Greening the News with IEMA

Join us for our last episode of Greening the News, when we met the team behind Couch to Carbon Zero. They share with us the small changes that can make a real difference. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this episode we speak to Jake Fiennes, about rewilding, agriculture, the need for nature, how rewilding can impact productivity. We ask who should be responsible for the increased cost of food production and how rewilding can diversify revenue streams. If you would like to ask a question, share your thoughts, or want us to discuss an issue you think we should cover, please email us: podcasts@iema.net To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this special COP27 episode we discuss our experiences at COP as observers, as the talks come to a close. Sarah presents the podcast from Sharm El Sheikh with Martin Baxter, IEMA’s Director or Policy, Chris Seekings, Transform Deputy Editor and Tom Pashby, IEMA’s digital journalist

In this episode we speak to Thomas Kankam about his path from attending the Cartagena Dialogue held in Ghana to becoming the UNEP National Project Coordinator (NPC) at the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana. We discuss the climate change affecting Ghana, what they are doing about it and the barriers they face to implement the change needed. If you would like to ask a question, share your thoughts, or want us to discuss an issue you think we should cover, please email us: podcasts@iema.net To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this episode we discuss the challenges in making sport ‘greener’. We talk to two sustainability professionals working at the top level of professional sports, Caroline Carlin from the Southampton Football Club and Jaime Mc Keown from World Rugby. Together we talk through some of the sustainability issues in sports and what they are doing to embed sustainability across their organisations. If you would like to ask a question, share your thoughts, or want us to discuss an issue you think we should cover, please email us: podcasts@iema.net To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this episode we talk to an IEMA Fellow and sustainability manager working in the nuclear industry. We discuss the myths that surround nuclear energy – the ‘trilemma’ of security supply, price and carbon. We discuss how nuclear energy sits within the energy crisis and the climate crisis. We would love to know how our IEMA members are helping to make all jobs greener, so please do write to us: podcasts@iema.net To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this episode we speak to Paul Field, a former coal miner and now environment and compliance manager, and Becky Toal, the owner of Crowberry Consulting, which provides environmental management system advice to businesses. Becky and Paul talk about their varied career paths, the role of education and apprenticeships for developing professionals and tips to encourage more young people to pursue a career in sustainability. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/. You can also share your thoughts with us by writing to our email podcasts@iema.net

In this episode we talk to two IEMA sustainability professionals, Laura Middlemass, from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Rebecca Garner from Serco UK. We discuss their roles in helping to make ‘every job become greener’ within their organisations. We discuss the shift in enthusiasm for sustainability, the pandemic and lessons learnt from working through it. We would like to hear how our IEMA members are helping to make all jobs greener, please contact us at: podcasts@iema.net, or if you’d like to contribute to a future episode. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In this episode we are joined by Laila Takeh from Deloitte and Martin Baxter from IEMA, who were part of a team of authors of our report, ‘A blueprint for green workforce transformation’. We discuss what we mean by green skills and green jobs and how organisations can understand and implement greener credentials.

This month we welcome two women working in different areas of renewable energy. Sarah Merrick, the founder and CEO of Ripple, a co-op wind farm and Caroline Donnelly, a consent manager for SSE Renewable and the first female IEMA Fellow in Ireland. We hear about the fantastic work they are doing in the renewable energy sector as well as how the renewable energy sector can help reduce energy costs. We discuss the roadblocks that are slowing down the uptake of renewable energy in the UK and Ireland. We also touch on some of the myths regarding new technologies like the heat pumps for heating our homes and the use of hydrogen to power vehicles. We want to know about how our IEMA members are dealing with rising energy cost, so please do write to us: podcasts@iema.net To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

In episode 10 we discuss the energy crisis that the world is facing, focusing on the UK. We analyse the role of the government in establishing fuel security policies, that help insulate the poorest against the energy commodity market. We consider the need to establish financial incentives for landlords, so that they tackle the need for energy efficiency in social housing and whether getting rid of green tariffs helps to reduce the cost of energy. To know more about the sustainability work IEMA does, please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

Last October, before the cop 26 climate change talks in Glasgow, IEMA conducted a survey that showed that climate change was the second most important concern, just behind the economy. This result was part of a suite of opinion polls taken around this time which gave similar results both in the UK and other countries.It could be argued that this momentum gives policymakers a greater opportunity to concentrate on the policies and skills needed to drive a zero carbon economy. However, we have also seen evidence some people are becoming fearful and anxious about the future, even to the extent that they feel any action they might take will make little difference given our current global trajectory. That’s why this year we want to start the year discussing how small changes in lifestyle can help reduce your impact. We discuss with our panel how the challenge of being sustainable can seem daunting, but the importance thing is to start doing things even though they may be imperfect. We also talk about how to stay motivated to change habits and each individual or business will have their own challenges and it’s important to be kind but also to be honest about where you are on our journey. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

