Kira Taylor’s Post

Rachel Donald's conversation with Dr Nafeez Ahmed FRSA FSI and Simon Michaux took a necessary step beyond the usual exchange of bullet points, technical debates, and entrenched positions. Both guests started from different angles—one focusing on materials and supply chains, the other on systems thinking and disruptive technologies—but the more they talked, the clearer it became that they share a foundational understanding: the status quo is unsustainable, and genuine solutions must involve rethinking our energy, economics, and the relationships that support them. The critical shift happened when they stopped fixating solely on whether a particular scenario for building out renewables or storage technologies was “right” or “wrong” and instead explored the broader need to restructure entire systems. Neither of them is content with simply criticizing policies or clinging to outdated models; both want to drive society toward a more equitable, resilient, and ecologically sound way of living. They recognize that technical questions—like how much battery storage is needed or which metals to mine—only matter in the context of changing the values and incentives that guide these decisions. This is where honest, open conversation can become a strategic tool rather than an intellectual battleground. The host helped by encouraging them to step away from zero-sum arguments. This is key because, too often, experts talk past one another, trying to prove their point rather than looking for ways to integrate their knowledge. By acknowledging each other’s legitimate concerns—be it resource bottlenecks or the risk of clinging to flawed economic assumptions—they transformed a debate into a search for shared solutions. This isn’t just theoretical: their exchange showed that constructive dialogue can lay the groundwork for policies and strategies that prioritize long-term well-being over short-term gains. It’s precisely this kind of open, respectful engagement that inspires truly actionable solutions. Instead of tossing insults or retreating into technical jargon, focusing on the actual stakes—social stability, environmental health, global equity—can keep the conversation grounded. Experts can still challenge each other’s assumptions, but doing so in good faith leads to breakthroughs. By listening to each other and refining their ideas, they can propose robust, practical, and future-oriented innovations. In other words, this conversation was less about who’s correct on a single metric and more about building a framework for moving forward. By working together, by being willing to hear new ideas, and by staying focused on the ultimate goal—a sustainable and fair world—everyone in the room can reach a more productive place. Instead of throwing rocks from the sidelines, having the guts to join the conversation, acknowledge uncertainties, and still commit to positive change is what makes real solutions possible. https://lnkd.in/dz3bcjgE

👇 Opening ourselves to relational systems thinking in the energy transition allows us to move beyond prediction and control mechanisms. The conversation below highlights what can become possible. While we cannot predict the future with certainty, we can anticipate, imagine, and actively co-create it together. Complexity is not an external factor; it is inherent within the energy and mining ecosystems themselves. By recognising this relational complexity, together exploring the entanglements, we can foster more meaningful discussions and regenerative options that reflect the interconnected nature of our challenges. Let’s engage in collaborative thinking that embraces this complexity and paves the way for multiple, open, regenerative energy futures! 💡🤝

🌍✨ Explore the intricacies of #MultiLevelGovernance in Europe’s energy landscape through the insights of John Carley, Vice-President for Circular Economy & Chair of the South East Energy Agency. His editorial in 'Sustainable Regions in Action' highlights the importance of effective collaboration across various levels of government for successful #EnergyPlanning. Learn more about it👇

NEW RELEASE: Explore the forefront of environmental innovation with our comprehensive 2024 whitepaper on Climate Tech Trends. This analysis delves into burgeoning investment opportunities and cutting-edge technologies, ranging from wildfire detection to renewable heating and optimized grids. The paper also identifies key investment considerations and political dimensions. Written by David Pring-Mill and Matthew S Williams. With commentary by Chris Hagerbaumer. Profiled organizations include Breakthrough Energy , OroraTech, Redaptive, Inc, Svante, SolarSteam Inc., Borealis Geothermal , OpenAQ Inc, and Global Witness. Support this type of open-access, ESG-focused analysis by becoming a member at Policy2050. Download the paper at: https://lnkd.in/gAkfHjJU #ClimateTech #Sustainability #ESGInvestments #Policy2050

Investment in clean energy innovation is crucial but we are not rising to the scale necessary to meet rising energy demand, avoid reliability crises, and reduce emissions causing climate change. We need to rethink clean energy innovation and go beyond technology-specific approaches. It’s time to make investing in clean energy solutions a standing national priority. At Clean Tomorrow, we are ready to make that happen. We’re writing and advancing new policies that will create economic growth in our future.

