Climate+ | Purpose and Prosperity in an Unprecedented World

Climate+ | 81 | Leah Qusba @ Good Power

Can we build an economy that truly works for everyone? In Episode 81 of Climate+ Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#], Lincoln [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#] sits down with Leah Qusba [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#], CEO of GoodPower [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#], to explore how the global renewable energy transition can unlock a generation of economic security.  💡 Key Takeaways: The Messengers Are the Message: Peer-to-peer storytelling from local farmers and EMS workers beats clean energy disinformation every single time. Beyond Electrons: Community Benefit Agreements are transforming rural towns by funding local schools, donating fire trucks, and saving family farms. The Hidden Tax: Volatile global fossil fuel prices spike the cost of everything from energy bills to groceries. Local, homegrown power is the path to stability. Decarbonizing Food: Regenerative agriculture lowers input costs for farmers, builds a resilient food market, and serves as nature's best carbon capture solution. #ClimatePlus #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy #RegenerativeAg #Sustainability #EconomicSecurity General Mills [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#]

Climate+ | 80 | Sifiso Gumbi @ Urban Surfers South Africa

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙮? In episode 80 of Climate+ Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/company/climatepluspodcast/], Lincoln [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lincolnbleveans/] sits down with Sifiso Gumbi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sifiso-gumbi-b1932772/], the inspiring founder and CEO of Urban Surfer South Africa [https://www.linkedin.com/company/urban-surfer-south-africa/], to answer a critical question: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀? Johannesburg is currently facing a massive waste crisis, with its landfill space rapidly drying up. Yet, between 7% and 13% of its waste is successfully recycled—almost entirely due to the tireless, uncoordinated efforts of informal waste pickers. Sifiso, a former waste picker himself, is changing the narrative. Through Urban Surfer, he is transforming this informal sector into a structured, dignified economic powerhouse by providing: 🦺 Essential Gear: Protective wear (PPE) to safely handle waste. 🛒 Custom Equipment: Specially manufactured collection trolleys. 🏗️ Recycling Hubs: Dedicated facilities for secure storage, sorting, and processing to maximize income. 💼 Corporate Integration: Connecting reclaimers directly with private businesses to stabilize wages and boost ESG metrics. It’s time to move past summits and policy red tape and invest in real, ground-level human impact. Discover how Sifiso Gumbi, CEO of Urban Surfer, is transforming informal waste picking into a dignified economic force. Explore how grassroots innovation tackles Johannesburg's landfill crisis, builds a thriving circular economy, and creates sustainable livelihoods. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear Sifiso's incredible journey from waste picker to social enterprise CEO, and learn how we can better value the human element behind climate resilience. Link in the comments below. 👉 Stream the episode now at climatepluspod.com [http://climatepluspod.com/] or find Climate Plus on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube! hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23climateplus&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #ClimatePlus [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23climateplus&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23circulareconomy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #CircularEconomy [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23circulareconomy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23sustainability&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Sustainability [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23sustainability&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23wastemanagement&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #WasteManagement [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23wastemanagement&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23esg&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #ESG [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23esg&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23socialenterprise&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #SocialEnterprise [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23socialenterprise&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23recycling&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #Recycling [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23recycling&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23greeneconomy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #GreenEconomy [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23greeneconomy&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23climateresilience&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #ClimateResilience [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23climateresilience&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23urbansurfer&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #UrbanSurfer [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23urbansurfer&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]  hashtag [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23sustainablelivelihoods&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED] #SustainableLivelihoods [https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=%23sustainablelivelihoods&origin=HASH_TAG_FROM_FEED]

Climate+ | 79 | Marc Weiss @ Global Urban Development

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚? In Climate+ Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#] #79, Lincoln [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#] sits down with Dr. Marc A. Weiss [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#] of Global Urban Development (GUD) [https://www.linkedin.com/feed#]. With a network spanning over 900 leaders across 65 countries, Dr. Weiss shares his global insights on sustainable urbanization, inclusive economic growth, and citizen-led climate action.  Key takeaways: - The 21st-Century Challenge: True climate resilience requires combining generational practices of living in harmony with nature alongside advanced modern technology. - Getting Richer by Becoming Greener: Economic development and sustainability must go hand in hand. Inclusive prosperity means lowering costs and creating jobs through green innovation. - Sustainable Innovation Zones: Real change happens when tech innovation ecosystems blend with grassroots citizen movements. These zones allow neighbors, students, and businesses to transform their communities without waiting for top-down political permission. - The Power of Higher Education: Universities serve as vital anchor institutions. Activating students to work on real-world sustainability projects provides communities with an unmatched resource for grassroots development. Listen to the full discussion on all major streaming services or visit climatepluspod.com. To explore Dr. Weiss's urban resilience frameworks, visit globalurban.org or globalurban.net.

Climate+ | 78 | Jennifer Hadayia @ Air Alliance Houston

𝘿𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙞𝙧? Houston, Texas is often called the "energy capital of the world," but that title comes with a heavy public health price tag. In episode 78 of Climate+ Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], I’m joined by Jennifer Hadayia, MPA [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], Executive Director of Air Alliance Houston [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], to discuss: 📍 The "perfect storm" of geography and policy that shaped Houston’s air quality. 📍 Why the "jobs vs. health" debate is a false dichotomy. 📍 How community-led advocacy and real-time monitoring are shifting the power back to residents. As Jennifer says, "𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆." Resources: Air Alliance Houston - https://airalliancehouston.org/ EPA Inflation Reduction Act Grants - https://www.epa.gov/newsroom/epa-announces-1-billion-investment-clean-air-and-climate-initiatives California Community Notification System - https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/documents/community-notification-system New Jersey Environmental Justice Law - https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases22/20220407a.html air pollution, Houston, New Jersey, California, environmental justice, climate change, community advocacy, policy, air quality monitoring, industrial emissions, transportation, environmental justice laws

Climate+ | 77 | Dr. Melik Khoury @ Unity Environmental University

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙩, 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙙𝙮𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙘 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙣𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙? Join me for Climate+ Podcast [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#] #77, a conversation with Dr. Dr. Melik Khoury [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], the visionary president and CEO of Unity Environmental University [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#], exploring how higher education must democratize access to climate and sustainability education across every industry and geography. Key Takeaways: - 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙖 𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮, 𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 - 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝𝙮, 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 - "𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬"—𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 - 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙘𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙩𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 climate education, sustainability, higher education, innovation, interdisciplinary learning, democratization, environmental science, climate literacy, technology in education, global perspectives