Tag: Climate Action

Photovoltaic technician at Henrietta PV plant in Mauritius
Climate Change, Climate Confident

Asia’s Untold Renewable Energy Success Story: A Candid Conversation

Asia’s energy transition is a significant and often overlooked aspect of the global fight against climate change. In the latest episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Assaad Razzouk, CEO of renewable energy company Gurin Energy, host of The Angry Clean Energy Guy podcast, and author of the book Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit. Our conversation explored the ongoing transformation of the energy landscape in Asia and the positive impact it’s having on the environment.

Asia has long been seen as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with much of its power coming from coal-fired power plants. However, the tide is turning, and the region is witnessing a massive shift towards clean, renewable energy. Assaad Razzouk shared his extensive knowledge on this topic and provided valuable insights on Asia’s commitment to building a more sustainable future.

One of the episode’s highlights was our discussion about China’s impressive progress in the renewable energy sector. The country has become a global leader in solar power, with over 250 gigawatts of installed solar capacity. This is particularly evident in the rapid expansion of rooftop solar across China, which has benefited from strong government support and policies. China’s solar revolution is not only reducing its reliance on fossil fuels but also paving the way for other countries in the region to follow suit.

Another key takeaway from the episode was the importance of energy access in Asia’s developing countries. Assaad explained that access to electricity is crucial for lifting people out of poverty and improving their quality of life. Decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as rooftop solar and microgrids, are making it possible for remote communities to access clean, reliable power. This not only benefits the environment but also helps to address social and economic inequalities.

We also touched on the issue of plastics in Asia, a complex and multifaceted problem. Thankfully, many Asian countries have taken strong measures to address this issue, banning or significantly reducing the use of single-use plastics. Assaad pointed out that countries like Indonesia have started implementing legislation to hold manufacturers accountable for their plastic waste, a step that is yet to be taken in other parts of the world, including the United States.

The conversation with Assaad Razzouk was both enlightening and inspiring, revealing the incredible progress Asia has made in its energy transition. This transformation is not only helping to combat climate change but also creating opportunities for economic growth, social development, and a brighter future for millions of people.

I encourage you to listen to the full episode of the Climate Confident podcast to hear our in-depth discussion with Assaad Razzouk and learn more about Asia’s inspiring energy transition. You can find the episode on your favorite podcast platform or visit the Climate Confident podcast website. Don’t forget to subscribe and share the episode with your friends and colleagues to spread the word about the positive impact of renewable energy in Asia.

Finally, if you value receiving weekly actionable insights on sustainability and climate, you can always sign up to be a Supporter of the podcast for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

Stay climate confident, and let’s make a change together!

Photo credit UNDP Climate on Flickr

Climate Stripes
Climate Change

The Citizen Assembly Model: A Solution to the Climate Crisis?

The Climate Crisis is one of the greatest challenges humanity faces today. It requires collective action, innovative solutions, and effective decision-making. The traditional methods of decision-making have failed to produce the necessary results in combating the climate crisis, and as a result, there is a growing demand for new approaches to tackle this problem. This is where Citizen Assemblies come in.

Citizen Assemblies are groups of citizens brought together to deliberate on complex issues and make recommendations to decision-makers. They provide a platform for citizens to engage with each other and share their perspectives, experiences, and ideas. In this week’s episode of the Climate Confident podcast, we explore the role of Citizen Assemblies in solving the climate crisis.

Prof Denise Baden and Prof Matt Ryan, two experts in the field, join me to discuss the potential of Citizen Assemblies to address the climate crisis. Denise and Matt share their experiences of working with Citizen Assemblies and the impact they have had on the communities they have worked with. They also highlight the importance of involving a diverse range of perspectives in these assemblies, including those of marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis.

One of the key findings from the discussion is that Citizen Assemblies can provide a space for citizens to make informed decisions on complex issues. They can help to build trust and understanding between different groups of people, which is essential in overcoming the challenges of the climate crisis. By bringing people together, Citizen Assemblies can help to develop a shared understanding of the problem and provide a basis for consensus-building.

