Cleaning Up: Leadership in an Age of Climate Change

Ep88: Patrick Graichen 'Germany's Secretary of State for the Energiewende'

Patrick Graichen is a State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. He has held this post since 15 December 2021 and is responsible for energy and climate policy. From 2012, Graichen was instrumental in setting up the think tank Agora Energiewende, taking on the roles of Executive Director and Managing Director from 2014 until his move to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.   He began his career in public service at the German Fe...

The Economist-Diplomat Championing Clean Energy - Ep87: Francesco La Camera

Francesco La Camera has been the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) since April 2019. Under Francesco’s leadership the Agency has forged a series of new strategic partnerships with UN organisations including UNDP, UNFCCC and Green Climate Fund among others. A key priority of his tenure is to implement a more action-oriented approach to the Agency’s work. Previously, Francesco served as Director-General of Sustainable Development, Environmental Damage, EU ...

Ep87: Francesco La Camera 'The Economist-Diplomat Championing Clean Energy'

Francesco La Camera has been the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) since April 2019. Under Francesco’s leadership the Agency has forged a series of new strategic partnerships with UN organisations including UNDP, UNFCCC and Green Climate Fund among others. A key priority of his tenure is to implement a more action-oriented approach to the Agency’s work. Previously, Francesco served as Director-General of Sustainable Development, Environmental Damage, EU ...

From Climate Law Maker to Superglued Law Breaker - Ep86: Farhana Yamin

Farhana Yamin is an international climate change lawyer, public speaker, author and social justice activist. Farhana is a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts in London, Associate Research Fellow at Chatham House, Senior Adviser to SystemIQ and Co Coordinator of Camden Think and Do. Farhana has spent over three decades working in the climate space – she represented small island and developing countries at climate conferences (she has been deputy chair of the Expert Group of Adv...

Ep86: Farhana Yamin "From Climate Law Maker to Superglued Law Breaker"

Farhana Yamin is an international climate change lawyer, public speaker, author and social justice activist. Farhana is a Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts in London, Associate Research Fellow at Chatham House, Senior Adviser to SystemIQ and Co Coordinator of Camden Think and Do. Farhana has spent over three decades working in the climate space – she represented small island and developing countries at climate conferences (she has been deputy chair of the Expert Group of Adv...

Matching Net-Zero Supply and Demand - Ep85: John Pettigrew

John joined National Grid in 1991 and during his time at the company has held a variety of senior management roles, including UK Director of Engineering in 2003, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for the US Electricity Distribution & Generation business in 2007, Chief Operating Officer for UK Gas Distribution in 2010, and UK Chief Operating Officer from 2012 to 2014.   He joined the Board in 2014, as Executive Director UK, responsible for the UK’s Electricity Transmission...

Ep85: John Pettigrew 'Matching Net-Zero Supply and Demand'

John joined National Grid in 1991 and during his time at the company has held a variety of senior management roles, including UK Director of Engineering in 2003, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for the US Electricity Distribution & Generation business in 2007, Chief Operating Officer for UK Gas Distribution in 2010, and UK Chief Operating Officer from 2012 to 2014.   He joined the Board in 2014, as Executive Director UK, responsible for the UK’s Electricity Transmission...

Ep84: Mark Carney 'The 130 trillion-dollar man'

Mark Carney is one of the towering figures of climate finance.  In 2020 Mark became the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, and the adviser to the UK on finance for COP 26. At COP26, in Glasgow, he launched GFANZ - the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, whose members manage $130 trillion of financial assets and have pledged to invest them in line with the Paris agreements. Mark co-chairs GFANZ together with Mike Bloomberg. Mark is a Vice Chair and Head of Transition Inves...

The 130 trillion-dollar man - Ep84: Mark Carney

Mark Carney is one of the towering figures of climate finance.  In 2020 Mark became the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, and the adviser to the UK on finance for COP 26. At COP26, in Glasgow, he launched GFANZ - the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, whose members manage $130 trillion of financial assets and have pledged to invest them in line with the Paris agreements. Mark co-chairs GFANZ together with Mike Bloomberg. Mark is a Vice Chair and Head of Transition Inves...

