The Earth Set Podcast

This week’s bonus episode comes from South by Southwest London, where Earth Set and the Blue Earth Summit hosted a live discussion exploring one of the most overlooked dimensions of the plastics crisis: human health.Guest names:Sian Sutherland - Host, Founder of A Plastic PlanetSaabira Chaudhuri - Author of ConsumedLaura Harnett - Founder, SeepAmir Afshar - Founder, ShellworksProfessor Richard Lea - University of Nottingham The conversation moves beyond familiar debates about litter, recycling and ocean pollution to examine what happens when plastic becomes part of our bodies. From declining fertility and endocrine-disrupting chemicals to the history of single-use plastics and the challenge of building viable alternatives, the discussion brings together scientists, entrepreneurs, campaigners and journalists to ask a difficult question: if the evidence around plastic’s health impacts continues to grow, what will it take for business, policymakers and consumers to respond?Along the way, the panel explores how plastics became embedded in modern life, why recycling is not the answer to solving the crisis, and whether a new generation of materials and business models can reduce our dependence on fossil-fuel-based plastics without creating new problems of their own.In This Episode You'll Learn:• How endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics can interfere with the body’s hormonal systems and reproductive health• Why scientists are increasingly concerned about declining fertility rates, falling sperm counts and rising reproductive disorders• How exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy may affect health outcomes later in life• The surprising history of how plastics transformed consumer behaviour, packaging and modern convenience• Why plastic production continues to grow despite decades of recycling campaigns and public awareness efforts• What critics argue is wrong with today’s recycling system — and why many believe reduction and reuse must play a larger role• How entrepreneurs are developing alternative materials designed to replicate the benefits of plastic without creating persistent waste• Why regulation, economics and consumer expectations remain major barriers to scaling plastic-free solutions• Whether human health concerns could become the catalyst that finally accelerates action on plastic pollution and chemical safety🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveWe host monthly live events in London featuring founders, investors and policy leaders shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy.First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here: 👉 ⁠earthset.co⁠⁠If you enjoyed this episodePlease take a moment to:• Leave 5 stars• Write a quick review• Share the episode with someone interested in climate technology, innovation or industrial strategyIt helps more people discover the show.Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

This week’s episode takes a step back from individual topics to look at the bigger picture: a Q1 2026 review of the climate and energy stories that have defined the year so far — and what they mean for what comes next.Hosted by Amy Rennison, the conversation brings together three returning perspectives spanning analysis, politics and capital. Lucy Shaw, energy analyst and advisor, breaks down the system-level dynamics shaping energy markets and infrastructure. Luke Shore, from Project Tempo, explores how these shifts are landing politically, and how voters are responding. And Max Bray, partner at Kindred Capital, offers a view from the investment side, tracking where capital is flowing and where confidence is changing.Across five fast-moving topics, from AI-driven energy demand to US climate policy, capital flows, the Iran crisis, and UK energy strategy, the discussion builds a picture of a system under pressure from multiple directions at once.What emerges is a transition no longer defined by a single narrative. Instead, it’s shaped by competing forces: rapid demand growth, geopolitical instability, political backlash, and uneven progress across technologies and regions.At the centre is a familiar tension, now more visible than ever: the need to move quickly, and the growing risk that rising costs, infrastructure constraints, and political resistance could slow things down.If the transition is no longer just about decarbonisation, but about affordability, security and public consent, the question becomes: can the system adapt fast enough to hold all three together?In this episode you’ll learn:Why AI has rapidly shifted from a tech story to an energy and infrastructure storyHow Europe’s economic fundamentals are affecting its ability to scale climate technologiesWhether we are actually on track for net zero — and how that depends on how you define “on track”Why electrification — not just clean power — is now the critical missing pieceHow the Iran crisis is affecting global energy markets, supply chains and pricingHow high energy prices are affecting UK industry — from steel to ceramicsWhy delivery — not just policy — is now the key challenge for governmentsHow crises like today’s energy shock compare to historical moments like the 1970s oil crisisWhy moments of disruption can either accelerate change — or be missed entirelyResources & LinksProject Tempo – Research on public attitudes to climate and energy policyKindred Capital – Early-stage investment across deep tech and energyCornish Lithium – UK-based lithium extraction and geothermal developmentGridserve – UK EV charging and renewable energy infrastructureFuse Energy – Vertically integrated energy company model🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveWe host monthly live events in London featuring founders, investors and policy leaders shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy. First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here:👉 earthset.coIf you enjoyed this episodePlease take a moment to:Leave 5 starsWrite a quick reviewShare the episode with someone interested in climate, energy or public policyIt helps more people discover the show. Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

