Greening the News with IEMA

Episode 8: Green progress review

This year has been an eventful year for the environment. The effects of the pandemic are still being felt worldwide and we have witnessed unprecedented weather events. The latest IPCC report warned of a “code red” for humanity, stating that global warming was affecting all regions across the globe.  In November, world leaders attended the environmental summit COP26 in Glasgow, to discuss ways they could reduce their emissions.  

At the same time, in the UK, the Environment Bill was given Royal Assent and it has been hailed as a major environmental milestone.  

In this last episode of 2021, we discuss with our guest, Dame Glenys Stacy, the positive strides made at COP26, the need for greater ambitions and the importance of following through those agreements.  

We also discuss what the new Environment Act will mean for businesses with the implementation of regulations for certain industries. We talk about the future role of the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP) and how it will interact with other agencies. 

To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/ 

Episode 7: The road to COP is paved with good intentions

COP 26 is fast approaching and governments and companies around the world are pledging to do more to tackle the Climate Emergency. COP 26 is hailed as a pivotal moment where leaders need to make serious advances to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, to prevent the worst consequences of climate change. It is also the first official deadline since COP 15 where countries will update on their progress of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

In this episode we discuss with our panel their expectations for the formal negotiations regarding COP 26, but also how the events and negotiations that take part between countries, companies, and civil society. We discuss how this can help create commitments to GHG reductions, as well as put pressure on governments to do more. 

We talk about the political uncertainty to be able to set more ambitious reduction targets, the economics of reducing climate change and the importance of climate finance to help developing countries deal with the climate emergency.

To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.IEMA.net/

Episode 6: The Job Market and Green Skills

For our sixth episode we talk about the recent news regarding job market recovery and what this means for the younger generation who around the world have suffered disproportionately higher levels of unemployment and the green skills initiative that the UK government is implementing. 

 

On this episode our panellists discuss the long term effects the pandemic may have in the younger generation ranging from unemployment to adapting to a digital office environment and the challenges this represents and what employers can do to minimize the impact.  

 

We also focus on green skills and the challenges there are to implementing them. One of the issues mentioned is the difficulty in attracting diverse backgrounds to develop green skills so that every job can become greener.  

 

To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/ 

Episode 5: Building Resilient Cities

On our fifth episode we discuss resilient cities. In recent news we have seen how vulnerable cities can be to extreme weather events. In Europe many cities have experienced flush floods, in Canada, Japan and southern Europe they had to cope with heat waves, in the west coast of the USA it was droughts and fires while in Greece, Algeria and Lebanon they had to face wildfires.

 

These extreme weather events have threatened lives and the livelihood of many citizens. The IPCC report that came out this month highlights the dire consequences that cities may face due to extreme weather event fuelled by climate Change.

In this episode we discuss with our panel what are the key factors of resilient cities, how can cities mitigate and adapt to Climate Change and how can cities be not only resilient places but also attractive areas where people want to live.

 

To know more about the work IEMA does to transform the world to sustainability please visit our website: https://www.iema.net/

Episode 4: Destabilising climate

Extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, are being felt worldwide. This in turn is increasing the competition over scarce resources, which can potentially fuel mass migration and conflict. 

In our fourth episode we ask if climate change is fuelling conflict, or if it’s one of many contributing factors. Joining us is Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, a Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Defence and Oluwakemi Ajakaiye  from Ampak Nigeria Limited, a sustainability and environmental consultancy based in Nigeria.

We discuss what steps the military and civil society can take, to help societies adapt to climate change and reduce the possibility of further conflict.

Episode 3: Fighting from within

n our third episode we discuss ‘people power’ and the ability to exact change from within.  Mindful of the rebellion inside oil company Exxon, forcing them into faster climate change action, we ask if the financial market is finally considering the value environmental social governance (ESG) has to offer organisations. 

We discuss the role sustainable finance plays in edging organisations towards climate action and what it can offer shareholders in the longer term

Episode 2: Authoritarian Governments and Climate Change

For our second episode, we consider whether democracy or autocracy can provide the action that the global community needs, to combat climate change.  We debate whether authoritarian or democratic governments are more effective at handling crisis like the pandemic or the Climate emergency.

 

Seeking consensus can be a long process which can delay action. We discuss with our panel if reaching consensus is a process that must be done regardless of the type of government; and if in their opinion consensus helps or hinders action on climate change.

 

We also address the issue of innovation on helping us tackle climate change and if this factor gives democracies an edge on fighting climate change.

Episode 1: Coming out of lockdown

In this pilot episode we discuss how the UK and New Zealand are dealing with easing of lockdown restrictions and how has the pandemic affected the sustainability and environmental profession.  

IEMA’s CEO Sarah Mukherjee, and guests Martin Baxter, Deputy CEO and Director of Policy and External Affairs at IEMA and Alec Tang, Director of Sustainability at Kāinga Ora, discusses the different approaches the UK and New Zealand government have had on handling the pandemic, how we can build back better and how the sustainability and environmental profession have been affected by the pandemic, and the skills they will need to ‘build back better’.