Ep84: Mark Carney 'Matching Net Zero Supply and Demand'

Mark Carney is one of the towering figures of climate finance.  In 2020 Mark became the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance, and the adviser to the UK on finance for COP 26. At COP26, in Glasgow, he launched GFANZ - the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, whose members manage $130 trillion of financial assets and have pledged to invest them in line with the Paris agreements. Mark co-chairs GFANZ together with Mike Bloomberg. Mark is a Vice Chair and Head of Transition Inves...

Ep83: Alex Honnold "Free Solar"

Alex Honnold is one of the world’s best rock climbers, famous for his free solo ascents of big walls, including his 2017 first free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite.   Alex began studies in engineering at the University of California-Berkeley but dropped out to pursue his passion for climbing, living out of his van. He first attracted attention within the climbing community in 2008 when he became the first climber to free solo Half Dome in Yosemite. In 2012 he established the speed record fo...

Free Solar - Ep83: Alex Honnold

Alex Honnold is one of the world’s best rock climbers, famous for his free solo ascents of big walls, including his 2017 first free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite.   Alex began studies in engineering at the University of California-Berkeley but dropped out to pursue his passion for climbing, living out of his van. He first attracted attention within the climbing community in 2008 when he became the first climber to free solo Half Dome in Yosemite. In 2012 he established the speed record fo...

Ep82: Claire Skinner "The Search for Climate Talent"

Claire Skinner is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles' London office and leader of the Europe region. She is a member of the firm’s CEO & Board, Industrial, and Private Equity practices. Claire has more than 20 years of experience building executive and non-executive teams for a wide range of clients involved in energy, utilities, clean technology, and sustainability. Additionally, she has substantial expertise within energy and environmental investment, building teams on behalf of leading ve...

The Search for Climate Talent - Ep82: Claire Skinner

Claire Skinner is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles' London office and leader of the Europe region. She is a member of the firm’s CEO & Board, Industrial, and Private Equity practices. Claire has more than 20 years of experience building executive and non-executive teams for a wide range of clients involved in energy, utilities, clean technology, and sustainability. Additionally, she has substantial expertise within energy and environmental investment, building teams on behalf of leading ve...

Resilience, Ukraine and Net Zero: What Could Possibly Go Wrong - Cleaning Up Audioblog Episode 6

This episode of Cleaning Up is based on a March 2022 blog post written by Michael for BloombergNEF. https://about.bnef.com/blog/liebreich-the-quest-for-resilience-what-could-possibly-go-wrong/ We would like to thank BloombergNEF for allowing us to record it.  Further reading: “This Isn’t a Natural Disaster”: Climate Scientist Michael Mann on Deadly Tornadoes in 8 States (December 2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLKlvnc4dBM&t=648s Empirical evidence of declining global vulnerabili...

Cleaning Up Audioblog Episode 6 "Resilience, Ukraine and Net Zero: What Could Possibly Go Wrong"

This episode of Cleaning Up is based on a March 2022 blog post written by Michael for BloombergNEF. https://about.bnef.com/blog/liebreich-the-quest-for-resilience-what-could-possibly-go-wrong/ We would like to thank BloombergNEF for allowing us to record it.  Further reading: “This Isn’t a Natural Disaster”: Climate Scientist Michael Mann on Deadly Tornadoes in 8 States (December 2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLKlvnc4dBM&t=648s Empirical evidence of declining global vulnerabili...

Ep81: Tom Steyer 'An Epiphany Based on Data'

Tom Steyer is Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a mission-driven investment platform. Tom Steyer founded and ran Farallon Capital Management, a multi-strategy global investment business based in San Francisco, from 1986 until 2012. During that period, it grew assets from $6mm to $36bn. Over the same time, Tom was also a partner and Investment Committee member at Hellman & Friedman, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. After retiring from Farallon, Tom dedicated hims...

An Epiphany Based on Data - Ep81: Tom Steyer

Tom Steyer is Co-Executive Chair of Galvanize Climate Solutions, a mission-driven investment platform. Tom Steyer founded and ran Farallon Capital Management, a multi-strategy global investment business based in San Francisco, from 1986 until 2012. During that period, it grew assets from $6mm to $36bn. Over the same time, Tom was also a partner and Investment Committee member at Hellman & Friedman, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm. After retiring from Farallon, Tom dedicated hims...