This week’s episode comes from the Eden Project in Cornwall, where Amy Rennison and Fiona Howarth speak to two very different — but equally important — voices in the transition.First, Augusta Grand, CEO of Eden Geothermal, shares the story of bringing geothermal energy to the UK — from early resistance to wind power through to the realities of drilling, financing and scaling a new energy source. The conversation explores why geothermal has long been overlooked, how rapidly the technology is advancing, and why it could play a critical role in both electricity and heat.Then, Amy speaks with Jane Davidson, former Welsh minister and architect of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act — one of the most ambitious pieces of sustainability legislation in the world. They discuss how the Act came to life, what it has changed, and how it is now shaping Wales’ approach to long-term decision making and net zero.Together, these conversations explore two sides of the same challenge: how we move from ambition to delivery — whether that’s building new energy infrastructure or redesigning the systems that govern it.If the transition depends on both technology and institutions, the real question becomes this: how do we align innovation, policy and people to actually deliver change at scale?In this episode you’ll learn:What geothermal energy is and why it has been underutilised in the UKHow advances in drilling technology are rapidly improving the economics of geothermalThe difference between geothermal for electricity and geothermal for heat — and why heat matters mostWhy countries like France, Germany and the Netherlands are ahead on geothermal deploymentThe role of government policy, funding and market design in unlocking new energy technologiesHow local energy systems, data centres and grid constraints are shaping future infrastructure decisionsWhat the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act is and why it is unique globallyThe shift from a “duty to promote” to a “duty to deliver” in public policyHow long-term thinking is embedded into Welsh governance across all public institutionsReal-world examples of how the Act has influenced procurement, planning and community outcomesWhy political systems struggle with long-term decision making — and how this can changeHow Wales is approaching net zero through a delivery-focused, system-wide planThe importance of making climate policy tangible, practical and accessible to the publicResources & LinksEden Geothermal – Project and research on geothermal energy in the UKWellbeing of Future Generations Act (Wales) – Framework for long-term, sustainable governance.🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveWe host monthly live events in London featuring founders, investors and policy leaders shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy.First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here: 👉 earthset.co⁠If you enjoyed this episode please take a moment to:Leave 5 starsWrite a quick reviewShare the episode with someone interested in climate technology, innovation or industrial strategyIt helps more people discover the show.Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

