Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

Former British diplomat Arthur Snell is about to publish a book that explains how climate is rapidly changing the geographic assumptions on which geopolitics is built. Buy it now — Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive It. But first, check out this Wickedproblems.earth conversation with Arthur Snell about his new book, the first comprehensive account of the geopolitics of climate change.In this conversation:00:00 Arctic Ice Wake Up00:45 War Crowds Out Climate02:32 Chokepoints Aren’t Fixed04:08 Meet Arthur Snell04:22 Why Climate Is Geopolitics08:05 Alps Collapse Story11:01 Skiing Lobbies And Emissions12:40 Geopolitics Map Gets Redrawn14:59 Arctic Shipping Routes Open18:37 Trump Greenland And Minerals22:46 Panama Canal China Leverage24:20 Panama Canal Leverage25:56 Who Shapes Strategy28:24 Migration as Hard Reality34:55 Greenland Plans Accelerate39:27 Russia China North Shift42:28 Wine and Adaptation44:36 Book Plug and Farewell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Wicked Problems,” hosted by Richard Delevan, returns after a long hiatus and links escalating repression - newly including climate activists - with a high-stakes by-election in Greater Manchester. It opens with concerns about confrontational protest being met with violence and political repression, alongside Nigel Farage's Reform proposing a “UK deportation command,” expanding detention with “no chance of bail,” and “detention will mean deportation.” Devin cites New York Times reporting that the FBI has begun targeting climate activists, including people who have not protested in years, and frames this as part of a broader effort to quash dissent.Professor Dana R. Fisher of American University discusses what she describes as a “perfect storm” in the US: federal occupations of cities (highlighting Minneapolis), the murder of two American citizens while they were bearing witness to ICE actions, the president getting rid of the endangerment finding underlying US climate policy, and FBI investigations focusing on the "radical fringe" of the climate movement. Fisher argues these groups are “low hanging fruit” because their confrontational tactics (e.g., throwing paint, smearing food, blocking traffic, bird-dogging elected officials) are widely unpopular, making it easier for authorities to target them first as part of a broader slide toward autocracy that also threatens media freedoms. She says repression and violence against peaceful activists historically mobilize larger protests, even as it can lead to persecution, jail, and martyrdom. She also describes survey results from a Women’s March–coordinated “Free America walkout” showing over 75% support for a movement becoming more confrontational and 65% willingness to personally engage in confrontational activism; she notes the participants were largely white, female, older, and highly educated.Prof. Fisher's Apocalyptic Optimist podcast.Britain has already jailed nonviolent climate protestors and restricted defenses in court, with ongoing debates about protest trials and labeling Palestine Action a terror group. The Gorton and Denton by-election seems to be between Reform, seeking to import Trump’s climate and migration agenda, and the surging Green Party, treating climate, inequality, and migration as realities to face without losing humanity. The show notes a single constituency poll with Green candidate Hannah Spencer ahead of Reform’s Matt Goodwin, with Labour (which has held the seat for a century) behind; as Labour is consumed by Epstein-linked arrests and scandal involving Peter Mandelson and former Prince Andrew.In an interview recorded late in 2025, Harriet Lamb, CEO of the Green Party of England and Wales, describes rapid growth following Zach Polanski’s leadership, with membership doubling to over 150,000. Lamb connects her background in international development and environmental and social justice to party politics, argues the UK has shifted into a multi-party system creating both dangers and opportunities, and emphasizes a “people and planet” platform focused on the cost-of-living crisis, inequality, wealth taxes, and strong public support for climate action. She discusses candidate development through a “Greens to Parliament” program aimed at building a diverse slate for 2029, and says coalition politics must protect Green principles and public trust, citing German coalition negotiations and the Scottish Greens’ Bute House agreement as examples.00:00 Confrontation and Repression01:35 Wicked Problems Returns04:11 FBI Targets Climate Activists07:42 Low Hanging Fruit and Autocracy19:18 UK By-Election and Green Surge29:32 Hope Surge and Outreach31:28 Broad Coalition and Core Values36:28 Vetting New Recruits38:39 Road to Parliament and Coalitions45:24 Milestones and Closing Reflections Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full show notes and ad-free listening at wickedproblems.earthShipping is one of those things that’s just supposed to work. Post-Titanic, we created a set of rules that currently are looked after by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which successfully removed much of the drama from shipping — so successful that Britain’s “Shipping Forecast” is now soothing ASMR for bedtime listening. But last month at the IMO in London, what should have been a procedural meeting on decarbonising shipping turned into something far messier. According to a Financial Times investigation, U.S. officials didn’t just lobby against a global carbon levy on shipping — they allegedly threatened, intimidated and black-mailed delegates from smaller nations. Developing-country delegates said they were warned their ships would face higher U.S. port fees, their officials denied visas, and their trade punished if they didn’t abandon support for the Net Zero Framework the IMO had endorsed only six months earlier. “It was like dealing with the Mob,” one diplomat told the FT.  In the end, it worked. The deal — the world’s first carbon-pricing mechanism for global shipping — was postponed for a year. The IMO, normally the most technocratic of international bodies, was left “in a state of complete shock.” For the uninitiated this may sound arcane. But shipping matters. Roughly 90 % of global trade moves by sea; the sector accounts for about 3 % of global CO₂ emissions — more than Germany — and until now has been largely outside the reach of meaningful climate regulation.  The Net Zero Framework was meant to change that. It had already been provisionally agreed by a majority of countries in April. But by October, something changed. Countries like China, India, Panama, Liberia — and even Greece and Cyprus, who broke with the EU line — suddenly voted to adjourn. news.wickedproblems.ukAnd the shift didn’t come from nowhere: it came from pressure. From a U.S. administration that now treats climate policy as an existential threat to American interests.🎧 Who we spoke toCarly Hicks (Chief Strategy & Impact Officer, Opportunity Green) explains how the IMO had once seemed one of the last genuinely global forums where climate ambition could meet technical reality — until the process was capsized by politics. Ariane Morrissey (Senior Editor, Ship.Energy) was in the building as the talks imploded, describing a surreal scene where delegates who came to discuss fuel standards found themselves under threats of sanctions and visa bans. Professor Tristan Smith (University College London) gave the longer-view: this is less a failure of climate tech than a warning shot about the fragility of multilateralism itself. He argues the US may have bought time — but may also have triggered the rise of regional regulation. The EU’s carbon-trading scheme now covers shipping; Singapore and Japan are exploring carbon levies. The patchwork world is arriving faster than the ships can adjust.  🎵 Outro music: “Sailing By” (1963) layered with a long-wave “Shipping Forecast” transmission — that calm voice reading “Viking, North Utsire, South Utsire…” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing the Irish contingent at the Raising Hope conference and the future of faith and climate action -Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore; former Irish environment minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan; and campaigner Jane Mellett, church manager at Irish Catholic overseas development agency Trocaire. More information at climatepilgrim.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should Pope Leo endorse a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty at COP30? Climate Pilgrim Episode 2: Dr. Kumi Naidoo 'cautiously optimistic' the Vatican and others will add up to 44 countries endorsing Treaty initiative by landmark April conference in Colombia. More detail at climatepilgrim.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For full show notes, bonus content, and ad-free listening, check out wickedproblems.earthIn this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delevan welcomes Dave Jones and Kostantsa Rangelova from the energy think tank, EMBER. They've spent the past year spreading the good news about the impressive advancements in solar and battery technology, particularly focusing on global trends and potential game-changers in regions such as Africa and Mexico. Despite solar only contributing to 6.6% of Mexico’s electricity, EMBER simulations indicate it could rise to 90% with optimal efficiency. In some spots like Muscat, Las Vegas, or Mexico City, almost all their power, day and night, can now be generated from just solar + battery.The discussion covers the rapid progress and cost reductions in battery technology, the promising shift towards 24/7 solar power, the surge of solar adoption in Africa, and the significant untapped potential in Mexico. The episode highlights the transformative impact of solar and battery technologies on global energy landscapes and emphasizes the urgent need for effective policies to accelerate this transition.00:00 Introduction to Mexico's Solar Potential00:00 Global Governance Breakdown00:36 Welcome to Wicked Problems00:39 Introducing the Guests: Dave Jones and Constanza Rva01:05 The Rise of Solar and Battery Technology01:33 24/7 Solar Power: A Game Changer01:54 Advancements in Battery Technology02:51 Economic Competitiveness of Solar and Battery04:38 Challenges and Innovations in Battery Production08:17 Global Adoption and Market Dynamics15:20 Grid vs. Battery: The Trade-Offs21:05 Solar and Battery in Different Climates24:27 Implications for Policy and Future Outlook26:09 Evolution of Battery Storage27:29 Africa's Solar Boom27:59 Chinese Solar Exports to Africa28:52 Utility Scale Solar in Africa37:50 Challenges and Opportunities in Mexico's Solar Sector47:26 Global Solar Trends and Future Outlook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get full ad-free episodes, full show notes, bonus material, and more at wickedproblems.earthIn this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan speaks with Dr. Hannah E. Morris, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and author of 'Apocalyptic Authoritarianism.' They discuss the use of apocalyptic language in politics, the resurgence of Cold War-era narratives, and how these tropes are being weaponized to block climate action and shore up existing power structures. The conversation delves into the intersections of media, politics, and climate crisis, featuring insights on the impact of journalism on these global issues. ‌00:00 Trump's Apocalyptic Obsession01:19 Introduction to Wicked Problems01:32 Guest Introduction: Dr. Hannah E. Morris01:57 Weaponizing Apocalyptic Language02:45 Defining Apocalyptic Authoritarianism03:06 Trump's Influence and Climate Movement05:13 Nostalgia and Climate Journalism06:30 The Green New Deal and Media Narratives11:47 Challenges in Climate Journalism24:28 Covering Climate Now Initiative30:02 Senator Eric Schmidt's Speech Analysis32:59 Nationalism and American Identity34:27 Fascist Ideologies and Historical Context37:26 Media's Role in Shaping Nationalism39:30 Climate Change and Political Narratives47:26 Global Perspectives on Climate Journalism51:37 Apocalyptic Imagery in Modern Politics54:09 Influences and Future Directions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonus content and show notes at wickedproblems.earthUnderstanding Climate Tipping Points With Stephen Smith | Wicked Problems Climate Tech ConversationsIn this episode of Wicked Problems Climate Tech Conversations, host Richard Delevan dives into the pivotal and pressing subject of climate tipping points with guest Stephen Smith. They discuss the warnings from the recent Global Tipping Points Conference in Exeter, where nearly 200 scientists urged immediate action to prevent irreversible climate changes. The conversation explores both negative and positive climate tipping points, the challenges policymakers face in addressing them, and the importance of storytelling in climate advocacy. Stephen Smith also highlights the potential of renewable energy and the steps needed to accelerate the global transition to a low-carbon economy. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the critical actions required to address the climate crisis and the hopeful pathways forward.00:00 Introduction and Opening Remarks00:26 Urgent Climate Crisis Call01:29 Understanding Tipping Points03:44 Negative Tipping Points04:18 Positive Tipping Points05:12 Policy Makers and Tipping Points06:02 Interruption and Resumption07:03 Immediate Action Required11:20 Real-World Example: Tuvalu14:16 Challenges in Policy Making17:21 Positive Social Tipping Points18:54 Renewable Energy Revolution22:12 Barriers to Change27:54 Accelerating Positive Change35:10 Hope and Final Thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get other content and the newsletter at wickedproblems.earth.Climate Justice: ICJ's Historic Ruling and Its Global ImpactIn this episode of Wicked Problems, host Richard Delavan is joined by Professor Elizabeth Holland from Brown University to discuss a historic advisory opinion handed down by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ruling, initiated by Pacific Island students, declares climate science as a binding element under customary international law, obligating states to take stronger climate action. Elizabeth shares insights from her role as a science negotiator for Palau and the significance of the court's ruling for vulnerable nations and future generations. This episode also features voices from those who played pivotal roles in making this judgment a reality, emphasizing the binding nature of climate obligations and the need for continuous global cooperation.00:00 Introduction: Climate Science as Law00:16 The Court's Advisory Opinion00:54 Human Impact and Cultural Struggles01:14 End of Impunity and Legal Obligations02:03 Interview with Professor Elizabeth Holland02:43 Reactions to the ICJ Ruling05:22 The Role of Small Island States05:50 Challenges in Climate Negotiations08:01 Legal Frameworks and Obligations09:43 Implications for the United States12:33 Personal Reflections and Contributions14:34 Celebrating the Youth Movement18:17 Art and Culture in Climate Advocacy21:21 Generational Promises and Songs26:38 Conclusion and Call to Action Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get full shownotes and bonus content and go ad-free at wickedproblems.earth!In this episode, two parts: Jenny Chase, a solar market analyst at BNF, about the dramatic rise of solar power in Pakistan. Despite scant government support, Pakistan has rapidly adopted solar energy, moving from importing a few gigawatts of solar modules in 2022 to becoming one of the largest markets. This development has led to economic and infrastructural challenges, such as grid reliability and pricing issues, and raises important questions about the future of energy systems globally. The episode also features a conversation with Australia-based climate journalist Royce Kurmelovs, who writes for Drilled and Reneweconomy as well as many others, about a recent significant legal ruling in Australia where indigenous Torres Strait Islanders sued the government over climate change threats to their homeland. While the court recognized climate change as an existential threat, it ruled against the plaintiffs due to current legal limitations, highlighting the ongoing legal and moral challenges in climate responsibility.00:00 Introduction to Pakistan's Solar Energy Surge00:09 Global Perspectives and Future Trends00:33 Australia's Energy Ambitions vs. Reality02:24 Unreported Solar Installations in Pakistan03:37 Economic Implications of Solar Adoption04:49 Government Contracts and Energy Prices16:07 Global Perspectives and Future Trends19:39 Discussion on Pakistan's Progress19:44 Jenny Chase's Upcoming Leave20:41 Introduction to Climate Cases in Australia21:42 Details of the Torres Strait Case23:29 Impacts on Torres Strait Islands25:14 Legal and Cultural Implications28:37 Global Context and Comparisons40:42 Australia's Climate Policy and PoliticsFollow Jenny:🔗 solarchase.bsky.social🔗 Jenny Chase on LinkedIn🌐 Follow Royce:“Court agrees climate change is real, but throws out Torres Strait Islanders’ claim anyway” (RenewEconomy)Also check out his most recent book: Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil🔗 roycerk2.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations, we’re joined by Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century, a landmark work on climate-driven migration. From the existential realities of climate displacement to the politics of denial and adaptation, it’s about what happens when we stop pretending everyone will stay where they are.It BadLast week, a catastrophic flood hit Kerr County, Texas. 30 cm of rain—four months' worth—fell in hours. The Guadalupe River rose 8 metres in under an hour, swamping the area around Camp Mystic. Over 90 are dead, many of them young girls at the camp. Some are still missing.Cue the blame game. Officials who refused to fund early warning systems claimed the event was unpredictable. Trump-era cuts had gutted the National Weather Service, yet some still pointed fingers at the agency. Others called it karmic justice or MAGA-targeted weather warfare. Conspiracy theorists went further, blaming imaginary geoengineering attacks. Marjorie Taylor-Greene tweeted: “We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering.”Right-wing extremists, already attacking Doppler radar sites, turn tragedy into paranoia. In past hurricanes, conspiracy-fueled