Lions, Tigers and Elephant Poop.

Lions, Tigers and Elephant Poop.

In this episode of 50 Shades of Green, hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran sit down with Naftali Honig, Regional Operations Manager for Africa Parks’ Congo's region, for a deep, hopeful conversation about the Congo Basin — its global climate importance, the wildlife it supports, and the practical work and challenges of protecting and restoring these critical ecosystems. The show opens with light banter about the World Cup, then quickly pivots to the episode’s focus: why the Congo Basin matters and how on-the-ground conservation is being done differently and successfully. Naftali explains the basin’s role as a global “lung” — not only in gas exchange and carbon storage but as a vast hydrological system that moves freshwater across Central Africa. He outlines the geography of the region, centered on the Democratic Republic of Congo but stretching into neighboring countries, and describes the remarkable biodiversity: forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, myriad less-known species, and savanna-edge animals historically including cheetah. The conversation emphasizes that these ecosystems are interconnected and underpin global climate stability, water security, food systems, and local livelihoods. A major thread is African Parks’ approach: protected areas as anchors for a nature-based, sustainable economy that benefits both people and nature. Naftali debunks the myth that conservation in Africa is only about tourism, explaining how protected lands support sustainable fisheries, forestry, cultural heritage, and community wellbeing. He stresses local stewardship — most park staff are from surrounding communities — and argues that conservation succeeds when it empowers people economically and culturally, not when it excludes them. The episode highlights inspiring restoration work, notably the reintroduction of white rhinos to Garamba National Park in northeastern DRC. Naftali describes the complex logistics and long-term monitoring required for translocations, and how returning “ecosystem engineers” like rhinos can transform landscapes and accelerate ecological recovery. They also discuss plans to restore prey populations, antelopes, zebras, and potentially cheetah, illustrating how recovery must follow ecological sequencing and sustained management. Naftali outlines the principal challenges: ecological logistics and anti-poaching work, socio-political complexities, and, critically, finances. Tourism can help, but crises like Ebola and limited national budgets mean conservation needs diversified funding and innovative financial tools. He also points to technological advances — satellite imagery, tracking collars, and environmental DNA (eDNA) — that revolutionize how scientists monitor biodiversity and ecosystem health, offering richer, networked insights into species interactions and food webs. Practical takeaways for listeners include how to support the work: visit and respect rules as responsible tourists, donate to credible organizations like African Parks, and amplify the stories and science of conservation. The hosts reflect on misconceptions — especially the condescending “white savior” narrative — and celebrate the leadership and expertise originating in Africa. The episode closes on an optimistic note: real, measurable conservation successes prove that “nothing is impossible” when communities, governments, science, and sustained funding come together. Warm, informative, and grounded in field experience, this episode reframes conservation as a complex, people-centered enterprise with global stakes. It’s essential listening for anyone curious about how large-scale restoration works in practice, why the Congo Basin matters to all of us, and how targeted, locally driven efforts can yield dramatic ecological returns — from rhinos roaming again to forests stabilizing climate and water for generations to come. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Climate Goooooooooooals!

50 Shades of Green dives into the unexpected intersection of climate and the world’s most beloved sport in this timely episode. Hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran welcome Elliot Arthur-Worsop, founder of Football for Future, to explore how football (soccer) can be a powerful vehicle for climate communication, action, and adaptation. Fresh off the global spectacle of the World Cup, Adam and Katie frame the conversation with fan anecdotes and the tournament’s uncanny ability to unite divided rooms — then pivot to the bigger picture: how that unity and cultural reach can help break the climate echo chamber. Elliot shares his origin story — from climate activism with Extinction Rebellion to realizing that football culture offers a far broader, more diverse audience for climate messaging. He describes the “penny-drop” moment that launched Football for Future: grassroots fans who loved the game but found mainstream climate activism off-putting. That insight led to campaigns that marry sport, storytelling, science, and celebrity to make climate action feel relevant to billions of fans worldwide. The conversation centers on Football for Future’s flagship research and campaign, “Pitches in Peril,” which maps future climate risk for both World Cup stadiums and the grassroots pitches where legends began. Elliot and the hosts walk listeners through the methodology: partnering with top climate forecasters, applying established playability thresholds (like wet-bulb globe temperature), and translating complex climate projections into a relatable metric — days of unplayable football. The result is a storytelling breakthrough: instead of abstract temperature stats, fans can grasp how many match or training days could be lost by 2050, making climate risk tangible to players, clubs, and communities. Listeners learn how the campaign built momentum — from a global survey of thousands of fans and a major media lift (translations into multiple languages and significant earned media value) to player activations and partnerships. Elliot emphasizes pragmatic, football-first recommendations: clubs and governing bodies should set carbon neutrality targets, publish sustainability strategies, and crucially, create adaptation funds as legacy investments to protect grassroots pitches and community programs in host nations. The episode highlights concrete funding ideas — ring-fenced adaptation funds, sponsorship contributions tied to social value, and embedding climate resilience into existing facility upgrade streams. Elliot argues that measuring impact in “playable days saved” offers a compelling ROI that resonates with funders and football administrators, while also delivering measurable social benefits like youth engagement, education, and community health. Adam and Katie reflect on the wider implications: sport’s unique cultural reach, its power to convene strangers around shared rituals and values, and its potential to normalize climate adaptation at the highest levels. They also explore how athletes, post-career and current, are stepping into climate advocacy, offering relatable messengers who connect health, performance, and environmental stability. This episode is for climate communicators, sports fans curious about sustainability, and anyone interested in how cultural institutions can accelerate climate action. Tune in for a thoughtful blend of data-driven analysis, campaign insight, and human stories that show how protecting the future of football is inseparable from protecting the planet. Links to the “Pitches in Peril” report, Football for Future resources, and ways to get involved are available in the episode notes. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Special Episode: London Climate Action Week Part 2