Energy Security - Deflating the Gasbags - Ep80: Emma Pinchbeck

Emma Pinchbeck has been the Chief Executive of Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry since July 2020.  Before taking up this post she was Deputy CEO of RenewableUK for 4 years and was the Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK.  Emma holds an MA from the University of Oxford. She is a competitive rower and in 2018 ran her first marathon, raising money for WWF.

Ep80: Emma Pinchbeck 'Energy Security - Deflating the Gasbags'

Emma Pinchbeck has been the Chief Executive of Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry since July 2020.  Before taking up this post she was Deputy CEO of RenewableUK for 4 years and was the Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK.  Emma holds an MA from the University of Oxford. She is a competitive rower and in 2018 ran her first marathon, raising money for WWF.

A Greener Future Made Possible by Finance - Ep79: Rhian-Mari Thomas

Rhian-Mari Thomas is Chief Executive of the Green Finance Institute. The Institute sits at the nexus of the public and private sectors, the Green Finance Institute convenes and leads sectoral coalitions of global experts, that identify and unlock barriers to investment towards impactful, real-economy outcomes. The Green Finance Institute is backed by the UK Government and City of London Corporation.  Rhian spent 20 years in investment banking and corporate finance and was awarded an OBE for...

Ep79: Rhian-Mari Thomas 'A Greener Future Made Possible by Finance'

Rhian-Mari Thomas is Chief Executive of the Green Finance Institute. The Institute sits at the nexus of the public and private sectors, the Green Finance Institute convenes and leads sectoral coalitions of global experts, that identify and unlock barriers to investment towards impactful, real-economy outcomes. The Green Finance Institute is backed by the UK Government and City of London Corporation.  Rhian spent 20 years in investment banking and corporate finance and was awarded an OBE for...

Cleaning Up Audioblog Episode 5 'International Women's Day - Towards an Inclusive Transition'

International Women's Day - Towards an Inclusive Transition - Cleaning Up Audioblog Episode 5

Ep78: Emily Shuckburgh 'Maths, Models and Melting Ice'

Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE is Director of Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge's major climate change initiative.   Emily is a climate scientist and mathematician, a Fellow of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy and a Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey. She leads the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training on the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks.   A polar expert, she previously led a ...

Maths, Models and Melting Ice - Ep78: Emily Shuckburgh

Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE is Director of Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge's major climate change initiative.   Emily is a climate scientist and mathematician, a Fellow of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy and a Fellow of the British Antarctic Survey. She leads the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training on the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks.   A polar expert, she previously led a ...

Ep77: Inger Andersen 'Environmental Conscience of the World'

Inger Andersen is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. From 2015 until 2019, Inger was the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  Before that she worked at the World Bank for 15 years in roles such as Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa; Vice President for Sustainable Development and Head of the CGIAR Fund Council.   Prior to joining the World Bank, Inger wor...

Environmental Conscience of the World - Ep77: Inger Andersen

Inger Andersen is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. From 2015 until 2019, Inger was the Director-General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).  Before that she worked at the World Bank for 15 years in roles such as Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa; Vice President for Sustainable Development and Head of the CGIAR Fund Council.   Prior to joining the World Bank, Inger wor...

Ep76: Tommaso Demarie 'A Quantum of Hope'

Tommaso Demarie (PhD) is co-founder and CEO of Entropica Labs, a company working on optimisation with and for quantum computing.   Tommaso has 12 years of experience in the field of quantum information and computation. Before founding Entropica, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies and Singapore University of Technology and Design.   His research interests included (and include, when he finds the time to publish research articles) application...

A Quantum of Hope - Ep76: Tommaso Demarie

Tommaso Demarie (PhD) is co-founder and CEO of Entropica Labs, a company working on optimisation with and for quantum computing.   Tommaso has 12 years of experience in the field of quantum information and computation. Before founding Entropica, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Singapore's Centre for Quantum Technologies and Singapore University of Technology and Design.   His research interests included (and include, when he finds the time to publish research articles) application...

US Net Zero - From Pledge to Policy - Ep75: David Turk

David Turk serves as Deputy Secretary in the US Department of Energy. Before joining President Biden’s administration in 2021, David spent over 4 years as Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). He was Head of Strategic Initiatives Office and Head of Energy Environment Division. During the Obama administration David worked at the Department of Energy (Deputy Assistant Secretary), the Department of State (Deputy Special Envoy) and at the National Security Council...