threats forced rescue crews to withdraw.Rapid attribution studies confirm what should be obvious: climate change makes these once-rare floods far more likely.OK DoomerIn a now-notorious quote, Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki said “it’s too late.” Critics pounced, accusing him of defeatism. But, as we discuss with Gaia Vince, the real issue isn’t optimism vs pessimism—it’s whether we’re brave enough to face what’s actually happening.After decades in media and PR, I can tell when people are dodging the truth—even for good reasons. In climate comms, there’s a lot of that. But we try something different here: saying what we think is true, even if it’s hard to hear.On the MoveGaia Vince has been writing about climate and migration for over a decade. In Nomad Century, she argues:Migration is a natural response to climate change—always has been.By 2070, up to 3 billion people may need to move as habitable zones shrink.Governments that prepare for this now will fare better than those that deny it.The book isn’t dystopian; it’s clear-eyed and pragmatic. It insists we have a choice: chaos, or planned adaptation.In This Conversation01:54 Climate Change’s Global Reach04:24 The Reality of Climate Migration09:24 Political Responses to Climate Change10:44 Economic Implications and Adaptation21:57 Innovative Solutions and Future Outlook26:10 Australia and Tuvalu27:06 UN, Sovereignty, and Vanishing Nations29:00 Climate Refugees30:05 Early Agreements30:56 Adaptation and Relocation34:21 Facing the Climate Reality46:55 Can Global Governance Step Up?Get the BookNomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval remains one of the most honest, practical guides to climate adaptation out there. Listen to the conversation—and get the book.Tips, Bribes, and AbuseGuest idea? Want to help us do more of this? Or just dying to tell us how crap we are? Reach out on Bluesky or email us at info@wickedproblems.uk—and maybe stand us a pint. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get all the show notes and bonus content at wickedproblems.earth!How am I gonna be an optimist about this? This conversation’s official exit music is from Bastille. But stick around for a twist. Turns out it’s not just men who think about the Roman Empire.Polymath raconteuse Solitaire Townsend - sustainability consultant, co-founder of Futerra, UN envoy, award-winning author of the non-fiction The Solutionists - wasn’t just thinking about Rome. She’s wondering, ‘what if I combine some Roman Empire stuff with climate fiction in an alt-history universe in a novel featuring a kick-arse heroine?’ And gets herself a two-book deal.Pre-order Godstorm from our Bookshop.org site or wherever you get good books.Wicked Problems is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.As a cli-fi/alt-history nerd with shelves stuffed with riffs on Rome from Gibbon to Mary Beard with stops for Asimov’s Foundation series, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be the first to introduce Solitaire Townsend as “novelist” on a podcast.We talk about her turn to fiction, why now, why the alt-history genre, kick around ideas about alt-history from Philip K. Dick to Star Trek (with some Ursula le Guin because why not), and how she deploys the form to tell a cautionary tale about a world that could have been a lot worse off in its climate breakdown — where Rome never fell, because of the 2nd-century CE invention of the combustion engine.As Solitaire says, if we started burning oil under Marcus Aurelius, climate change would have started much sooner. The warming and rising seas fuel extreme weather events called “God-storms”, caused - according to the Imperial version of Fox News - by lack of piety.Most of that is in the background only creating the more personal, intimate world in which her characters struggle - including a gladatrix-turned-governess seeking to rescue her charge from nefarious clutches and kicking serious arse along the way.In Conversation00:28 First Podcast as a Novelist00:56 Pitching 'Godstorm'02:18 Background and Career of Solitaire Townsend02:37 Solitaire, Sustainability Caesaris04:01 Nonfiction Writing Journey05:49 Role of Storytelling in Social Change07:22 Transition to Fiction Writing08:14 Discovering a Passion for Writing10:24 Exploring Alternate History14:05 Speculative Fiction and Personal Interests17:26 Themes and Inspirations for 'God Storm'20:14 Character Development and Empathy22:14 Reflections on Ursula Le Guin and Sci-Fi27:21 Conclusion and Book Pre-Order InformationPre-order Godstorm from our Bookshop.org site.Exit Music Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.