Behind every breakthrough climate technology lies a quieter, more fragile moment. The point where innovation has been proven, but scaling it into the real world becomes uncertain, expensive and deeply complex.In this episode, Amy Rennison sits down with Sarah Macintosh of Cleantech for UK and Jim Totty of Virdis Capital to explore one of the most critical — and least understood — challenges in the climate transition: the “first-of-a-kind” gap, often referred to as the valley of death.Drawing on their recent research with Cleantech for UK, the conversation unpacks why so many promising climate technologies struggle to reach commercial scale, despite strong early innovation and growing global demand.From funding gaps and capability challenges to risk perception and policy design, this episode explores the systemic barriers holding back the next generation of industrial climate solutions — and what it will take to unlock them.If the technologies to decarbonise already exist, the real question becomes this: why are so few of them making it to full-scale deployment?In this episode you’ll learn:What “first-of-a-kind” projects are and why they sit at the hardest stage of climate innovationWhy the transition from pilot to commercial scale is so difficult for climate tech companiesThe funding gap between venture capital and infrastructure finance — and why it persistsHow founders must shift their narrative from “innovative and unique” to “bankable and low-risk”The critical role of offtake agreements, supply contracts and project finance structuresWhy internal capabilities — from leadership teams to technical validation — can make or break scalingHow the UK compares to the US, Europe and Asia in supporting climate technology deploymentThe impact of energy prices and market structures on where projects get builtWhat policy tools (like contracts for difference, procurement and guarantees) can unlock progressWhy ecosystem fragmentation — across investors, corporates, government and service providers — remains a major barrierThe scale of the UK’s pipeline of climate projects and where the biggest opportunities lieWhy this is not just a capital problem, but a systems and coordination challengeResources & LinksCleantech for UK – Research on first-of-a-kind climate projects and scaling challenges🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveWe host monthly live events in London featuring founders, investors and policy leaders shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy.First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here: 👉 earthset.co⁠If you enjoyed this episodePlease take a moment to:Leave 5 starsWrite a quick reviewShare the episode with someone interested in climate technology, innovation or industrial strategyIt helps more people discover the show.Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

What if one of the most important industries for solving climate change barely exists today?The world is getting better at reducing emissions. Renewable energy is scaling. Electrification is accelerating. Efficiency is improving.But even in the most optimistic climate scenarios, billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide will still need to be removed from the atmosphere every year.In this Earth Set conversation, Amy brings together three experts working on the emerging carbon removal economy to unpack what that actually means.Codie Rossi, Director of Carbon Management and Markets at the Clean Air Task Force, works on the policy frameworks shaping carbon removal markets.Richard Barker, Partner at Counteract, advises investors and companies on carbon strategy and the realities of scaling climate technologies.Swarnali Mitra, Director at CUR8, builds portfolios of carbon removal projects for corporate buyers navigating the early market.Together they explore how carbon removal works, why it’s becoming central to climate strategy, and why building this industry could be one of the largest economic transitions of the coming decades.Humanity emits roughly 55–60 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases every year.Most climate pathways now suggest the world will also need 5–15 billion tonnes of carbon removal annually to stabilise global temperatures.Today, we remove only a tiny fraction of that.This conversation explores the gap between those numbers, the technologies trying to close it, and the financial and policy systems that will determine whether carbon removal becomes a defining industry of the 21st century.In this episode you’ll learnWhy cutting emissions alone won’t be enough to stabilise the climateWhat carbon removal actually is and how it differs from carbon capture and offsetsWhy the world may need billions of tonnes of removals every yearHow approaches like direct air capture, mineralisation and ocean-based removal workWhy carbon removal markets are still at a very early stageThe financing challenge of building projects before buyers existHow corporate buyers are helping to create early demandWhy measurement, verification and trust are critical to scaling the sectorHow carbon removal could become embedded across industries from agriculture to constructionWhy this conversation mattersCarbon removal sits at the intersection of climate science, finance, technology and policy.If the world is serious about stabilising atmospheric carbon levels, a whole new industrial system will need to be built to remove CO₂ and store it safely.That system is only just beginning.Understanding how it might develop is key for investors, policymakers, founders and anyone interested in the future of climate solutions.🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveEarth Set hosts monthly conversations in London with founders, investors and policymakers working on the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy.First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here👉 earthset.co⭐ If you enjoyed this episodePlease take a moment to:Leave a ratingWrite a short reviewShare the episode with someone interested in climate innovation, climate finance or the future of net zeroIt helps more people discover the show.Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