Ep75: David Turk 'US Net Zero - From Pledge to Policy"

David Turk serves as Deputy Secretary in the US Department of Energy. Before joining President Biden’s administration in 2021, David spent over 4 years as Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). He was Head of Strategic Initiatives Office and Head of Energy Environment Division. During the Obama administration David worked at the Department of Energy (Deputy Assistant Secretary), the Department of State (Deputy Special Envoy) and at the National Security Council...

Ep74: Francesco Starace 'Europe's Clean Power Leader'

Francesco Starace is Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Enel.   Before becoming the CEO in 2014, Francesco spent 14 years at Enel, holding a number of executive positions - between 2008 and 2014 he led Enel’s renewable power generation business, Enel Green. Prior to this role which included overseeing the businesses’ IPO. Before 2008 Francesco was, inter alia,  Head of Business Power and Managing Director of the Market Division.   Before joining Enel, Francesco worked at Gener...

Europe's Clean Power Leader - Ep74: Francesco Starace

Francesco Starace is Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Enel.   Before becoming the CEO in 2014, Francesco spent 14 years at Enel, holding a number of executive positions - between 2008 and 2014 he led Enel’s renewable power generation business, Enel Green. Prior to this role which included overseeing the businesses’ IPO. Before 2008 Francesco was, inter alia,  Head of Business Power and Managing Director of the Market Division.   Before joining Enel, Francesco worked at Gener...

Ep73: Richard Nugee 'Waging War on Climate Change'

Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee is the lead author of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach report. Richard spent over 35 years in the military. He was first commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1985. During his service he reached the rank of Lieutenant General and was the Chief of the Defence People between 2016 and 2020. He led the works on UK MoD’s Climate Change and Sustainability Review between 2020 and 2021 and retired from the ...

Waging War on Climate Change - Ep73: Lt Gen Richard Nugee

Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee is the lead author of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach report. Richard spent over 35 years in the military. He was first commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1985. During his service he reached the rank of Lieutenant General and was the Chief of the Defence People between 2016 and 2020. He led the works on UK MoD’s Climate Change and Sustainability Review between 2020 and 2021 and retired from the ...

Ep73: Lt Gen Richard Nugee 'Waging War on Climate Change'

Lieutenant General (Retd) Richard Nugee is the lead author of the UK Ministry of Defence’s Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach report. Richard spent over 35 years in the military. He was first commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1985. During his service he reached the rank of Lieutenant General and was the Chief of the Defence People between 2016 and 2020. He led the works on UK MoD’s Climate Change and Sustainability Review between 2020 and 2021 and retired from the ...

Solving the Low Carbon Skills Gap - Ep72: Nathan Gambling

Nathan Gambling is a heating engineer and lecturer who has taught in colleges and a prison. As well as industry, teaching and assessing qualifications he has a psychology degree in Behavioural studies and is regarded as a leading expert around training and the learning process within plumbing and heating.   He has a remarkable heritage within the heating industry: As central heating first started to take hold it was his grandfather who brought Swedish oil burner technology to the UK and was...

Ep72: Nathan Gambling 'Solving the Low Carbon Skills Gap'

Nathan Gambling is a heating engineer and lecturer who has taught in colleges and a prison. As well as industry, teaching and assessing qualifications he has a psychology degree in Behavioural studies and is regarded as a leading expert around training and the learning process within plumbing and heating.   He has a remarkable heritage within the heating industry: As central heating first started to take hold it was his grandfather who brought Swedish oil burner technology to the UK and was...

The Man in Charge of Charging - Ep71: Pasquale Romano

Pasquale Romano is President and Chief Executive Officer of ChargePoint and a member of the company’s board of directors. Pasquale joined ChargePoint in February of 2011, bringing more than 30 years of technology industry leadership and executive management experience to the company. He is currently a board member for Levitate Acquisition Corporation. He co-founded 2Wire which was acquired by Pace plc for $475M in 2010. Previously, Pasquale held multiple positions in marketing and engineer...

