In December 2021, the ‘Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy’, Ireland’s first national circular economy strategy, was published. It is clear that we are at a turning point in this transition however, with Ireland consistently underperforming in circularity material use rate, and there is significant progress yet to be made. In his address to the IIEA, Mr Iain Gulland outlines the circular economy model, discusses how the circular economy model can be made to work in practice, and offers insights into the work of Zero Waste Scotland.

About the Speaker:

Iain Gulland is Zero Waste Scotland’s founding Chief Executive and was the Programme Director of the predecessor programme, WRAP Scotland. Prior to this, Mr Gulland worked with initiating recycling systems in the public, private and third sectors and led the Community Recycling Network, Scotland until 2008. Mr Gulland has recently been appointed President of the Association of Cities and Regions for Resource Management (ACR+) and is a member of several Scottish Government Programme Boards including those covering low carbon and manufacturing activities. Mr Gulland was named the ‘most inﬂuential person in the UK waste and resource efficiency sector’ by Resource Magazine (2014) and was granted a fellowship of the Chartered Institution of Waste Management in 2016.

A Keynote Address by Iain Gulland

In a world facing growing uncertainty, multiple transformative changes are buffeting the world of work. Will these changes mean people and countries are being left behind, or provide opportunities for a new approach to employment policies that can improve people’s livelihoods, and make economies grow sustainably and produce decent and productive jobs?

In this podcast we ask two experts from the ILO’s Employment Policy, Job Creation and Livelihoods Department, Sher Verick and Elina Scheja how the recently launched knowledge sharing and technical assistance platform called the Employment Policy Action Facility provides a new starting point for addressing this challenge.

Innovative employment policies in a changing world of work: A new paradigm?

Corporate sustainability reporting is becoming more common across the globe, driven by interest from investors and customers. The most recent developments track a shift from reporting only impacts to disclosing the risks that arise from companies' dependence on nature and society. The recent European Sustainability Reporting Standards are set to cover more than 50,000 companies by 2028 but are facing some hurdles.

In this episode, your host Sarah Nelson is joined by Tobias Wildner, Global Head of Sustainable Finance & Standard Setting at the Value Balancing Alliance, and by Jake Kuyer, Associate Director, Economics & Sustainability at Oxford Economics. We discuss what these standards mean for markets and whether other jurisdictions are poised to match Europe's ambition.

Greenomics Ep.2 | To ESRS and beyond: The rise of corporate sustainability reporting

edie's #SustyTalk series of exclusive interviews continues with Stew Horne, head of policy at Energy Saving Trust. 
At a time when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering rolling back some green policies, Stew spells out why this would be a bad idea for businesses and for efforts to lower home energy bills.

#SustyTalk: Energy Saving Trust's Stew Horne on fixing British energy policy

In 2001, Danish political scientist Bjorn Lomborg burst onto the international scene with his bestselling and controversial book The Skeptical Environmentalist. The onetime member of Greenpeace said that climate change is real and that human activity is clearly contributing to it, but he said the best science didn't support the apocalyptic visions put forth by people like Earth in the Balance author and former Vice President Al Gore.

Lomborg went on to create the Copenhagen Consensus, a think tank that applies cost-benefit analysis to problems facing the global poor and works with Nobel laureates, policymakers, philanthropists, and researchers to develop pragmatic, relatively low-cost solutions to issues such as tuberculosis, malaria, lack of education, and access to food. 

His new book is called Best Things First and it presents what Lomborg says are "the 12 most efficient solutions for the world's poorest people." He argues that for about $35 billion a year—a little more than half of what the U.S. spends annually on humanitarian aid—these policies could save 4.2 million lives and generate an extra $1.1 trillion in value every year.

I caught up with Lomborg in New York City during the latest meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. We talked about Best Things First, his view of the current environmentalist movement, and why politicians and the media continue to fixate on the possibility of a future climate apocalypse rather than helping the global poor in the here and now.

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The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

Bjorn Lomborg: How Our Climate Fixation Hurts the World's Poor

We are transforming agricultural waste into high-value natural fiber bio- textile diaper absorbent - biodegradable & compostable. Value add realizes human dignity by enhancing return on small holder farmers' labor and investment to improve quality of life and liberation from underdevelopment caused by poverty.

Ubuni Green - Green Economy and Green Industry for Africa

This week’s CHANGEMAKER is MARK MASLIN, Professor of Earth System Science at UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON, and author of HOW TO SAVE OUR PLANET: THE FACTS.   

With the world gathering in Dubai for the next round of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28 (30 November to 12 December 2023), Mark's book is a timely reminder that the situation is urgent: “to save the planet and ourselves we need to be on a war footing – we need to engage every part of our society in the battle against climate change and environment destruction.”

MUSIC | Power of Nature by Jonathan Slatter (PRS), Sounds Visual Music Ltd (www.soundsvisual.com/)

PRODUCTION | In association with the Monthly Barometer | Producer/Presenter - Catriona Oliphant for ChromeRadio | Post-production - Catriona Oliphant & Chris Sharp.