What actually happened in UK climate tech investment last year?At our second live recording of Season Two, hosted at HSBC Innovation Banking during the Blue Earth Investment Forum in January, we brought the data to the table. No anecdotes, no gossip. Just numbers, trends and a candid look at what they mean for 2026.Amy was joined by Sarah Mackintosh, Director at Cleantech for UK, and Sammy Fry, Head of Climate Tech at Tech Nation. Between them, they track thousands of startups, billions in capital flows, and the policy frameworks shaping the sector.The headline? 2025 was not the collapse some feared. Total equity funding reached £3.9bn, debt and project finance continued to grow, and the UK remains surprisingly stable relative to its size.But beneath that surface stability, there are deeper shifts. Early stage deals are down. Hardware investment has fallen sharply. The Series A and B “valley of death” remains a structural challenge. Meanwhile, AI continues to absorb a growing share of venture capital.This conversation unpacks what is actually happening, where the pressure points are, and where opportunity may be building quietly.In this episode you’ll learn:Why 2025 was stronger than many expected, yet still worrying beneath the surfaceWhat the decline in seed and Series A funding means for the pipelineWhy hardware startups are facing a 70%+ drop in investmentHow energy and power continue to dominate climate capital flowsWhether AI is crowding out climate tech, or simply reshaping itThe role of Innovate UK, the British Business Bank and the new National Wealth Fund\Why food, agriculture and human health may be the next frontierWhat investors should actually focus on in 2026From patient capital to policy gaps, from energy prices to food security, this is a grounded look at the mechanics behind the green transition.If you work in venture, policy, startups or climate innovation, this is one to bookmark.GuestsSarah MackintoshDirector, CleanTech for UKCleanTech for UK is a policy and advocacy group representing UK clean tech investors.https://www.cleantechforuk.comSammy FryHead of Climate Tech, Tech NationTech Nation supports high growth tech founders across the UK, including climate and deep tech ventures.https://technation.ioReferenced Reports & ResourcesCleantech for UK Annual Investment Reportshttps://www.cleantechforuk.com/publicationsTech Nation Climate Tech Reporthttps://technation.io/research-news/Net Zero Insightshttps://www.netzeroinsights.comInnovate UKhttps://www.ukri.org/innovate-ukBritish Business Bankhttps://www.british-business-bank.co.ukNational Wealth Fundhttps://www.nationalwealthfund.org.ukBlue Earth Investment Forumhttps://blueearthsummit.comZinc VChttps://www.zinc.vcJoin Earth Set LiveEarth Set hosts monthly live events in London featuring founders, investors, policymakers and operators shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy.First Tuesday of every month.Tickets and details: https://earthset.coIf you enjoyed this episodeLeave a ratingShare it with someone building or backing climate techJoin us in person at a live eventThanks for listening. See you at the next recording.

Earth Set is back! Can you believe we're on season 2 already?! We can't!Season 1 started as an experiment. A few live conversations. A microphone in the room. A question about whether the climate transition could be discussed with more depth and less theatre.Ten episodes later, it became clear there was an appetite for honest conversations about how the green transition actually happens.Season 2 builds on that momentum.In this trailer, Fiona and Amy reflect on some of the standout moments from Season 1, from Jamie Arbib’s expansive vision of a world shaped by abundant clean energy and artificial labour to sharp, data-led debates on net zero progress, geopolitics and environmental destruction.Then we look ahead.Season 2 opens with a hard look at coal. Despite progress in countries like the UK, coal still accounts for 37% of global carbon emissions . We unpack why China continues to rely on it, what that means for the global energy system, and why this conversation still matters.We dive into climate tech investing in 2025, hosted alongside Blue Earth and Zinc at the Blue Earth Investment Forum . Which sectors are attracting capital? Where is early stage funding tightening? What does the data suggest about 2026?We explore the politics of climate language and the surprising gap between public perception and reality. In the UK, people believe net zero will cost around 14,000% more than official estimates . At the same time, public concern about climate change remains strong. The challenge is clarity, cost and credibility.Coming up this season:​ Susannah Fisher on global adaptation and what happens if 1.5°C slips out of reach• Henry Sanderson on critical minerals, geopolitics and the supply chains behind the energy transition• A live conversation on carbon removal and the funding pathways shaping its futureEarth Set brings together founders, investors, policymakers and thinkers working at the centre of climate and business. The aim is simple: understand what is working, what is not, and what needs to happen next.Season 2 launches on 16 February.Listen on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.Join us live in London - www.earthset.coAnd if you find value in these conversations, share them with someone building in this space.