Adam and Katie return to coverage of London Climate Action Week with a lively, optimistic episode that dives into the intersection of climate, health and technology. They set the scene with World Cup vibes before Adam shares his on‑the‑ground experience judging the Health in Climate hackathon — a fast, furious weekend of teams building working AI‑enabled prototypes to tackle real health risks from climate events. Their guests are key figures behind the hackathon: Seema Wadhwa (former lead for sustainability at a major US health system and Founder of Climate in Health) and Chethan Sarabu (a clinician and tech partner from Cornell Tech). Together they explain what a hackathon actually is, why bringing climate scientists, clinicians, engineers, comms and product builders into an intense, time‑bounded room produces finished, deployable tools, and how AI is changing the game. Rather than replacing people, AI accelerates what’s possible — making it easier for non‑tech experts to participate and for teams to ship working solutions in a weekend. But with speed comes responsibility: energy efficiency of AI models, data privacy (especially for health data) and ethical deployment are front of mind. Highlights from the hackathon showcase the breadth and impact of the work. The winning team’s tool addressed firefighters’ long‑term health risks by combining drone‑delivered regional air‑quality sensing with personalised exposure profiles and alerts — a solution that impressed judges and actuaries alike and immediately attracted interest from potential implementers. Other standouts included a resilience tool for healthcare supply chains in flooding events and a post‑disaster travel planner for essential supplies like baby formula. The conversation emphasizes that hackathons don’t just create prototypes; they create networks, incubator opportunities and direct pathways to adoption by corporate and healthcare partners. Seema and Chethan reflect on their journeys into climate and health — from civil engineering and landscape architecture to frontline pediatrics — and on the strategic value of focussing health in climate action. Framing climate impacts through health (extreme heat, respiratory illness from wildfire smoke, pregnancy risks) makes the issue personal and depoliticizes the conversation, engaging clinicians, patients and the public in new ways. They also spell out practical next steps: AI literacy bootcamps, cross‑disciplinary capacity building and plans to expand the hackathon model globally, culminating in New York during Climate Week. Adam and Katie weave in broader reporting: how extreme heat disrupted sporting events and daily life, the need to rethink stadiums and infrastructure, and the urgency of translating technical innovation into policy and practice. This episode is for anyone curious about where rapid innovation meets frontline impact — clinicians, technologists, policymakers and organizers who want to turn ideas into deployed solutions. Find out more at https://healthinclimate.org/ ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Special Episode: London Climate Action Week Part 1

