Climate Solutions with Gaby & ShailaDavid Borlace Since launching his Just Have a Think podcast in 2018, Dave Borlace has been steadily increasing his subscriber base at a fast clip, to almost 400,000 currently with over 200 videos garnering more than 27million views. To the iClima team, his success is no surprise since we have been longstanding fans of his balanced, well-evidenced approach to explaining the climate change solutions that exist today. We were therefore delighted to have him as a guest on our podcast, where he discussed how his experience in project management helped prepare him for the task of compiling these videos – which he does on his own and without PR sponsorship to maintain his uncompromised views – the process of preparation and research, and the importance to him of keeping that uniquely soft-spoken, well balanced view.
If you want to support Dave, you can become a patron with minimal donation at this link: patreon.com/justhaveathink
Climate Solutions E11 - Viral YouTube Host Dave Borlace On Telling the Truth About Climate ChangeClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-03 | David Borlace Since launching his Just Have a Think podcast in 2018, Dave Borlace has been steadily increasing his subscriber base at a fast clip, to almost 400,000 currently with over 200 videos garnering more than 27million views. To the iClima team, his success is no surprise since we have been longstanding fans of his balanced, well-evidenced approach to explaining the climate change solutions that exist today. We were therefore delighted to have him as a guest on our podcast, where he discussed how his experience in project management helped prepare him for the task of compiling these videos – which he does on his own and without PR sponsorship to maintain his uncompromised views – the process of preparation and research, and the importance to him of keeping that uniquely soft-spoken, well balanced view.
If you want to support Dave, you can become a patron with minimal donation at this link: patreon.com/justhaveathink
Thanks for listening!The Emergence of ESG 3.0Climate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-06-07 | In an interview with Proactive Investors, Gabriela Herculano, CEO and Co-founder, iClima Earth shares her concept of ESG 3.0 and the need to shift the narrative from traditional, backward-looking ESG data scorecards to real decarbonisation solutions.
Watch the entire interview here: youtu.be/PixRH-RoQhYShifting the ESG narrative with ESG 3.0 and the latest trends in the transition to decarbonisationClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-06-07 | In an interview with Proactive Investors, Gabriela Herculano, CEO and Co-Founder, iClima Earth shares her concept of ESG 3.0 and the need to shift the narrative of ESG from backward-looking ESG scorecards to companies that are providing real solutions.
To know about iCima Earth, visit us at https://www.iclima.earthClimate Solutions E10 Philip Berntsen on the Tokenization of Sustainable ProjectsClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-05-17 | Philip Berntsen is the co-founder of the Swiss company Frigg, which uses blockchain to allows investors to invest in sustainable projects at the asset level at minimal cost. Here, he talks to Gaby and Shaila about how Frigg adds liquidity to existing sustainability projects and the possibilities of cryptocurrency and sustainability.
You can learn more about FRIGG here https://www.frigg.eco/
You can find Philip on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/philip-berntsen-a97b9733Climate Solutions E15 Joan Collell on Using Blockchain to Monitor Renewable EnergyClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-05-12 | Joan Collell is CEO and co-founder of FlexiDAO. FlexiDAO is harnessing the revolution in blockchain technology to enhance transparency, a much-needed prerequisite for a successful low carbon transition. The innovation has been well received, with Collell’s fledgling company already partnered with global giants like Microsoft and Vodafone. The current system of green energy traceability relies on certificates which do not reflect the physical reality of the grid hour by hour. With the intermittency of renewable sources this is becoming a significant problem for those trying to set credible net zero targets, making FlexiDao an increasingly attractive prospect.
Join us as Joan offers a fantastically simple explanation of the technology, which effectively matches business consumption with renewable energy output statistics to determine whether supposedly ‘green’ energy can actually be termed so. There is huge scope for a scale-up of FlexiDao’s solution, with the company looking at once to cover entire value chains for the organisations it is already involved in, while also expanding its reach to new players. Like GHGSat (Episode 13), this is one of those rare single solutions that could genuinely move the needle on global decarbonisation. Watch this space!
You can learn more about FlexiDAO here flexidao.com
You can find Joan on LinkedIn here linkedin.com/in/joancollell/?locale=en_USClimate Solutions E14 Georgia Stewart on Helping Investors Influence Positive ChangeClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-04-29 | Georgia Stewart is CEO and co-founder of Tumelo, a revolutionary platform for shareholder engagement. In this episode, Georgia shares with us her vision of a financial system where shareholders are more connected to the companies they invest in, giving them greater control over the impact of their money. She also offers a fascinating insight into current trends and appetites within the shareholder engagement space. Tumelo has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2018, and it is inspiring to hear about the like-minded partners that have jumped on board with the company (of which we are proud to be one!)
