Climate & Capital

From balloon hover busses to ethical cricket farms, architect Mitchell Joachim and his colleagues at Terreform ONE are dreaming up the sustainable concepts of the not-too-distant future. He discusses the practice of "speculative urbanism" and some of Terreform ONE's designs. Also: The IPCC drops another bombshell and Jared argues that dystopian movies aren't great for inspiring environmental action. 

Biden is pushing for massive green power integration, but our own authors say markets and technology have a lot of catching up to do. Yet famous physicist and energy expert Amory Lovins says the green power revolution is further along than you might think. Plus: New Zealand had its warmest winter ever, and Jared discusses how the healthcare industry is one of America's dirtiest. 

Climate science is good; climate marketing is lousy. Comms expert David Fenton explains how the movement needs a clear, consistent message and robust ad campaigns to drive it home. After the interview, Jared takes to the streets of Alabama to get the views of ordinary Southerners. 

Women will likely be few and far between in the upcoming COP26 conference, and men dominate the climate discussion in general. Bianca Pitt from She Changes Climate argues that more women voices are crucial to stopping climate change. Also: The U.S. could suffer its worst drought ever, and global climate editor Blair Palese dives into the "Blue Economy."

With more EVs per capita than any other country, Norway is the world's sustainability superstar. Kristian Bye of development bank Innovation Norway explains his country's secret and how Norway has become a "testination" for the latest sustainable innovations. Also: Climate change made Japan's cherry blossoms bloom early, and Jared gives a crash course on "green hydrogen."

You want your company to be more sustainable, but where to start?  And how can a giant like BlackRock build a sustainable foundation? Henrik Henriksson, CEO of Scania and Elaine Weidman Grunewald, Co-founder of the AI Sustainability Center, talk about a step-by-step method they have outlined in their new book "Sustainability Leadership: A Swedish Approach to Transforming Your Company, Your Industry and the World." Also: Pandemic emissions are back on the rise, and why the Greenpeace-affiliated energy company sells a lot of natural gas. 

The 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference — a.k.a. COP26 — is coming up, and it's a big deal. Countries have the chance to renegotiate and revise their commitments five years after the Paris Agreement. Helen Mountford, vice president of climate and economics at WRI, explains what COP26 is and what to expect. Plus: Jared discusses how the uncertain link between climate change and winter cold reveals biases on both sides of the issue. 

America's power grids are outdated and dominated by monopolistic private utilities. We could see more blackouts — and huge economic damage — as the weather gets hotter and storms get worse, argues our reporter Milo McBride. Also: Paris falls short of its namesake agreement, and the coup in Myanmar has surprising significance to the climate economy.

Dr. Rebecca Huntley, author of "How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way that Makes a Difference," says stick to sports and movies when talking to your right-wing in-laws and save the climate conversations for the people and venues that really matter. Also: Jared gives (satirical) tips for a greener holiday, and new research suggests human made stuff will soon outweigh all living matter on Earth.  

The Honorable Phil Bredesen went from Tennessee governor to Southern solar tycoon. Now his new startup Clearloop is helping smaller business sponsor solar to offset their carbon emissions. Also: Host Jared Downing, a southerner himself, explores the geography of America's solar power and discovers that the South is not doing so poorly. (Interview at minute 1:50. Commentary at 20:20.)