In this episode we continue our Green Skills audio only series. Fiona speaks with Mat Ilic, CEO of Greenworkx, an organisation building the workforce needed to deliver the transition. Mat’s work sits at the intersection of industry, social impact and public policy, and he brings one of the clearest views on what the UK must do to avoid a skills bottleneck that could slow climate progress for years.The scale of the challenge is stark: around 4 million workers will need to retrain in the next five years if the UK is to stay on track for net zero. Some jobs will disappear. Others will transform. Entirely new sectors will emerge, from low carbon heating to home energy upgrades to the electro technical work that underpins everything from data centres to EV charging.This conversation dives into what it will take to build a workforce capable of meeting that moment.🔍 In this episode you will learn:Why the workforce gap is becoming one of the biggest risks to net zeroWhy electrical skills sit at the heart of almost every part of the transitionThe real barriers stopping people from retraining, from cost to confidence to information gapsWhy employers need policy stability to hire and invest in skills at scaleWhat a fair and inclusive transition looks like for workers at every stage of their careerHow Greenworkx is creating new pathways into roles that did not exist a decade agoWhether you are an employer, policymaker, L and D leader, or someone exploring a move into the green economy, this is a practical and ambitious guide to one of the most urgent challenges of the transition.📚 Resources and LinksExplore Greenworkx:https://greenworkx.org🎟️ Join Earth Set LiveWe host monthly live events in London featuring founders, policy leaders and thinkers shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy. First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here:https://earthset.co⭐ If you enjoyed this episodePlease take a moment to:Leave 5 starsWrite a quick reviewShare it with someone interested in green careers or the future of workIt really helps more people discover the show. Thanks for listening, and see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

What if the biggest story of the net zero transition isn’t technology, policy or investment, but jobs?Jobs that disappear, jobs that transform, and millions of jobs that don’t exist yet.In this episode, Fiona sits down with ⁠Julian Critchlow⁠, advisory partner at ⁠Bain & Company⁠, former Director General for Energy Transformation & Clean Growth in UK government, and one of the architects of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy.Julian’s work at Bain on green skills reveals something most people haven’t yet grasped: the transition to a clean economy is going to reshape around 4 million jobs across the UK. That includes roughly 1 million entirely new roles, and 3 million people who will need significant reskilling as industries electrify, retool and reinvent themselves.This conversation connects the dots between climate ambition, industrial strategy and the real human workforce behind the transition.In this episode you’ll learn:Why the UK is one of the most fossil-fuel-exposed economies in the worldThe surprising sectors where green jobs will appear — including finance, transport, construction and home energyHow electrification will transform everything from car servicing to grid engineeringWhy the biggest blockers to net zero may not be technology — but skills, training and workforce capacityWhat past transitions (like the decline of coal) teach us about avoiding social and regional disruptionHow employers can prepare for a future where their entire workforce requires new capabilitiesWhy retraining at scale will demand corporate-led learning, not just universities and collegesWhether you're an employer, policymaker, student, or someone thinking about your next career move, this is one of the clearest explanations of the real workforce implications of net zero you’ll hear.Resources & Links:⁠Bain & Company – Green Skills Report⁠Join Earth Set Live:We host monthly live events in London featuring founders, policy leaders and thinkers shaping the transition to a resilient, regenerative economy. First Tuesday of every month.Grab tickets here: 👉 ⁠earthset.co⁠If you enjoyed this episode:Please take a moment to:Leave 5 starsWrite a quick reviewSend it to someone interested in green careers or the future of work — it really helps more people discover the show.Thanks for listening — see you at the next live event or in your feed soon.

