteracy.com. Or if this is something you’d be interested in us delivering for you, let us know at Shaken Not Burned and we'll see what we can deliver - reach out to info@shakennotburned.com.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

With extreme weather disrupting harvests, food prices spiking, and soil health declining globally, regenerative agriculture is emerging as a compelling solution – not just for farmers, but for everyone who eats. This week, Felicia talks to Andrew Voysey, chief impact officer at Soil Capital, about why regenerative agriculture matters to farmers, industry and individuals.Regenerative agriculture isn’t just about greener farms: it’s about the resilience of our food system in the face of increasingly volatile weather. But while data shows how broken soil leads to broken supply chains and higher prices at the checkout, the public conversation hasn’t caught up. We talk about climate and food prices as if they're distinct – but they're not. We have headlines about drought, and headlines about inflation, but no understanding of how the two are connected. We’re not just talking about emissions or yields; we’re talking about the very resilience of our food system. And resilience is now a business, cost-of-living, and national security issue.We assume change will cost more. But staying the same is already costing us. We need to reframe the conversation – urgently.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

There are many ways to take climate action: one of these involves going to court. An increasing number of groups worldwide are driving change through legal means, in a process commonly known as climate litigation. Climate litigation matters because it brings climate responsibility into the legal arena, where science, rights, and accountability can meet enforceable action. It's not just about winning court cases—it's about creating leverage for systemic transformation. The strategic use of law has an important role to play in the sustainable transition. Some landmark cases have led to policy reforms or court-ordered emissions reductions, influencing broader societal and economic change. Even if courts rule against environmentalists’ claims, bringing a climate case to court raises awareness among the public and can set precedents for future lawsuits. But what does it mean for companies? We explore this topic in this week’s episode with Zaneta Sedilekova, director of climate and nature risk at Planet Law Lab. In conversation with co-host Giulia Bottaro, they unpack the definition of climate litigation, how this trend has grown in the last few years, and the role of citizens in keeping governments and corporations accountable.  The conversation also touches on high-profile cases – one of which, Saúl Luciano Lliuya vs RWE, is due a decision imminently. This landmark case is the first one where an individual, a Peruvian farmer named Saúl Luciano Lliuya, is claiming damages against the German energy giant RWE for historical emissions, which in turn are behind the risk of floods in his town.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Not long ago, climate ambition was peaking: companies were racing to make net zero pledges and get approvals by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). But now, the mood has shifted.While most businesses haven’t completely walked away from climate action, many of them are rethinking their plans, moving deadlines forward or cutting their targets. Unfortunately, some are abandoning their initiatives altogether. In this week’s episode, which was our first-ever live recording, co-host Felicia Jackson interviews Chris Hocknell, director of Eight Versa, to explore whether corporate decarbonisation is dead, or just due for a rethink.Their conversation – which is followed by a Q&A with the audience – delves into the challenges companies face in achieving net zero targets, the complexities of supply chains, and the economic pressures impacting sustainability efforts. Chris talks about the evolution of carbon neutral compared to net zero, the credibility of carbon offsetting, and the role of nature-based solutions. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

It's a turbulent time for the global economy, which is leading some companies to row back on their sustainability commitments and focus their efforts on what is deemed essential spending. However, environmental impacts go both ways: a company can create environmental damage, for example by polluting the air or water, but it can also be at the receiving end of this damage, when ecosystem breakdown leads to flooding or wildfires. Last week we introduced the concept of climate risk, what it is and why it matters. At this point, preventing and managing climate risk becomes essential spending. But how can companies prioritise it in times of economic crisis? In our latest episode, co-host Giulia Bottaro goes into more depth on how to address this challenge with Dave Jones, former California insurance commissioner and director of the Climate Risk Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.Dave explains how evaluating climate risk is no longer a “nice to have”, especially as climate disclosure requirements are becoming a regulatory obligation globally. The discussion also delves into the role of insurance in managing climate risk, the importance of nature-based solutions, and the need for transparency and proactive measures in corporate practices.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Extreme weather is here. Supply chains are vulnerable. Insurance costs are rising. And whether or not governments pull funding for climate science or roll back disclosure rules, businesses, economies, and insurers still have to grapple with the very real impacts. Insurers can’t afford to ignore mounting losses, and companies can’t afford to ignore their exposure. Risk still needs to be priced, especially in a world where the costs are only going up.In the latest episode of Shaken Not Burned, host Felicia Jackson sits down with Tom Sabbatelli-Goodyer, VP of climate risk at FIS, to unpack one of the biggest threats to modern business: climate risk.Recorded before the latest wave of political shifts – including the US election, the roiling tariff trauma and pushback on climate and ESG, as well as the EU’s delay on CSRD – the conversation feels more relevant than ever. While regulation may stall, and ESG becomes a political football, the physical reality underpinning climate risk remains unchanged.Tom and Felicia explore what climate risk really means today – from acute shocks like floods and wildfires, to chronic pressures like sea-level rise and declining productivity. They break down how businesses can move from awareness to action, with smarter scenario planning, better data, and tools designed to make resilience a strategic advantage, not just a compliance box.This is not just another climate conversation. It’s a wake-up call for decision-makers navigating a world where climate is no longer a future problem - its a financial one happening now.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Our economic system is based on extracting as much value as possible from natural resources, without taking into consideration the principles and processes that power our ecosystems.Somehow, as humans, we have come to believe that we are not part of the natural world in an “us and them” situation. But, really, we are all the same. How can we survive without the Earth?Keeping our planet liveable means integrating our activities with nature, protecting and serving ecosystems, rather than exploiting them. If we focused on regeneration, rather than extraction, we could create a new balance.In our latest episode, Giulia talks about the regenerative economy with Erinch Sahan, business & enterprise lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). They cover the concept of biomimicry, how companies can adopt a regenerative approach, and the benefits it will bring to society, from an environmental but also a social perspective.DEAL’s tools for businesses If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?

Cement might not be sexy, but it is responsible for 8% of global emissions – and it's in everything from critical infrastructure to homes. It's fundamental to development and its decarbonisation is critical to net zero success.This week, Felicia dives into the future of construction with Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, the largest supplier of low-carbon cement alternatives in North America.They unpack how industrial waste like coal ash and steel slag are being transformed into sustainable building materials, why AI is reshaping power and construction demands, and how policy and carbon tariffs are influencing the green building revolution.Tune in to learn:How blended cements are taking over the marketWhy AI data centres are changing how we buildWhat carbon tariffs mean for the future of materialsAnd how cost-efficiency and sustainability can finally alignIt’s not just about reducing emissions – it’s about rethinking what we build with, for generations to come.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram – and why not spread the word with your friends and colleagues?