This episode of 50 Shades of Green takes you straight into the heat — literally and figuratively — of London Climate Action Week. Hosts Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran unpack a timely, wide‑ranging discussion hosted by Climate Group on energy efficiency, electrification, cooling, finance and the role of technology in closing the gap between climate ambition and execution. From sweaty conference rooms in London to the bigger picture of global climate weeks, this special edition weaves practical solutions with policy and market realities. With some introductory framing from Mike Umiker - Managing Director, Energy Efficiency Movement, Climate Group's Mike Peirce introduces a powerhouse panel: Erika Gupta (Siemens Financial Services), Ana Troncoso (ABB), Emma Harvey‑Smith (Green Finance Institute) and Chris Skidmore (Climate Action Coalition; former UK Energy and Clean Growth Minister). Together they interrogate why, despite clear economics and existing technologies, energy efficiency remains underfunded and fragmented. Topics include the critical role of efficiency as “the first fuel,” the challenges of scaling retrofit projects, and innovative financing models like energy efficiency as a service, retrofit-as-a-service, and property‑linked finance (PACE) that spread costs and align benefits over time. The conversation zeroes in on cooling: rising air‑conditioning demand, public health impacts of extreme heat, and the uncomfortable tradeoffs between keeping people safe and avoiding runaway electricity demand. Panelists highlight solutions that don’t rely on brute‑force AC expansion: smarter HVAC controls, motor-driven system optimization, thermal and electrical storage, load‑smoothing strategies, and liquid cooling for data centers. The discussion also explores how electrification must be “efficient electrification” to avoid overwhelming grids and lock in costly infrastructure. Finance and policy emerge as pivotal themes. The guests explain why aggregation, standardized project pipelines, fit‑for‑purpose data and mandates are necessary to mobilize institutional capital. Real‑world case studies — from university decarbonization partnerships to large industrial motor replacements — demonstrate that when projects are designed at scale, paybacks shorten and impact multiplies. The episode spotlights the Global Property‑Linked Finance Initiative and practical routes to unlock capital for retrofits. Technology and AI are presented as double‑edged tools: powerful enablers of optimization, digital twinning and demand management, but also potential sources of inefficiency if misused. The panel calls for responsible, targeted AI deployment to drive measurable efficiency gains and for broader consumer education so households and businesses seize the right opportunities at the right moments (mortgage renewals, retrofits, tech upgrades). Warm, candid and solution‑focused, this episode is for policymakers, investors, technologists and anyone frustrated by the slow pace of implementation. Listen for pragmatic ideas on scaling energy efficiency, financing the retrofit revolution, making cooling sustainable, and turning climate ambition into measurable action — before the next heatwave. Siemens and ABB are members of Climate Group's Smart Energy Coalition, for more information contact smartenergycoalition@climategroup.org [smartenergycoalition@climategroup.org] or visit: https://www.theclimategroup.org/smart-energy [https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theclimategroup.org%2Fsmart-energy&data=05%7C02%7Calake%40theclimategroup.org%7C879b1c7dacc64ba16b6108ded5ae9a79%7Cdc6bc025abec4b55b2a05a63afca742b%7C1%7C0%7C639183143354284232%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=mV2EDRwIZG2mA1NULs4sR91o0%2BmUonbfqKfzbsFDNO4%3D&reserved=0] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Raising the Curtain with the Broadway Green Alliance

On this episode of Fifty Shades of Green, Adam Lake and Katie Lanegran dive into the intersection of theatre and climate with Molly Braverman, Executive Director of the Broadway Green Alliance. If you love Broadway — or care about practical climate action — this conversation reveals how the theatrical world backstage and onstage is being transformed to reduce emissions, cut waste, and inspire audiences. Molly explains Broadway Green Alliance's two-part mission: make theatre operations more sustainable (lower emissions, boost circularity, change backstage practices) and use the cultural power of Broadway to reach audiences with climate solutions. She walks us through concrete, replicable programs that show sustainability can be both creative and cost-effective — and often a better business decision. Highlights from the episode: * Green Captains: A volunteer program with over 1,600 green captains across Broadway, touring productions, colleges, unions, and community theatres. These sustainability champions receive department-specific toolkits and one-on-one support to implement changes that fit each show’s needs, from stage management to props. * Rechargeable batteries at Wicked: A striking example of impact — Wicked moved from 15,000 single-use alkaline batteries per year to 96 rechargeable batteries, dramatically reducing e-waste and costs while maintaining show safety. * LED marquees: A Broadway-wide transition from incandescent bulbs to LEDs has saved over 10,000 tons of carbon to date and delivered substantial financial savings while preserving the iconic look of Times Square. * Front-of-house and dressing room changes: From reusable glassware and reusable “sippy” cups to composting in dressing rooms, Molly shares how small visible shifts reduce waste and normalize sustainable behavior for audiences and performers alike. * Circular programs and collections: BGA runs specialty collections (flowers and vases, instrument strings, binders and props) partnering with organizations like TerraCycle, D’Addario, Materials for the Arts, and local florists to keep materials in use across the community. * Binder lending library: A Midtown lending system for binders (complete with library slips) to reduce single-use purchases for readings and rehearsals — a charming example of theatre’s inherently reuse-friendly culture. * Audience engagement & storytelling: BGA leverages Broadway’s reach — from Earth Month concerts in Times Square to livestreamed events — to educate and inspire audiences. Molly describes using existing shows to “tell climate stories” and creating short climate-themed pieces (e.g., a 30-minute “Climate Talk” with showtune puns) to meet people where they are. * Global connections: BGA collaborates with international counterparts (Julie’s Bicycle, Theatre Green Book) to share best practices and amplify the performing arts sector’s climate leadership worldwide. * How to get involved: Molly invites theatre professionals, students, and fans to join BGA’s free membership, follow @BroadwayGreenAlliance on social, sign up for the quarterly newsletter, attend public drives in Times Square, or support local theatres by asking what they’re doing to be greener. Throughout the episode, Adam, Katie, and Molly keep the chat lively, full of theatre nerd energy and practical optimism. Whether you’re a stage manager curious about digitizing paperwork, a performer wanting to start a compost routine, a fan wondering about reusable cups, or a student pursuing theatre and climate studies, this episode shows there’s a place for you in the movement — and that “every job is a climate job.” Find out more at BroadwayGreen.com or follow Broadway Green Alliance on Instagram. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.