Shows
Shaken Not BurnedManaging climate risk in times of economic crisis with University of California, BerkeleyIt's a turbulent time for the global economy, which is leading some companies to row back on their sustainability commitments and focus their efforts on what is deemed essential spending. However, environmental impacts go both ways: a company can create environmental damage, for example by polluting the air or water, but it can also be at the receiving end of this damage, when ecosystem breakdown leads to flooding or wildfires. Last week we introduced the concept of climate risk, what it is and why it matters. At this point, preventing and managing climate risk becomes es...2025-05-0842 min
Shaken Not BurnedWeathering the costs: climate risk and the new business reality with FISExtreme weather is here. Supply chains are vulnerable. Insurance costs are rising. And whether or not governments pull funding for climate science or roll back disclosure rules, businesses, economies, and insurers still have to grapple with the very real impacts. Insurers can’t afford to ignore mounting losses, and companies can’t afford to ignore their exposure. Risk still needs to be priced, especially in a world where the costs are only going up.In the latest episode of Shaken Not Burned, host Felicia Jackson sits down with Tom Sabbatelli-Goodyer, VP of climate risk at FIS, to unpa...2025-05-0146 min
Shaken Not BurnedRegenerative economy: a return to nature with Doughnut Economics Action LabOur economic system is based on extracting as much value as possible from natural resources, without taking into consideration the principles and processes that power our ecosystems.Somehow, as humans, we have come to believe that we are not part of the natural world in an “us and them” situation. But, really, we are all the same. How can we survive without the Earth?Keeping our planet liveable means integrating our activities with nature, protecting and serving ecosystems, rather than exploiting them. If we focused on regeneration, rather than extraction, we could create a new bala...2025-04-2446 min
Shaken Not BurnedConcrete change: why decarbonising cement is key with Eco Material TechnologiesCement might not be sexy, but it is responsible for 8% of global emissions – and it's in everything from critical infrastructure to homes. It's fundamental to development and its decarbonisation is critical to net zero success.This week, Felicia dives into the future of construction with Grant Quasha, CEO of Eco Material Technologies, the largest supplier of low-carbon cement alternatives in North America.They unpack how industrial waste like coal ash and steel slag are being transformed into sustainable building materials, why AI is reshaping power and construction demands, and how policy and carbon tar...2025-04-1733 min
Shaken Not BurnedBeyond capitalism: the case for degrowth with Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaWelcome to another week of Shaken Not Burned!If you live in today's world, you may be inclined to think that capitalism is the only viable way for our economies to exist. After all, it's been like that for centuries, but this system is not serving the vast majority of people, and certainly not the environment.Most companies today have the main goal of growth: expanding their market share, increasing revenue and profits, boosting returns to shareholders. However, we live on a planet that has finite resources – endless growth is just no...2025-04-1030 min
Shaken Not BurnedSatellites, soil & forest carbon with ArbonicsOver the last couple of years forest carbon credits have become an increasingly contentious solution to the climate challenge because of questions around additionality, permanence and leakage. Scandals have emerged over how carbon credits are estimated and assessed, much of which stems from outdated or flawed methodologies. The risk of greenwashing is a core concern, that credits have been used by companies to appear climate-friendly without delivering real impact.With advancing technology, stronger regulation and the introduction of dynamic baselines however, nature-based solutions like forest conservation and reforestation are critical to the capture and storage o...2025-04-0335 min
Shaken Not BurnedMoving from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism with The Blended Capital GroupIn our current economic system, a company director's primary responsibility is widely considered to be to maximise profits for its shareholders. Their interests take precedence over those of other stakeholders – such as employees, communities, and customers – but this comes at a cost. When the return on investment is prioritised, the consequences are socialised: for example, air pollution caused by industry affects public health, which local communities and, ultimately, the government are likely to pay for. Such externalities are not included in the cost of operations. The roots of this ideology can be traced back to econom...2025-03-2732 min
