About this episode

Emma Burlow interviews Charly Cox about the psychological aspects of driving sustainable change and the challenges faced by sustainability professionals.

In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma welcomes Charly Cox, Executive Director of Climate Change Coaches and a pioneer in the field of climate coaching. Together, they explore the psychological aspects of driving sustainable change in organizations, the unique challenges faced by sustainability professionals, and practical strategies for overcoming barriers to effective climate action. Charlie Cox's journey from coaching in West Africa to leading a team of climate coaches 01:01 The psychological barriers to action in climate and sustainability work 02:00 Why being a good leader is often more important than having large budgets in sustainability projects 03:21 The "stuck" feeling experienced by many sustainability professionals, and the overwhelming scope of their roles 06:37 The technical vs. people/communications skills required for effectiveness in sustainability roles 07:04 The organizational challenges: lack of executive sponsorship and belief leadership 07:54 The importance of coaching skills for sustainability professionals—especially introverts 10:12 How climate change coaching differs from general business coaching 11:25 Dealing with existential dread…

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