The discussion also touches on the role of technology in supporting Citizen Assemblies. Denise and Matt highlight the importance of using technology to bring people together and engage with each other, and how it can help to overcome geographical barriers. The use of technology also enables assemblies to be more inclusive and accessible, reaching a wider range of people.

Throughout the podcast, Denise and Matt, discuss the potential of Citizen Assemblies to help solve the climate crisis, and the importance of involving citizens in the decision-making process. They emphasize the need for a new approach to decision-making, one that is inclusive, participatory, and effective.

In conclusion, Citizen Assemblies offer a new way of tackling the climate crisis, providing a platform for citizens to engage with each other and make informed decisions. By involving a diverse range of perspectives, Citizen Assemblies can help to build trust and understanding, which is essential in overcoming the challenges of the climate crisis. If you’re interested in learning more about Citizen Assemblies and how they can help to solve the climate crisis, listen to this episode of the Climate Confident podcast.

So, if you want to be part of the solution to the climate crisis, and learn more about the potential of Citizen Assemblies, be sure to listen to this episode of the Climate Confident podcast.

Finally, don’t forget to follow the Climate Confident podcast for weekly inspiring stories and remember, if you value receiving weekly actionable insights on sustainability and climate, you can always sign up to be a Supporter of the podcast for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

Image credit – Climate Stripes

Photo of water with snow capped Alaskan mountain in the background
Climate Change

Writing for Change: Stories to Transform the Climate Crisis

I’m proud to present the latest episode of my Climate Confident podcast, where I had the pleasure of speaking with two prominent voices in the fight against climate change: Professor Denise Baden and Steve Willis.

Denise is a Professor of Sustainable Business at the University of Southampton and the mastermind behind the Green Stories project, which is all about writing climate solutions into stories that can reach a wider audience. Meanwhile, Steve is the Director of Herculean Climate Solutions and the co-producer of “No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save Our Planet” an anthology of 24 stories that present positive and engaging solutions to the climate crisis.

The authors took a unique approach to addressing the lack of positive stories in the climate fiction genre by using three questions to evaluate potential solutions: Does it work? Can it produce a million tons? And is it negative emissions? These solutions are then illustrated through entertaining stories that include powerful kernels of scientific truth.

Denise, who was the editor of these stories, talked about the challenge of managing perspectives from various renowned writers (Kim Stanley Robinson, Paolo Bacigalupi, Andrew Dana Hudson, and more), experts, including engineers, ecologists, and social scientists. She highlighted the concept of “social science fiction” as a safe space for exploring more systemic solutions that can be difficult to discuss in a political environment.

Steve talked about the power of fiction and storytelling to raise awareness of transformative solutions. He compared the idea of saving the planet to saving the Titanic and the use of a holodeck to write a program of what the future could look like. The conversation also touched upon the comparison between the utopian world of Star Trek and the current world, and the goal to achieve the former within the time and effort required.

Denise talked about the need for a shift from the current Gross Domestic Product (GDP) metric to a Wellbeing Index or Happy Planet Index, as well as the importance of long-term decision making that falls outside the electoral cycle. She mentioned the use of citizen assemblies and personal carbon allowances as topics explored in their stories. Steve talked about the idea of making the ocean an independent state in order to solve its problems and how this idea has been incorporated into his anthology about the future. He also discussed the potential for planting sea grass, kelp, and other ocean vegetation, and the lack of awareness around the ocean.

The authors have big dreams for the future of their project, including turning the stories into a Netflix series and focusing on refreezing the Arctic as a crucial step in fixing the climate crisis. They hope that these stories will inspire people to take action and make a positive difference in the world.

So if you’re looking for a podcast that’s both informative and entertaining, then look no further! Listen to the latest episode of Climate Confident and discover the inspiring work of Professor Denise Baden and Steve Willis. They’re making a difference, and so can you!

Finally, don’t forget to follow the Climate Confident podcast for weekly inspiring stories and remember, if you value receiving weekly actionable insights on sustainability and climate, you can always sign up to be a Supporter of the podcast for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.

Photo Credit Bureau of Ocean Energy on Flickr