You can find Georgia on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/georgia-stewart-861697107 or on Twitter twitter.com/iamgeorgias?lang=enClimate Solutions E13: Stephane Germain and GHGSats Methane Sniffing SatellitesClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-04-22 | As the adage goes, what gets measured gets managed. Whether or not Peter Drucker actually uttered these famous words, nowhere do they ring truer than in the realm of greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to curb their production have regularly been hampered by a failure of measurement, particularly through initiatives in the financial sector. Indeed, our guest Stephane Germain notes that emissions are currently measured by teams of consultants travelling from site to site with expensive cameras, costing incumbents an obstructive amount. “We are bringing a unique set of data to the world at a time when they really need it.”
Happily, Germain has a solution. Climate change is riddled with moon-shot ideas, but this is one of the few that has real backing and real, expansive, potential. His idea, which combined a fascination with space and a love for the physical environment was catalysed by rapid progress in the miniaturisation of technology in the early 2000s. It turns out to be remarkably simple, to fit a small satellite with a gas spectrometer. This spectrometer detects light absorbed by greenhouse gases, thus verifying their presence. In 2011, Germaine founded GHGSat Inc on this idea, and his satellites now orbit the planet 15 times a day, funded by clients such as Shell, Chevron and Total. “The world needs to know how much methane is emitted, and needs to act on it now”
Germain’s idea has come at the perfect time. COP26 saw significant action on methane emissions and disclosure, with the UK and US two of the major countries working to implement mandatory climate related disclosure. He speaks candidly on the potential of his product, seeing potential clients from government, through industry, agriculture and power generation, to the financial services sector. Indeed he can already count many in these sectors as clients. In terms of climate change, Germain believes that methane is a low hanging fruit. Contrary to popular discourse, he argues, a large proportion of methane emissions occur in scenarios where there are well known, and often affordable, or even profitable, mitigation options. Could all this signal a step change in climate change mitigation? We see no reason why not.
You can find Stephane on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/stephane-germain-a1757a64 or find out more about GHGSat here ghgsat.com/enClimate Solution E08 Christophe Williams on Nakeds combined solar power and heating solutionsClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-04-10 | Christophe Williams is CEO and co-founder of Naked Energy. Naked Energy produce the world’s highest energy density solar powered heating technology. Heat is responsible for over half of all energy demand globally and is widely supplied by natural gas, a source whose impact has been thrust into stark relief by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Naked’s solution is, therefore, potentially revolutionary. Here, Christophe offers a fascinating insight into his experience as an entrepreneur and the wider landscape of renewable energy.
We start of with Gaby talking to Proactive London about green and renewable energy.
Ember an independent not for profit think tank, shared global renewable energy figures for 2021, and we review some of their exciting findings. Ember show evidence that the acceleration of the energy transition was already taking place before Russia invaded Ukraine.
We also share a recent study by a German PhD in Energy Economics that looked at how his country could solve renewable energy intermittence and get to a 100% renewable energy grid.
Next, we share a podcast we did with Julian Poulter, Sr Partner at Energy Transition Advisors, on the topical point of the inevitability of the energy transition.
Lastly, we take a deep dive into iShares' Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN), and demonstrate the benefits of our rigorous methodology in comparison.
You can download our newsletter here https://www.iclima.earth/approach/march-2022-newsletter
To have it sent directly to your inbox, please subscribe below! share.hsforms.com/1qYh4WhUBQLKAb7K3mb4wpg5nghbClimate Solutions E06 - Project X Founder Marcela Navarro on Making Supply Chains SustainableClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-30 | Marcela Navarro is the founder and CEO of Project X, a WWF-funded corporate accelerator that helps organizations adopt sustainable innovations in their supply chains. Listen as Navarro tells Gaby and Shaila how project X works and how it plans to radically reduce the environmental impacts caused by industry by 2030.
Thanks for listening!Climate Solutions E05 - Stacey Chang on How She Built a Cult-Favorite Sustainable Vegan Shoe BrandClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-30 | Gaby and Shaila are dipping into the fashion world this episode, speaking to Stacey Chang, CEO of the sustainable vegan shoe brand, Veerah. Listen as Chang, who makes her sought-after collection from apple skin, describes the challenges she faced in launching her line and how she tackled them, and the increasing global demand for sustainable and cruelty-free fashion.