This year has been an eventful year for the environment. The effects of the pandemic are still being felt worldwide and we have witnessed unprecedented weather events. The latest IPCC report warned of a “code red” for humanity, stating that global warming was affecting all regions across the globe. In November, world leaders attended the environmental summit COP26 in Glasgow, to discuss ways they could reduce their emissions. At the same time, in the UK, the Environment Bill was given Royal Assent and it has been hailed as a major environmental milestone. In this last episode of 2021, we discuss with our guest, Dame Glenys Stacy, the positive strides made at COP26, the need for greater ambitions and the importance of following through those agreements. We also discuss what the new Environment Act will mean for businesses with the implementation of regulations for certain industries. We talk about the future role of the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) and how it will interact with other agencies. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

COP 26 is fast approaching and governments and companies around the world are pledging to do more to tackle the Climate Emergency. COP 26 is hailed as a pivotal moment where leaders need to make serious advances to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. It is also the first official deadline since COP 15 where countries will update on their progress of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In this episode we discuss with our panel their expectations for the formal negotiations regarding COP 26, but also how the events and negotiations that take part between countries, companies, and civil society. We discuss how this can help create commitments to GHG reductions, as well as put pressure on governments to do more. We talk about the political uncertainty to be able to set more ambitious reduction targets, the economics of reducing climate change and the importance of climate finance to help developing countries deal with the climate emergency. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.IEMA.net/

For our sixth episode we talk about the recent news regarding job market recovery and what this means for the younger generation who around the world have suffered disproportionately higher levels of unemployment and the green skills initiative that the UK government is implementing. On this episode our panellists discuss the long term effects the pandemic may have in the younger generation ranging from unemployment to adapting to a digital office environment and the challenges this represents and what employers can do to minimize the impact. We also focus on green skills and the challenges there are to implementing them. One of the issues mentioned is the difficulty in attracting diverse backgrounds to develop green skills so that every job can become greener. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

On our fifth episode we discuss resilient cities. In recent news we have seen how vulnerable cities can be to extreme weather events. In Europe many cities have experienced flush floods, in Canada, Japan and southern Europe they had to cope with heat waves, in the west coast of the USA it was droughts and fires while in Greece, Algeria and Lebanon they had to face wildfires. These extreme weather events have threatened lives and the livelihood of many citizens. The IPCC report that came out this month highlights the dire consequences that cities may face due to extreme weather event fuelled by climate Change. In this episode we discuss with our panel what are the key factors of resilient cities, how can cities mitigate and adapt to Climate Change and how can cities be not only resilient places but also attractive areas where people want to live. To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

Extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, are being felt worldwide. This in turn is increasing the competition over scarce resources, which can potentially fuel mass migration and conflict. In our fourth episode we ask if climate change is fuelling conflict, or if it’s one of many contributing factors. Joining us is Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, a Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Defence and Oluwakemi Ajakaiye from Ampak Nigeria Limited, a sustainability and environmental consultancy based in Nigeria. We discuss what steps the military and civil society can take, to help societies adapt to climate change and reduce the possibility of further conflict.

n our third episode we discuss ‘people power’ and the ability to exact change from within. Mindful of the rebellion inside oil company Exxon, forcing them into faster climate change action, we ask if the financial market is finally considering the value environmental social governance (ESG) has to offer organisations. We discuss the role sustainable finance plays in edging organisations towards climate action and what it can offer shareholders in the longer term

For our second episode, we consider whether democracy or autocracy can provide the action that the global community needs, to combat climate change. We debate whether authoritarian or democratic governments are more effective at handling crisis like the pandemic or the Climate emergency. Seeking consensus can be a long process which can delay action. We discuss with our panel if reaching consensus is a process that must be done regardless of the type of government; and if in their opinion consensus helps or hinders action on climate change. We also address the issue of innovation on helping us tackle climate change and if this factor gives democracies an edge on fighting climate change.

In this pilot episode we discuss how the UK and New Zealand are dealing with easing of lockdown restrictions and how has the pandemic affected the sustainability and environmental profession. IEMA’s CEO Sarah Mukherjee, and guests Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO and Director of Policy and External Affairs at IEMA and Alec Tang, Director of Sustainability at Kāinga Ora, discusses the different approaches the UK and New Zealand government have had on handling the pandemic, how we can build back better and how the sustainability and environmental profession have been affected by the pandemic, and the skills they will need to ‘build back better’.