In this powerful live episode filmed at Bain & Company London, Earth Set co-founder Fiona Howarth sits down with Neil Shearing, Group Chief Economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age, to unpack one of the biggest economic shifts of our time: the end of globalisation as we’ve known it.From the rise of China to the role of semiconductors, rare earths, green tech, and the geopolitical tug-of-war reshaping supply chains, Neil offers a clear-eyed look at how the world is dividing into competing blocs — and what that means for business, climate, and global security.Together, they explore:Why the last 30 years of global cooperation are over — and what replaces themChina’s economic model, Belt & Road strategy, and dominance in green techHow the US is reshaping alliances, tariffs, and industrial policy📉 Why Taiwan is the global economy’s most vulnerable chokepointThe critical minerals race: cobalt, rare earths, aluminium, and EV supply chainsHow fracturing could reshape the energy transition — for better or worseWhat Western governments must do now to stay competitiveWho the winners and losers could be in a world split in twoNeil brings nuance, data, and clarity to a topic often dominated by headlines. If you want to understand the forces reshaping the global economy — and the future of climate action — this is essential listening.🎧 Listen if you’re curious about:Economics, geopolitics, supply chains, China, the US, semiconductors, industrial strategy, climate tech, the energy transition, and how global politics will shape the next decade.🎟 Join our live eventsEarth Set hosts monthly conversations in London with the people accelerating a net-positive future. Be part of the room where ideas collide and solutions emerge. Visit earthset.co for information and tickets

In this live Earth Set founder session, Fiona Howarth, Founder and Director of Octopus Electric Vehicles, joins her Earth Set co-founder Amy Rennison to share how a simple idea—and one Google search—grew into a business that’s helped thousands make the switch to electric.From setting up a leasing company during lockdown to raising over £1.4 billion in finance for EVs, Fiona’s story is a masterclass in scaling with purpose. She talks about the messy middle of startup life—the “Batphone” days, the 2,000 unexpected leads, and building a team culture that puts people before problems.This episode was recorded live at Blue Garage as part of the Earth Set founder community series.🎧 Listen in to hear:The origin story of Octopus EV and how it scaled from idea to impactWhy culture and purpose drive growth that lastsLessons for founders navigating uncertainty and rapid scaleHow the energy and transport transition is converging faster than we thinkAbout Earth Set Earth Set is a network and live podcast series where the people accelerating a net-positive future come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and build real-world solutions.🎟️ Attend our monthly events – held on the first Tuesday of every month in London🌍 Find upcoming events, speakers, and community highlights at earthset.co

Welcome to Earth Set, the podcast where the people accelerating a net positive future come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions, and build real-world solutions.In this episode, hosts ⁠Amy Rennison⁠ and ⁠Fiona Howarth⁠ sit down with James Arbib — investor, futurist, and co-author of Stellar: A World Beyond Limits — and How to Get There.James argues that we’re standing at the edge of a transformation bigger than any industrial revolution:​Clean energy becoming super-abundant and near-free​AI and robotics creating artificial labour that could end scarcity​And the possibility of moving beyond today’s extractive economy to something truly regenerative.Together, they explore how technologies like solar, wind, and AI might unlock what James calls a “stellar world” — one that functions more like a star, radiating energy and value without constant extraction. It’s a conversation about economics, innovation, and human behaviour — and how we can shape the transition rather than be swept up in it.Each episode of Earth Set is recorded live at our monthly events in London, where founders, investors, scientists, and policymakers gather to imagine what comes next.If you’re curious about the future of work, energy, and civilisation itself — and want to stay hopeful while taking action — this one’s for you.​🎟 Attend our monthly events – first Tuesday of every month in London​📅 Find speakers and tickets at earthset.co​💬 Follow us on LinkedIn for live clips and community updates​🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen