The Sustainability Agenda

The Sustainability Agenda explores today’s biggest sustainability questions with leading sustainability thinkers.

These experts discuss their views on the biggest sustainability challenges, share the latest thinking, identify what’s working –and what needs to change — and think about the future of sustainability.


All Episodes

Episode 128: The Geopolitics of Climate Change: interview with Gerald Butts, Vice Chairman of the political risk consultancy, Eurasia Group

As the relationship between the US and China grows more tense, we discuss the geopolitics of climate change. What impact does geopolitics have on national responses to climate change? How is the relationship between China and the US evolving? Has the poli

Episode 127: Innovation Forum Founder Toby Webb on building resilient smallholder supply chains and sustainability trends within the food industry

In this deep dive on sustainability within the food industry, Toby identifies key trends –resilience, disclosure and consumer awareness – driving changes within the food industry generally. He discusses Innovation Forum’s recent detailed study on smallhol

Episode 126: Nigel Topping, the UK’s High-Level Climate Action Champion, on COP26

A fascinating interview with Nigel Topping, the UK’s High-Level Climate Action Champion on the prospects and expectations for the upcoming COP26 in November in Glasgow.

Episode 125: Interview with Jeremy Lent on finding our place in the universe by integrating science and traditional wisdom

Jeremy Lent discusses his fascinating new book Web of Meaning which combines findings in cognitive science, systems theory and traditional Chinese and Buddhist thought, to develop a framework that integrates both science and meaning in a coherent whole.

Episode 124: Interview with Professor Daniela Gabor on funding the transition to a low carbon economy

In this fascinating interview, Daniela discusses the eye-opening sums of money needed to achieve a transition to a low carbon economy –how this can be funded, the role of state in dealing with current environmental challenges, the importance of green inv

Episode 123: interview with economic anthropologist Dr Jason Hickel about his most recent book Less is more: How Degrowth will save the world

Thought provoking interview with economic anthropologist Dr Jason Hickel about his most recent book Less is more: How Degrowth will save the world—a deep dive into to the world of degrowth theory, our current environmental situation, why green growth is a

Episode 122: Interview with Professor Wendy Brown, author In the Ruins of Neoliberalism: The Rise of AntiDemocratic politics in the West.

In this interview, Professor Wendy Brown discusses the recent history of neoliberalism, how this logic is everpresent in our ives today, and extend to the ways in which we conceptualise and try to solve our environmental problems, highlighting some of t

Episode 121: Interview with Kevin Starr, the founder of the Mulago Foundation–which funds high-impact organizations working on alleviating poverty

In this wide ranging and stimulating interview, Mulago Foundation’s CEO Kevin Starr shares his perspective on the role of social entrepreneurship in solving social and environmental problems, the reality of impact investment today, and his evolving though

Episode 120: Interview with Joanna Pocock, author of Surrender, exploring the changing landscape and cultures of the American West

A compelling, moving, and eye-opening exploration of the outsider eco-cultures blossoming in the new American West in an era of increasing climatic disruption, rising sea levels, animal extinctions, melting glaciers, and catastrophic wildfires.