As Europe progresses towards achieving a climate-neutral economy by 2050, the concept of circularity has emerged as a powerful approach to reducing emissions, minimising waste and promoting sustainability.

Adopting a more circular economy entails Europe transitioning from its linear economic model of producing, consuming, and disposing of materials to new approaches that aim to keep materials in the value chain for as long as possible. This will involve reducing resource extraction and ensuring that we operate within our planetary limits.

In the first of two special live podcasts—recorded at our event on circularity in Brussels at the end of May 2024—the panel discusses the impact of new regulations out of the European Union aimed at improving circularity and its impact on design and supply chains.

Joining David Weston on today’s episode are:

Emmanuelle Maire, Head of Unit at DG Environment at the European Commission

Ke Wang, Global Lead for Energy Minerals and Circularity at the World Resources Institute

Erich Labuda, President ABB Motion

Our thanks go to lead co-organiser ABB and our supporting organiser VELUX for making the event possible.

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With the latest round of elections for the European Parliament just around the corner, and the formation of a new Commission following closely behind, issues around the energy sector are at the forefront of political discourse.

Joining us on Watt Matters this week to discuss how the next era of European lawmakers could approach decarbonisation efforts is Linda Kalcher, executive director of think tank Strategic Perspectives.

In this episode, we discuss how energy politics have changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, whether the European Green Deal is still as strong as it could be, and how the inter-European diplomatic relations are changing as the energy transition advances.

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Addressing methane emissions is key if the world is to succeed in limiting global warming and preventing drastic climate change. In the short-term, it is significantly more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide.

But to properly address the world’s methane problem, there needs to be data on where emissions come from. A new satellite aims to help do that.

MethaneSAT was launched earlier this month and boasts unmatched accuracy and precision. It aims to keep track of 80% of the world’s oil and gas industry – one of the major polluters of methane.

Daniel Zavala, a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, which is behind the satellite project, joins the Watt Matters team to discuss the project

Enjoy the show!

If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, add your contribution below

Follow us on Twitter at @WattMattersPod or email us at show@wattmatterspodcast.com

You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.

Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva

Show notes:

Watch MethaneSAT’s launch and find out more about the project here.

What Caught My Eye:

Michaela’s pick: WTO panel report regarding EU measures affecting palm oil, palm crop-based biofuels

Daniel’s pick: IEA Global Methane Tracker 2024

Kira’s pick: World’s first solar-powered air traffic control radar station in Chile

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Currently, 10-25% of EU buildings host solar panels and the rooftop market continues to grow. It could see another boost as Europe agrees new support for the industry.

This includes the new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which introduces an EU Solar Standard, expected to change solar from an add-on to a core construction element.

For this live podcast recording, Watt Matters producer Kira Taylor looks into the emerging trends and what more is needed to boost the industry, with a panel of special guests: Anette Persson, policy officer at the European Commission, Nathalie Rubin-Delanchy, public policy manager working on EU sustainability policy at Amazon, Arttur Kulvik, senior vice president of Solnet and Nicolas Randria, secretary general at the Fédération Française du Bâtiment.

Enjoy!

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If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach us at our X accounts:

SolarPower Europe

Nathalie Rubin-Delanchy

Michaela Holl

Jan Rosenow

David Weston

Kira Taylor

WattMattersPod

FORESIGHT Climate & Energy

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Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva.

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From climate change to air pollution, there are a lot of issues that need solving in the 21st century. With all the doom and gloom, it’s hard to see that some progress has actually been made.

Hannah Ritchie is a researcher and deputy editor at the University of Oxford’s Our World In Data publication. Her new book “Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet” argues that advancements are being made every day in the quest for a sustainable world.

In our 50th episode, Hannah joins the Watt Matters team to explain what the data shows and why we can be positive.

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The energy transition is taking place in a complex world of ongoing historic geopolitical tensions and financial divides between countries. Lisa Fischer from climate think tank E3G joins the Watt Matters team to discuss decarbonisation policymaking in a complicated and adversarial world.

The world needs to decarbonise if it is to limit drastic global warming. However, this is happening in the context of growing conflicts and a varying list of priorities and ideologies.

With 2030 targets now just around the corner, richer nations need to show that the energy transition is possible and help make finance available to enable global change. All the while they need to ensure that they don’t get bogged down in overdependence on fuels, unreliable supply chains and stranded assets.

This requires a carefully planned approach to the energy transition that brings everyone along for the ride. In this episode, Lisa Fischer, programme lead at climate think tank E3G, joins the Watt Matters team to discuss navigating the decarbonisation pathway in a complex world.

Enjoy the show.

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If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, add your contribution below

Follow us on Twitter at @WattMattersPod or email us at show@wattmatterspodcast.com 

You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.

Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva

Show notes: 

Read the E3G report Lisa mentioned on gas demand reduction numbers here.

What Caught My Eye:

Lisa’s pick: Numbers showing Germany's heat pump market grew by 50% in 2023

David’s picks: White House Said to Delay Decision on Enormous Natural Gas Export Terminal

Hinkley Point C delay deals blow to UK energy strategy

Michaela’s pick: Charting Europe’s path towards an ambitious 2040 climate goal

Jan’s pick: Flex-ability for all: Pursuing socially inclusive demand-side flexibility in Europe

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2024 is likely to be the year of elections, with just under half of the world’s population expected to head to the polls, according to Bloomberg. That includes major players in energy and climate, like the US, India, the EU and, potentially, the UK.

These elections will take place in a world where the climate crisis and the energy transition are becoming ever more apparent in people’s lives, but also where the political climate around these topics is growing more difficult.

As the world continues to face unprecedented climate impacts and works out how to implement the historic COP28 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels, Sam Morgan, the host of Watt Matter’s sister podcast Policy Dispatch, joins the team to look at the year ahead.

Enjoy the show!

If you have any thoughts or questions about anything that has been discussed in this week’s episode, you can reach us at our X accounts:

Sam Morgan

Michaela Holl

Jan Rosenow

David Weston

Kira Taylor

@WattMattersPod

FORESIGHT Climate & Energy

Listen and subscribe to Watt Matters wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Twitter at @WattMattersPod or email us at show@wattmatterspodcast.com. You can also find FORESIGHT Climate & Energy on LinkedIn.

Illustration: Masha Krasnova-Shabaeva.

Show notes:

You can find the Jolt episode on geothermal here.

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