Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

Outro Track of the Day

For reasons that should become clear...https://open.spotify.com/track/5PGYWv9Xp4IraLSDs8h1bY?si=1b23870ffdad4629

Ben Cooke, Earth Editor at The Times and returning champion guest on Wicked Problems, walks us through why his news outlet just devoted a whole series to climate adaptation.

Over the past 18 months, a big thesis of this project is that a certain amount of climate risk and climate effects are already happening. Very few people are willing to talk about it publicly, which I think has put all of us at a huge disadvantage.

Because talking about adaptation takes you from some pretty abstract notions about mitigating emissions, CO2 levels and average global temperatures and becomes a really local thing. What's gonna happen in my town? What should we done about it? Who's gonna pay for that?

Seeing the series of reporting on adaptation in the UK’s paper of record, particularly with the scene-setter from Science Editor Ben Spencer and cobylined with Anna Dowell, to me says we’ve really hit a big moment.

Some other pieces in the series that we discuss:

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/solar-panels-farmland-food-security-times-earth-wdb6dlhk8

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/reforestation-flood-defence-farmers-times-earth-8wgzqjdg7

https://www.thetimes.com/article/f6181881-35b2-4333-97ae-2396ca835727

Yeah But What Can I Do?

Funnily enough, as we discussed in last episode with Ivo Mensch of the Climate Majority Project’s Forum, you might stop doomscrolling and hang out in meatspace with other people who see now for what it is but are not queuing up to throw soup at plexiglass protectors of famous Van Gogh paintings.

Talking to your neighbours about how to save each other in a natural catastrophe far more likely because of climate change that is here now is a very different chat from ‘you should go vegan to save some future version of the sky’.

Tickets are still on sale for their event 15-16th March at Limehouse Town Hall in London.

Spam is Bad

A few people have said we’re pushing you to many things that aren’t relevant. Some of you have nixed our emails. That happens with a fast-growing audience but we care what you think. We want to provide you things in which you find value.

Shorter eps? No emails about eps bar a once-a-week thing? Different content streams for our themes, because to be fair we cover a lot of waterfront from politics to tech to law to finance to culture to science. We value your time and don’t want to waste it.

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For the first time anywhere, a law will make carbon polluters financially liable for climate damage.

Here is part 1, about Vermont's groundbreaking Climate Superfund Bill. With independent climate journalist Dana Drugmand and climate litigation expert Nigel Brook, the discussion explores the implications of this pioneering legislation, its potential impact on fossil fuel companies, and the broader context of climate litigation globally.

Dana Drugmand

Vermont’s Climate Superfund Bill

Grassroots advocacy and the Make Big Oil Pay campaign.

Impact of the 2023 Vermont floods on the bill's momentum.

Climate Attribution Science

Differentiation between event attribution and source attribution.

The role of key studies like the Carbon Majors report in linking emissions to specific companies.

Legal Challenges and Future Outlook

Anticipated legal battles and possible federal court involvement.

Speculations on the bill’s impact if passed and potential ripple effects globally.

Nigel Brook

European Court of Human Rights - Klimaseniorren

Discussion on the ECHR ruling against the Swiss government for inadequate climate protection.

Nigel explains its significance and potential for inspiring similar cases in Europe and globally.

ClientEarth Case and Potential for Future Litigation

Analysis of the ClientEarth case in English courts and its implications.

Speculation on how new precedents might affect future climate litigation efforts.

Vermont’s Climate Superfund Bill’s Global Impact

Discussion on how Vermont’s Climate Superfund Bill might influence global climate accountability efforts.

Potential parallels with existing U.S. lawsuits against oil majors.

Tobacco Litigation Parallel and Future of Climate Accountability

Comparison of climate litigation to past tobacco lawsuits.

Potential outcomes if the Vermont bill sets a precedent.

Guests:

Dana Drugman - Independent climate journalist, founder of One Earth Now and expert on climate litigation and policy.

Nigel Brook - Consultant with Clyde & Co., specialising in climate risk and litigation.

Connect

LinkedIn

BlueSky

[email protected]

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Welcome to another episode of 'Wicked Problems: Climate Tech Conversations.' In this episode, host Richard Delevan is joined by Yehuda Borenstein, a serial climate tech venture builder and Chairman & Co-founder of the Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup RepAir. Yehuda discusses his journey and the innovations his team is working on to solve one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change. From DAC technology to integrating carbon capture with renewable energy, we dive into the nuts and bolts of the solutions that could help humanity reach net zero emissions. Yehuda also addresses the challenges and criticisms associated with funding from oil companies and shares his perspective on the broader climate tech landscape. This episode is packed with insights, optimism, and practical advice on tackling climate change. Don't miss Yehuda's firsthand insights into the future of carbon capture and the technologies that are transforming our fight against global warming. Please like, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform, and consider subscribing to WickedProblems.Earth for an ad-free experience and exclusive content.