Shaken Not BurnedWhy the future of food needs a radical shift with Cibus CapitalAgriculture is responsible for around a quarter of global emissions, yet the environmental impact isn’t reflected in the cost of food. The food industry faces the challenge of balancing supply and demand in a world of finite resources, alongside the externalities that modern food production has created – from biodiversity loss to rising health concerns linked to ultra-processed foods.This week Felicia talks to Alastair Cooper, head of venture at Cibus Capital, to explore one of the most pressing challenges of our time: the need for a sustainable food system. The conversation uncovers the hidden cost...2025-03-2040 min
Shaken Not BurnedWhere are we with the energy transition? With TransitionZeroThe energy transition is firmly part of the mainstream discourse: politicians and companies often talk about it but, at times, it can feel like an abstract concept.Maybe our lives don't look much different at the moment – sure, there are more electric vehicles on the road and solar panels on roofs – but there is a huge amount of work going on in policy and industry to decarbonise our energy systems. While these new strategies require a whole set of changes on the supply and demand side, they bring out enormous opportunities.In o...2025-03-1331 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 7: Frugal innovations: solutions for the Global South with a2iClimate resilience is essential to protect communities in vulnerable regions against extreme weather events. But the volume of funding for adaptation in the Global South, which bears the brunt of climate change, remains far smaller than that for mitigation, which is driving communities to find their own homegrown solutions. Richer nations, which contribute the majority of emissions, must be held accountable. This week, Felicia talks to Ashfaq Zaman, strategic communication advisor for Aspire to Innovate (a2i), the Bangladeshi government’s innovation agency, about resilience, vulnerability and reorganising the way we understand value.We...2025-03-0633 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 6: The just transition with Startup Discovery SchoolIn order to transition the global economy to a more sustainable basis, we have to reshape economic systems to balance growth with environmental protection and social equity – and that means putting people at the heart of that transformation.The just transition is about ensuring that nobody is left behind; it's about upholding human rights, minimising negative impacts on workers, and boosting equality and opportunity. In this week’s episode, Giulia interviews Gosbert Chagula MBE, co-founder and head of programmes at the Startup Discovery School. He also sits on the UK Department of Business and Industrial Strat...2025-02-2741 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 5 - Is the Paris Agreement fit for purpose?Multilateral treaties underpin so much of what's needed to achieve climate and sustainability goals, but few understand the complexities of international treaties or the real challenges of global cooperation.Nearly 200 nations with different economic and geopolitical interests have to negotiate emissions cuts, financial responsibilities, commitments and strategies for how to achieve their goals. Is it any wonder that most of us look at the annual climate meetings and wonder why progress is so slow?This week Felicia talks to Dr. Harald Heubaum, chair of the Centre for Energy and Climate Policy at SOAS, University of...2025-02-2035 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 4 - Understanding biodiversity in business with EcoVadisBiodiversity is the foundation of nature’s ability to function, yet it’s vanishing at an alarming rate; so much so that experts call it the sixth mass extinction. With over half of the world’s GDP relying on nature, businesses ignoring this crisis risk major disruptions: biodiversity loss, largely driven by resource extraction and industrial activity, already has major effects on global supply chains and the economy. This week, Felicia chats with Nicole Sherwin, chief impact officer at sustainability intelligence company EcoVadis, about why biodiversity matters for businesses and how a risin...2025-02-1332 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 3 - The business case for sustainability with FuturePlusAn effective sustainability strategy is now a necessity, but sometimes it can feel like yet another task to add to the pile. In times of uncertainty, however, sustainability isn’t just another chore – it’s the foundation for resilience, competitive advantage, and long-term survival. In this episode, Giulia interviews Mike Penrose, co-founder of sustainability management and reporting ecosystem Sustainability Group and FuturePlus, who argues that sustainability needs to be integrated into core business, rather than being addressed as a standalone endeavour.The conversation covers the role of chief sustainability officers, the impact of regulations, and why bus...2025-02-0638 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 