Thanks for listening!Climate Solutions E01: Bill Nusseys Plan to Disrupt the Energy Grid MonopolyClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-30 | Bill Nussey founded Freeing Energy in 2016 after he learned that the cost of solar and wind-generated energy was now competitive with fossil fuels. In his new book, Freeing Energy, Nussey interviews hundreds of experts and pioneers who are disrupting the grid system to create clean, local energy for all. Listen as Bill talks to Gaby and Shaila about the massive opportunity in climate technology, especially local-scale solar and batteries, to revolutionize energy and slow global warming.
You can also find Bill on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/billnussey or on Twitter twitter.com/FreeingEnergyClimate Solutions E02 - Climate Expert Julian Poulter on the orderly transition to Clean EnergyClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-30 | Julian Poulter, partner at Energy Transition Advisors, joins Gaby and Shaila to discuss the inevitability of the transition from fossil fuels toward cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy, and whether that transition can be an orderly one. He also discusses ETA's "Inevitable Policy Response Project," their report for the financial sector and investors modelling how policy and technology can drive the climate transition, as well as the forecast models of what they see, how they see the transition evolving and what the implications are.
You can learn more about Energy Transition Advisors here et-advisors.com
You can follow Julian on Linkedin linkedin.com/in/julian-poulter-98b7581 or on Twitter twitter.com/julianpoulterGaby on the DGEN and CLMA ETFsClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-18 | Gaby talks about two of iCLima’s ETFs: DGEN and CLMA, that focus on the companies that preclude emissions from ever taking place, the importance of PAE (potential avoided emissions), the ageing energy grid and much more…
You can find DGEN and CLMA here https://www.iclima.earth/indices
You can find Gaby’s entire presentation to Proactive’s ONE2ONE Virtual Investors forum here youtube.com/watch?v=SaZyua6N51wGaby on CLMA components and the outperformance of Wind and SolarClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-18 | Gaby discusses the components in CLMA, their drawdowns from 52 week highs and how wind & solar companies are outperforming their oil & gas peers.
You can find CLMA and DGEN here https://www.iclima.earth/indices
You can find the link for Gaby’s presentation to Proactive’s ONE2ONE Virtual Investors forum here youtube.com/watch?v=SaZyua6N51wDid Putin solve climate change?Climate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-18 | Gaby discusses what the invasion of Ukraine could mean for climate change and how it could accelerate the transition to green energy by 15 years…
You can find Gaby’s entire presentation to Proactive’s ONE2ONE Virtual Investors forum here youtube.com/watch?v=SaZyua6N51wClimate Solutions E07 - Steve LeVine on the battery supply chains we need for an EV revolutionClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-15 | Steve LeVine is a renowned journalist and author whose career has spanned The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Financial Times and Newsweek, primarily in foreign affairs roles. He has written three books and is a senior fellow on the Foresight, Strategy and Risk Initiative at the Atlantic Council and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.
Steve’s first book was about the geopolitics of oil. In this episode of Climate Solutions, he explains how his latest book, The Powerhouse, tells a remarkably similar story of global energy interdependence, the protagonist this time being batteries rather than oil. Weaving expertly between chemistry, geopolitics and everything in between, Steve tells a story of Chinese domination, where US and European automakers and battery manufacturers race to catch up with an ecosystem reliant on Chinese minerals and processing.
He forecasts a decade of intense innovation, particularly in battery cell design, where he argues that nickel must give way to lithium to encourage adoption. By 2030, he sees a dramatic shift to autonomous electric vehicles and, much to our delight, a rapid upscaling of V2G technology. He believes 2030’s winners are being decided as we speak, offering a stark warning to dithering incumbents. We hope you will enjoy the chat as much as we did.
Thanks for listening!Climate Solutions E12: Deborah Fuhr and her fascinating insights into the history and merits of ETFsClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-08 | Deborah Fuhr is Managing Partner and Founder of ETFGI, the dominant independent research and consulting house offering insights on the entire global industry of ETFs, ETPs and service providers. Tune in for a fascinating insight into the history and merits of ETFs. Debbie was one of the first to see the potential of these transparent, tax efficient, liquid and fundamentally democratic financial tools. The growth in the sector over the last few years has been particularly notable, with Debbie highlighting some fascinating drivers of this trend, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Our chat ends with some inspiring insights into the role of women in the financial sector.
The founder of the group Women in ETFs, Debbie has won multiple industry awards during her career, which has seen her work for Morgan Stanley, Greenwich Associates and BlackRock/Barclays Global Investors. Most prominent in these honours were the 100 Women in Finance 2017 European Industry Leadership Award and the 2014 William F. Sharpe Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contributions to the field of index investing. She was also named one of the “100 Most Influential Women in Finance” by Financial News on multiple occasions.
Women in ETFs is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2014, that brings together over 4,500 members including women and men in chapters spread across major global financial centres to CONNECT, SUPPORT and INSPIRE. Watch Debbie’s eyes spark when talking about the increasing leadership roles of women in the finance industry!