COVER IMAGE | Mark Maslin in the Arctic with the Cape Farewell Youth Expedition. © Mark Maslin. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Mark Maslin, University College London | https://rb.gy/1abszd
How to Save Our Planet: The Facts | https://rb.gy/m0rylw
The Art of War by Sun Tzu | https://rb.gy/ej3t73

Carbon Disclosure Project| https://www.cdp.net
Science Based Targets initiative | https://sciencebasedtargets.org/

ChromeRadio | https://chromemedia.co.uk/
Monthly Barometer | https://monthlybarometer.com/

Power of Nature PRS Tunecode: 286114HQ

CHANGEMAKERS 04 | Prof M Maslin, University College, London

For those who see oil and gas as the future for Newfoundland and Labrador Norway is often held up as an example: a place where oil and gas has brought prosperity and economic stability.

But in Norway questions are being raised about that stability, the future of the oil and gas industry, and the direction of Equinor as the world transitions more and more rapidly to renewable energy.

We’re also seeing the increasing impacts of climate change on communities across both countries, both gradual and rapid, from flooding to the erosion of local economies.

I talk to Erlend Tellnes, the new coordinator of the international Equinor Out campaign to which Sierra Club Canada belongs, about changing times in Norway, what Norwegians think about the majority state-owned energy company Equinor, the campaign to get Equinor Out of oil and gas, and the similarities and differences between Norway and Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic situations. It's important to note that since we recorded this episode a UK advertising watchdog has banned Equinor from repeating green claims.

Being from Newfoundland and Labrador this is a subject that's close to home for me and what Erlend has to say is very enlightening.

Links to ways to learn more:

Greenpeace Norway: https://www.greenpeace.org/norway/

The Truth about Equinor’s Global Fossil Fuel Projects: https://www.greenpeace.org/norway/nyheter/energi/new-report-from-greenpeace-nordic-reveals-the-truth-about-equinors-global-fossil-fuel-projects/

More on the Equinor Out campaign and Bay du Nord in Canada: https://www.sierraclub.ca/bay-du-nord-equinor/

Host: Conor Curtis, Head of Communications, Sierra Club Canada

Sierra Club Canada Podcast Music

Equinor Out: Norway to Newfoundland and Labrador

Join Sarah Nelson for an insightful exploration of the sustainability landscape in 2024. In this episode, she engages with leading experts in politics, technology, and sustainable business to unravel the key trends poised to shape our journey towards a greener future. Oxford Economics’ Beatrice Tanjanco provides valuable insights into how this bumper election year could affect policy progress. Energy systems expert Dr Chris Battaille discusses where industrial technology could lead to big emissions savings  and Emerson’s Dr Ana Gonzalez-Hernandez shares the key priorities for businesses aiming for sustainable progress in 2024.

Greenomics Ep. 7 | Sustainability Trends to Watch for in 2024

edie’s #SustyTalks interview series continues with Chantal Zeegers, Vice Mayor of Rotterdam. In this discussion with edie's content editor Sarah George, she shares her hopes for the upcoming World Energy Congress (22-25 April 2024) and her learnings on driving the transition to cleaner energy in her city.

#SustyTalk: Rotterdam Vice Mayor Chantal Zeegers on delivering a just energy transition

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman debrief in the wake of former President Donald Trump's conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records last week in New York City.

00:33—Donald Trump's conviction

27:37—Weekly Listener Question

42:11—Recent undercovered stories

50:48—This week's cultural recommendations

Today's sponsor:

Hello, liberty lovers! Are you passionate about preserving civil liberties and individual freedom? Do you want to support organizations that uphold these principles but struggle to navigate the complex world of charitable giving? Well, fear not! We have the perfect solution for you: a giving account with DonorsTrust. A giving account, also known as a donor-advised fund, is a simple, secure, and tax-advantaged way for libertarian givers like you to support the causes you care about most. With a donor-advised fund, you can make a contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants to your favorite charities over time. Plus, you retain control over how your charitable dollars are invested, ensuring they align with your values and goals. Whether you're passionate about defending free speech, protecting property rights, or promoting limited government, a donor-advised fund with DonorsTrust empowers you to make a meaningful impact. So, join us in preserving liberty for future generations by opening a donor-advised fund at DonorsTrust today. To learn more and get started, visit our sponsor, DonorsTrust, at www.donorstrust.org/roundtable. Take control of your giving and make a difference in the fight for freedom. That's www.donorstrust.org/roundtable. Remember, every dollar counts in the battle to safeguard our civil liberties. Let's make our voices heard together!

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

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The Reason Roundtable

Should Donald Trump Have Been Convicted?

Discover the Challenges and Opportunities:
We'll explore the potential of green hydrogen to decarbonize industries, from steel production to aviation. Learn about the technological and economic hurdles that need to be overcome for widespread adoption. Ujjwal Pandey has co-written a case on green hydrogen and we'll discuss key factors that will determine its success, including cost reduction, policy support, and technological advancements.

Unlocking the Potential of Green Hydrogen: Can We Make It a Reality?

