Cleaning Up. Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

Season 14

March 12, 2025

Making America Dumb Again: The Stakes of Slashing Climate Science — E…

As the U.S. swings a budgetary axe at the federal government, one of the biggest casualties is climate science. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) faces a brutal 20% workforce reduction—jeopardizing cr...

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March 5, 2025

EVs & Heat Pumps: The Real Alternatives for Germany — Ep199: Patrick …

In February, Germany elected a new government. Friedrich Merz emerged as the new leader, but what are his energy and climate policies, and will Germany remain a climate leader in Europe and beyond? Joining Cleaning Up this we...

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Feb. 26, 2025

⁠The Future of Clean Tech Under Trump — Ep198: Jigar Shah

How can the U.S. government bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and large-scale deployment? Will the Trump administration accelerate progress or put up roadblocks for clean tech? And how can the U.S. stay competiti...

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Feb. 19, 2025

Confessions of a 'Failed' Climate Activist — Ep197: Kumi Naidoo

How can climate activists be more successful in 2025? And where have they gone wrong? Kumi Naidoo has a storied career as an activist. At just 15 years old, he started out as an anti-apartheid campaigner and organiser in Sout...

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Feb. 12, 2025

A Clean Energy Playbook For The Global South — Ep196: Lucy Heintz

The global south needs to build out vast amounts of clean energy, and requires hundreds of billions of dollars annually to do. And yet, only a fraction of the investment going into clean energy and the net-zero transition is ...

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Feb. 5, 2025

Are Big Investors Abandoning Climate Progress? Ep195: David Blood

Just a few short years ago, sustainable finance and sustainable investing were all the rage. The Glasgow Financial Alliance For Net Zero (GFANZ) boasted financial players controlling $140 trillion. Things have not been quite ...

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Jan. 29, 2025

First Cars, Now Planes: Is The Future of Flying Electric? Ep194: Ande…

Aviation accounts for around 2-3% of global emissions, and is showing no sign of decreasing. There has been a lot of focus on replacement fuels, but no real paradigm shift in the industry. Anders Forslund has a plan to change...

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Jan. 22, 2025

Audioblog 14: Generative AI — The Power and the Glory

Will AI be a disaster for the climate, or a saviour in disguise? How is AI reshaping power needs around the world? And does a lack of clean electricity spell the end of the AI dream, or a new round of fossil-fuel reliant data...

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Jan. 15, 2025

Five Years In, How Has The Bezos Earth Fund Used Its Billions? Ep192:…

How can $10 billion be spent most effectively to address the climate and nature crises? What role can philanthropy play in driving systemic change? And how can new technologies like AI be leveraged to accelerate climate solut...

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Jan. 8, 2025

Petrostate USA vs Electrostate China — Place Your Bets | Ep191

Happy New Year and welcome to Season 14 of Cleaning Up. From the future of nuclear to growing tensions between China and the USA, we're off with a bang with a conversation between hosts Michael Liebreich and Bryony Worthingto...

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