2 - Climate change: a super wicked problem? With Professor Mark MaslinClimate change is a super wicked problem: time is running out to address it; the same people who caused the problem are also the ones responsible for fixing it, from governments to the fossil fuel industry; and there's no central body or authority to turn to. On top of this, policymakers are in the habit of discounting the future, meaning they look at short-term wins rather than long-term solutions for which they may not be rewarded. For example, if the UK had pushed heavily into renewables early enough, the current cost of living crisis, largely driven by...2025-01-3041 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4 Ep 1 - Sustainability: how did we get here?Sustainability has become a business imperative. What years ago may have been dismissed as “hippie, tree-hugging” talk in the boardroom is now being seriously demanded by investors, customers, and consumers.But how did we get here?In the first episode of the fourth season, Shaken Not Burned co-host and co-founder Felicia Jackson takes the guest seat, interviewed by fellow co-host and co-founder Giulia Bottaro. Felicia has over two decades of experience in the sustainability world as a lecturer, consultant, researcher, and journalist.We cover the history of business sustainability, touching on the...2025-01-2346 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 4: A new startSeason 4 of Shaken Not Burned is about to start!Our new iteration is all about providing the tools to build sustainability literacy. Many professionals are being thrust into a world they are not familiar with, having to learn new jargon or come up with strategies to keep up with what's going on in their industry and beyond.We have compiled a list of topics that are ever-present and ever-changing in sustainability debates, such as the history and outcomes of the Paris Agreement, the concept of degrowth, the practicalities of the G of ESG, what climate...2025-01-1601 min
Regenerative Worklife | purpose, sustainability, career, climate change, community, nature16: Aligning Your Career with Nature, Climate and Community (Guest Interview on the Shaken Not Burned Podcast)In this episode, I return to the regenerative basics, joining sustainability journalist Giulia Bottaro on the Shaken Not Burned podcast. Together, we explore how professionals can transition into careers that actively support nature, climate, and community.Here’s what we cover:What “regenerative” really means and why it’s more than just a buzzword.Key questions to ask when you’re ready to rethink your work life.How to spot corporate greenwashing and ensure your efforts contribute to real sustainability.I break down the essence of regenerative work—its f...2024-11-2743 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 3 Ep 11: Balancing plastic waste with Seven Clean SeasEight million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, averaging to about 22,000 metric tons per day – roughly equivalent to dumping one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. That plastic ruins rivers and shorelines, affects fish, birds and corals, and harms ecosystems and communities. We need both upstream (design, reduction) and downstream (collection, recycling) solutions. Felicia talks to Tom Peacock-Nazil, founder of Seven Clean Seas, an organisation with a dual approach: cleaning up plastic waste from the ocean while helping companies measure and reduce their plastic impact. They discuss the im...2024-11-1448 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 3 Ep 10: Sustainable web design with Pixeled EggsDid you know that the Internet and communication technology (ICT) sector is estimated to account for 1.5% and 4% of the world’s carbon emissions? In comparison, aviation represented 2% of the global carbon footprint in 2022.This figure doesn’t even take into account the use of water to cool down data centres, or the extraction and processing of materials to produce our devices, which have considerable impacts on climate and nature.All data generated online (including this podcast) has its footprint, even if we can’t see it. The Internet’s emissions will continue to rise, especially as the u...2024-11-0742 min
Shaken Not BurnedSeason 3: Ep 9 Linking sustainability to performance with AnthesisBusinesses face challenges and opportunities in adapting to climate change regulations and sustainability reporting. Linking sustainability strategies to performance and progress is a crucial aspect of this journey.In this episode, Felicia talks to Stuart McLachlan, chief executive of sustainability firm Anthesis, about the shift from traditional business models to sustainable practices, emphasising the need for organisations to take responsibility for their externalities and adopt circular economy principles. Adaptability and collaboration are fundamental, as seen in sustainable agriculture and pre-competitive collaboration during the pandemic - in the end, so much of what we need to...2024-10-3138 min