The US has 330 million citizens, which is less than 5% of the world’s population. Yet its GDP footprint is around 25% of global GDP. How is that possible? While leading-edge technological innovation and a giant military undoubtedly help, what’s really been the secret sauce for the past 30 plus years is the global role of the dollar. The rest of the world needs a savings asset and the US provides it through massive debt issuance and the global role of the dollar in international trade. This has enabled the US to import vast quantities of  TVs, Cars, Computers, and everything else you can think of, while paying for it all with digital IOU'S that bear 2% called Treasury bills.  

The problem with this model is that if you import everything you stop making your own things and you hollow out your industrial base. Both Biden and Trump saw this. Biden sought green re-industrialization through the IRA. Trump seeks re-industrialization through doubling down on the carbon-economy, which constitutes the growth model of GOP states in the US.  

If a Trump administration doubles down on carbon, the short term boost to growth through lower input prices plus deregulation will be huge. Possibly enough to propel a two-term administration. Climate denial can be profitable. But the rest of the world, China, Europe and East and South Asia, will continue to develop the green technologies needed to survive in the 21st century. The US will fall behind in this critical area as the countries involved in the green transition trade more intensely with each other. The knock-on effect will be that the global role of the dollar shrinks. First, because the issuer doesn’t like the side effects any more. Second, because in a post carbon world, who needs a currency that denominates and is backed by carbon assets that no one else uses any more? In short, the US’s addiction to carbon and the politics that it produces risks burning down the house.

Meet our speaker and chair 

Mark Blyth is the William R. Rhodes ’57 Professor of International Economics  and the Director of the Rhodes Centre for International Economics and Finance at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. He holds a joint appointment in the department of political science. He is the author many award-winning books including, Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea (New York: Oxford University Press 2015), Angrynomics (New York: Columbia University Press 2020), Diminishing Returns: The New Politics of Growth and Stagnation (Oxford University Press 2022), and forthcoming in 2025, Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers. He writes about the politics of growth, distribution and decarbonization and why people continue to believe dubious economic ideas despite buckets of evidence to the contrary.

Benjamin Braun is Assistant Professor in Political Economy, LSE European Institute

More about this event

The European Institute (@LSEEI) is a centre for research and graduate teaching on the processes of integration and fragmentation within Europe.

Burning down the house: carbon politics, American power, and the almighty Dollar

The LSE European Institute,  is a world class centre for the study of Europe. Follow our podcast feed, for the latest analysis and research  on European politics and current affairs, and the policy challenges confronting the EU and the UK.

Oxford Economics is the world's foremost independent economic advisory firm. Covering over 200 countries, over 100 industrial sectors and 8,000 cities and regions, we provide insights and solutions that enable clients to make intelligent and responsible business decisions faster in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations and is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that labour peace is essential to prosperity.

Today, the ILO helps advance the creation of decent work and the economic and working conditions that give working people and business people a stake in lasting peace, prosperity and progress. Its tripartite structure provides a unique platform for promoting decent work for all women and men. 

Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

Founded in 1968, Reason is the planet's leading source of news, politics, and culture from a libertarian perspective. Our podcast offerings include:

The Reason Roundtable
Every Monday, the libertarian editors of the magazine of “Free Minds and Free Markets”—Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Peter Suderman—discuss and debate the week’s biggest stories and what fresh hell awaits us all.

The Reason Interview with Nick Gillespie
Want to know what comes next in politics, culture, and libertarian ideas? Reason’s Nick Gillespie hosts relentlessly interesting interviews with the activists, artists, authors, entrepreneurs, newsmakers, and politicians who are defining the 21st century.

The Soho Forum Debates
Reason presents a libertarian-themed debate series recorded monthly before a live audience in New York City. Moderated by former Barron's Economics Editor Gene Epstein, the Soho Forum features Nobel prize winners, radical thinkers, and other public intellectuals facing off over the future of bitcoin, veganism, sex work, illegal drugs, electric vehicles, abortion, robotics, government debt, and other controversial topics.

Conrad's podcast brings you a series of interviews with students, alumni and industry professionals from the wider Cambridge Judge Business School network to give you an insight on how the Cambridge MBA can influence your career path.

The world in context | Informed comment on global issues

Sharing Ideas Shaping Policy. The Institute of International and European Affairs is an independent policy research think-tank based in Dublin.

What are the climate stories that really matter? What breakthrough innovations and ambitious business initiatives could genuinely accelerate the transition to a net-zero, circular economy? And who’ll take home the coveted Big Fat Sustainability Uncovered Quiz of the Year trophy? Join the edie team for this long-running show which makes the big climate issues bite-sized.

Sustainability Uncovered, hosted in association with Lloyds Bank, uncovers some of most inspiring and insightful sustainability and climate action stories from across the globe. The show features live in-the-studio guests, leader interviews, need-to-know round-ups, listener quizzes and more – all wrapped up into monthly episodes.

Whether you’re a business leader, climate expert, environmental professional, youth activist, or just someone with a passion for all things sustainability and climate action – this podcast is for you!

This page is also home to edie's #SustyTalks and other special audio features.

New tracks tagged #Green Economy