Eight Minute Climate Fix

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While EV global sales continue to surge, the uptick in the US lags significantly behind that of our European counterparts. And while obstacles such as a lack of charging infrastructure, high up-front costs, and battery range are affecting market share - those same issues are also at play in Europe. So what are they doing right that is helping that continent achieve over 20% market share of EVs?
In this episode, Paul dissects four areas where Europe's approach to EVs has been a bit different than that of the US in the hope that we can learn from our friends overseas.
For further research:
"Electric Vehicles are Here and Large-Scale Adoption is ... Near?" - Mckinsey
"Electric Car Sales Have Surged in Europe - So Why is Adoption Still Slow?" - World Economic Forum
"Six Essentials for Mainstream EV Adoption" - EY
"The Great NACS Migration: Who Is Switching to Tesla's Charging Port?" - Motortrend

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Thermal Energy Networks are matriced assemblies of pipes and heat pumps where buildings can not only utilize the heat from the ground beneath us, but repurpose heat from the buildings around us to make certain we're not wasting anything. And, because of that, these systems may be a super efficient and cost effective means to decarbonize large swaths of cities and neighborhoods.
Paul sits with Matt Rusteika, Director of Market Transformation at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, to talk about these emerging networks, why they show so much promise, and what's holding them back, so far, from a scaled up, mass roll-out.
For further research:
Matt Rusteika
Neighborhood Scale: The Future of Building Decarbonization
Building Decarbonization Coalition Webinar

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In this episode, Paul is joined by DR Richardson and Jan Keleher of Elephant Energy to discuss the challenges of the residential heat pump market. With an array of federal, state and local incentives, a myriad of technology options, sizing requirements, electrical upgrade decisions and other factors that play into installing these units, Elephant Energy has found a niche as a "one-stop shop" in helping homeowners.
We explore why business model innovations such as Elephant's may be necessary to ensure that this useful decarbonization technology gets deployed at scale.
For further research:
DR Richardson
Jan Keleher
Elephant Energy
Global Heat Pump Sales Continue Double Digit Growth - International Energy Agency

After Maine Surpasses 100,000 Heat Pump Goal Two Years Ahead of Schedule, Governor Mills Sets New, Ambitious Target

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When Walmart launched their Project Gigaton program in 2017, the idea that the retailer could get their suppliers to cumulatively reduce 1 BILLION tons for carbon emissions by 2030 was hailed as incredibly ambitious.
Last week, the company reported in their fourth quarter earnings call that they had not only surpassed that billion ton goal, but had done so 6 full years earlier than their target. In today's episode, Paul discusses how Walmart got here, what other companies can learn from Walmart's leadership, and what may be next in addressing supply chain (or Scope 3) emissions.
For further reference:
"Why Walmart's Project Gigaton is Corporate America's Moonshot" - Greenbiz (2017)
"Walmart Hits Supplier Emissions Goal 6 Years Early" - Retail Dive
"Walmart Suppliers Lead the Charge, Help Deliver Project Gigaton Goal More Than Six Years Early" - Kathleen McLaughlin, CSO Walmart, Blog Report 2/21/2024

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In this episode, Paul discusses some examples of how companies, cities, farms and other entities are adapting their strategies to cope with climate change. As the threat from extreme weather events increases, ensuring that an organization is resilient and strengthened against these situations is becoming increasingly important. And new regulations as set out by the ISSB and the SEC require companies to take a hard look at the physical and transitional risks to their organizations.
For more research:
"12 Ways Farmers Are Adapting to Climate Change Around the World" - Global Citizen
Resilient Cities Network
"The Business Leaders Guide to Climate Adaptation & Resilience" - WBCSD

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