Ep71: Pasquale Romano 'The Man in Charge of Charging'

Pasquale Romano is President and Chief Executive Officer of ChargePoint and a member of the company’s board of directors. Pasquale joined ChargePoint in February of 2011, bringing more than 30 years of technology industry leadership and executive management experience to the company. He is currently a board member for Levitate Acquisition Corporation. He co-founded 2Wire which was acquired by Pace plc for $475M in 2010. Previously, Pasquale held multiple positions in marketing and engineer...

Ep70: Ban Ki-moon 'The Planet's Leading Diplomat'

Ban Ki-moon was the 8th Secretary General of the UN. He is the Chairman of Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future. In April 2019, Mr. Ban was elected as the Chairman of Presidential National Council on Climate and Air Quality (NCCA) (2019-2021). In April 2018, Mr. Ban was elected as the Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia. In January 2018, Mr. Ban, along with former President of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer, were inducted as Co-Chairs of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna, Au...

The Planet's Leading Diplomat - Ep70: Ban Ki-moon

Ban Ki-moon was the 8th Secretary General of the UN. He is the Chairman of Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future. In April 2019, Mr. Ban was elected as the Chairman of Presidential National Council on Climate and Air Quality (NCCA) (2019-2021). In April 2018, Mr. Ban was elected as the Chairman of Boao Forum for Asia. In January 2018, Mr. Ban, along with former President of Austria Mr. Heinz Fischer, were inducted as Co-Chairs of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna, Au...

Ep69: Peter Sweatman 'Our Savings Will Save the Planet'

Peter Sweatman is the founder and Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners (@ClimateSt and www.climatestrategy.com), a strategic consulting group in Clean Energy, Clean Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency working with leading companies and policymakers in the global energy transition Peter is also Chairman and founder of Energy Efficiency Capital Advisors (www.eecapadvisors.com) an expert solution provider and finance structuring partner for over Euro 60 million of finance for...

Our Savings Will Save the Planet - Ep69: Peter Sweatman

Peter Sweatman is the founder and Chief Executive of Climate Strategy & Partners (@ClimateSt and www.climatestrategy.com), a strategic consulting group in Clean Energy, Clean Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency working with leading companies and policymakers in the global energy transition Peter is also Chairman and founder of Energy Efficiency Capital Advisors (www.eecapadvisors.com) an expert solution provider and finance structuring partner for over Euro 60 million of finance for...

The Einstein of Energy Efficiency - Ep68: Amory Lovins

Amory Lovins is Cofounder and Chairman Emeritus of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Apart from co-founding the Institute in 1982 he served as its Chief Scientist between 2007 and 2019.  Amory is a an author of 31 books and more than 700 papers, he has advised major firms and governments on energy in over 70 countries for more than 45 years. He has taught at ten universities, most recently the Naval Postgraduate School (Professor of Practice 2011–17) and Stanford University, where he’s current...

Ep68: Amory Lovins 'The Einstein of Energy Efficiency'

Amory Lovins is Cofounder and Chairman Emeritus of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Apart from co-founding the Institute in 1982 he served as its Chief Scientist between 2007 and 2019.  Amory is a an author of 31 books and more than 700 papers, he has advised major firms and governments on energy in over 70 countries for more than 45 years. He has taught at ten universities, most recently the Naval Postgraduate School (Professor of Practice 2011–17) and Stanford University, where he’s current...

Ep67: Mariana Mazzucato 'Mission Economist'

Mariana Mazzucato (PhD) is Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL),  where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). She is winner of international prizes including the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 2021, Italy's highest civilian honour, the 2020 John von Neumann Award, the 2019 All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values, and 2018 Leontief P...

Mission Economist - Ep67: Mariana Mazzucato

Mariana Mazzucato (PhD) is Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL),  where she is Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). She is winner of international prizes including the Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in 2021, Italy's highest civilian honour, the 2020 John von Neumann Award, the 2019 All European Academies Madame de Staël Prize for Cultural Values, and 2018 Leontief P...

US China - strategic rivals, climate partners - Ep66: David Sandalow

David Sandalow is the Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and co-Director of the Energy and Environment Concentration at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He founded and directs the Center’s U.S.-China Program. David is as a director at Fermata Energy and senior advisor to APL. He is a member of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Selection Committee, Global CO2 Initiative Advisory Board, Electric Drive Transport Association’s “Hall of Fame”...