00:51 Challenges in Carbon Dioxide Removal

03:09 Key Technology Areas for Climate Solutions

07:06 Interview with Yehuda Borenstein

07:24 Yehuda's Journey in Climate Tech

28:38 Innovations in CapEx and Material Efficiency

29:51 Addressing Common Questions in Climate Tech

30:23 Challenges and Solutions for Off-Takers and Customers

31:10 Carbon Capture Strategies and Market Dynamics

34:08 Innovative Approaches to Carbon Capture

39:15 Energy Requirements and Economic Implications

43:24 Storage Methodologies and Practical Demonstrations

47:41 The Role of Oil Companies in Decarbonization

49:58 Reflections on Climate Week and Industry Sentiments

55:26 CATALYSTS: Personal Motivations and Inspirations

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Rupert Read, co-director of the Climate Majority Project and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at University of East Anglia.

We mentioned his role in amplifying a piece by Jonathan Leake in the Telegraph, which quoted IPCC jefeJim Skea, and the headline of which piece said he was calling time of death on the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5C.

Skea actually said, "1.5°C is slipping away"— a phrase he notes is usually associated with moment when a person is slipping away from life.

Rupert argues that it's time to admit this failure, embrace the psychological impact, and use it to build momentum for the next phase of the climate struggle. This isn't about giving up; it's about moving beyond the impossible and starting to take adaptation, loss, and damage seriously. Together, we dive into the implications of this hard truth, the resistance from within the climate community, and what happens once we stop pretending we can hold the line at 1.5°C.

Some key points from our conversation include:

1.5°C as the Maginot Line: Read compares the climate community’s adherence to the 1.5°C target to France’s ill-fated defense strategy during World War II. Like the Maginot Line, holding on to 1.5°C when it has already been breached does more harm than good by distracting from more realistic and necessary action.

Admitting Failure, Unlocking Power: Read emphasizes the need to acknowledge failure as a turning point. He references his viral 2018 talk, This Civilization is Finished, which resonated because it wasn't about false hope—it was about truth, grief, and the courage to move forward together. Facing the reality of 1.5°C's loss could catalyze a powerful shift in climate action.

Why Not Everyone Wants to Let Go: Throughout our conversation, we explore the reluctance from key figures in the climate establishment to publicly admit that 1.5°C is gone. Fear of triggering widespread despair or "doomerism" keeps many leaders in line with the 1.5°C goal, but Read counters that the real danger lies in continued denial, not in accepting reality.

The Moral Case for Honesty: In addressing what Read calls the "noble lie" stratagem, he argues that the climate establishment’s reluctance to tell the truth may be well-intentioned, but ultimately, it's misguided. Instead, he advocates for a new narrative—one rooted in courage, collective responsibility, and shared resilience.

Minutes to Midnight: As we edge closer to climate disaster, Read likens our current moment to the final minutes before midnight, where decisions made now will determine the fate of future generations. He believes that accepting we’ve passed the point of no return on 1.5°C is the wake-up call humanity needs to mobilize on adaptation and loss and damage at scale.

As always, we aim to spark difficult conversations, and this episode is no exception. It’s an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, but necessary discussion about where we are in the climate fight—and where we need to go next. Rupert’s insights are invaluable for anyone grappling with the reality of our climate crisis and looking for a path forward that doesn’t rely on false hope, but on actionable truth.

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Here’s the second half of our series on Texas. If you missed the first one, it might be handy to go back listen first.

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Part 2: "Trading Places"

Quentin “Q” Scrimshire (MODO Energy)

Q discusses why Texas, particularly Austin, is becoming a major hub for energy storage and renewables. Modo Energy is a B2B SaaS platform helping battery storage owners maximize returns through benchmarking and revenue forecasting.

Why Texas?

Leading the U.S. in battery storage, Texas was the logical choice for Modo’s U.S. expansion. Austin's tech-friendly culture, lower living costs, and grid under ERCOT played key roles.

Challenges Ahead:

Despite fast renewable growth, Texas' energy market faces political challenges, with anti-net-zero rhetoric clashing against renewable energy's economic reality.

Hailey Eustace (Commplicated)

Hailey shares her experience working with the Texas governor’s office, spotlighting Texas’ strategic deep tech and climate tech investments that have made it a leading climate hub.

The Role of Policy:

Public-private partnerships have been crucial to driving innovation, with early SpaceX investments laying the groundwork for Texas’ tech boom.

Global Appeal:

As an angel investor, Hailey continues to back companies looking at Texas for their U.S. base, highlighting Austin’s central location, ecosystem, and talent.

Q’s Catalysts:

Ray Dalio’s Principles: Quentin uses Dalio’s systematic approach to decision-making to ensure his company’s success.

Jim Rickards: His insights into monetary economics help Q navigate investment and energy markets.

The Smiths (Morrissey): Morrissey’s music gives Quentin inspiration and calm amid startup chaos.

Listen now and subscribe to Wicked Problems for more climate tech conversations at WickedProblems.earth.

Links:

• MODO Energy
• Hailey Eustace (Commplicated, LinkedIn)

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