We therefore feel compelled to celebrate the day and highlight our admiration for the work being done by five incredible women. Firstly, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, who is not letting this energy crisis go to waste. We then share with you an interview we did with Barbara Buchner, with Philippa White, with Megan Greene and with Debbie Fuhr.
This is a momentous week marking a remarkable commitment to accelerate the energy transition [more on that to come]. In light of this, we are especially pleased to be able to share some of the brilliant work of four women, all of whom are playing hugely important roles in tackling climate change, from a variety of fascinating perspectives.
A cornerstone of our philosophy at iClima is the importance of the next decade for scaling up climate change solutions. Women will have an outsized role in this process as, they rapidly take over more and more of the world’s wealth. Professor Mauro Guillam, whose work was a major source of inspiration for two of his former students, now our co-founders, believes that this trend could see women controlling half of the world’s wealth by 2030. While this will not be a globally equal picture, the ramifications could be huge. Women, like millennials, are found to be more engaged with the climate crisis, and more interested in using their investments to make an impact. Increasing equality could therefore have an exponential positive impact on climate change. We are immensely proud to play our part.Climate Solutions E04 - TIE Founder Philippa White On a Different Model for Sustainable ChangeClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-08 | Philippa White is the Founder and CEO of The International Exchange (TIE), a pioneering platform that aims to unlock the potential of the private sector by empowering its talent to participate in global social initiatives.
We share an illuminating and optimistic chat with Philippa. Have a listen for inspiring ideas on the power of the private sector and the potential we all have to better ourselves as individuals as we work collectively to unleash that power. A large focus here is the importance of deconstructing the silos within which we often live our lives, in order to access and share new ideas and perspectives. This podcast is thus one not just for you the business person, but also you the person.
“You know more than you think you know, or what you’re allowed to accept that you know”
An entrepreneur at heart, and fascinated by leadership development, purpose, and sustainability, Philippa has made it her mission to see just what is possible when you connect private sector skills with social sector opportunity in order to drive change. We met Philippa through one of her beautiful social impact projects, the Cleaner Cooking Coalition, with whom we worked to communicate their mission to the United Nations. We are huge fans of her work, and we hope to embed her refreshing approach in all that we do.
February is a sad month, but one that also marks the acceleration of the transition to low carbon. Around 90% of the global GDP is committed to mitigating climate change, to achieving net zero. We believe we are observing the beginning of the end for fossil fuel and the end of the beginning for the decarbonising solutions. No longer concepts, they are now scaling up.
We can stop our dependency to expensive, volatile, high emission fossil fuel commodities. The solutions that preclude emissions from ever taking place is our main goal. Our thesis is that the companies providing solutions to our biggest problem – global warming - translate into impactful investment opportunities.
We will be sharing our research, data, views with you. Please subscribe to this newsletter, the whole iClima team is eager to tell you more!Climate Solutions E03 - Economist Megan Greene On the Cost of Climate Change PolicyClimate Solutions with Gaby & Shaila2022-03-07 | Megan spoke to us about how she became an economist, her career paths and her main concerns fIn this episode, we were honoured to welcome Megan Greene, Global Chief Economist at the Kroll Institute. Examining the intersection between macro-economics, finance and politics, Megan is not your typical two-handed economist, renowned instead for her ability to challenge conventional thinking in macro-economics. Of particular note was her stunning early prediction of the Eurozone crisis in 2006, as well as her work on inequality.
During our chat she took us first through the varied and global career that has led to her senior fellowship at Harvard, before outlining the economics of the climate crisis, and the imperative therein to ensure a just transition. She then offered a fascinating insight into the economic recovery from Covid-19 and the current period of rising inflation. Please note that this conversation took place before the invasion of Ukraine. In a recent article on the topic, Megan shared her concern over the potential repercussions of the West’s coordinated sanctioning of Russia: “We have never seen the weaponisation of finance on this scale for a large country before, and there will inevitably be some blowback for the west.”
Megan, sharp and articulate as ever, informs and entertains with her witty no-nonsense delivery of complex concepts in plain English. A frequent keynote speaker for financial services clients, trade associations and policymakers, she has a biweekly column in the Financial Times on global macroeconomics, and appears regularly on TV and radio outlets such as Bloomberg, CNBC, NPR and the BBC. Megan was previously Global Chief Economist at John Hancock/Manulife Asset Management, founder and Chief Economist at Maverick Intelligence, head of European Economics at Roubini Global Economics and the euro crisis expert at the Economist Intelligence Unit. She holds a B.A. from Princeton and an MSc from Oxford.