During Climate Group Week New York, I had the privilege of participating in the World Economic Forum Transforming Energy Demand and Built Environment Roundtable, where industry leaders and experts came together to address the urgent need to reduce our energy consumption and its impact. While we face challenges in transforming our energy systems and infrastructure, there are also exciting opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Here are my top takeaways from the sessions: 1. Tacking energy demand is our biggest opportunity to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonize. Organizations need to recognize energy efficiency as a valuable asset, leading to greater willingness to invest in it. 2. World Economic Forum research shows up to $2 trillion in potential savings by transforming energy demand by 2030, with rapid ROI at individual sites like an office building typically under 10 years. 3. Both the private and public sectors need to collaborate effectively. Key government actions are required to achieve the goal of doubling energy efficiency and tripling investment. This includes integrating these goals into both national and corporate energy transition plans. 4. Building decarbonization is crucial for emissions reductions and the energy transition, with opportunities for digitization, microgrids, and clean energy generation. 5. Innovation is key, our science-based research suggests that we can reduce up to 83% of a building’s operational carbon emissions with Schneider Electric solutions. Thanks to Rob Turner and all the expert participants for sharing their valuable insights during the roundtables. It’s through collaboration and innovation that we can make meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future. #ClimateWeekNY #Decarbinization #EneryTransition Manish Kumar | Olivier Blum | Shonodeep Modak | Chris Leong

I am doing a presentation on Decarbonization in Washington at the AEE West conference. https://aeewest.org/ https://lnkd.in/gBNu4499 (I requested they spell my name correctly, lol, my name would be "Anders Son-Of-Anders") I am going to cover the concepts of electrification and decarbonization, review VPP and microgrids, follow up with several examples of legacy companies jumping into electrification and then end with a Q&A. Do you have any suggestions for me?

The ARC Cleantech Innovation Festival, an event organized by Future Cleantech Architects, is happening next week. I already participated last year, and being on many cleantech events, I can safely say the discussion there is on a much higher level than usual on such events. This year, I will not just attend the event but also participate in one of the sessions. With Peter Schniering, Clara Pfeffer, Jens Schröder, and Joachim Müller-Jung, I will discuss how journalism can help create a science-based understanding of climate solutions. If you know me, you know this touches two topics I care a lot about - better science and climate solutions. https://lnkd.in/dQyDsGEp

International Energy Agency (IEA) and the High-Level Climate Champions released the "Breakthrough Agenda Report 2024" - This is the third report in an annual series which assesses progress on international collaboration in six major emitting sectors – power, hydrogen, road transport, steel, cement and buildings. - It also draws on global experience generously shared by governments, businesses and civil society organisations active in each of the sectors covered.  - This report provides practical and actionable recommendations for stronger international collaboration to make clean technologies and sustainable solutions the most affordable, accessible and attractive option in key sectors and in all regions by 2030. Glad to have contributed to this report along with fellow collaborators Timur Gül, Simon Sharpe, Araceli Fernandez Pales, Carl Greenfield, José Miguel Bermúdez Menéndez, Chiara Delmastro, Ph.D., Jean-Baptiste Le Marois, Luis Munuera, Andrew Ruttinger, Tiffany Vass Luciano Caratori, Harald Friedl, Mohamed Momtaz Hegazy, Will Wild, Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC). Full report attached

Delighted to announce that my perspective article, co-authored with Mohammed Al-Juaied, has been published in Energy Research & Social Science! 🌍 This work would not have been possible without the incredible support I received along the way. A big thank you to Climate Policy Lab and to the experts at the industrial hubs in the North Sea who generously shared their insights. Special thanks to Benjamin Sovacool for his invaluable feedback and guidance as editor. ✅ Our case studies in the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands highlight the importance of carbon pricing mechanisms to crowd in private investments, thus providing strong signals for structural change to different stakeholders across the value chain.  ✅ As industrial decarbonization, however, faces unique challenges due to its complex value chain and the need for supportive infrastructure, such as CO2 transport and storage, government support for the infrastructure is essential to complement the private sector's efforts in the early stages. ✅ Over time, increasing carbon prices and phasing out free allowances can further incentivize the deployment of CCUS and hydrogen in the industry sector. ✅ A well-designed mix of demand-pull and supply-push policy instruments is therefore crucial for achieving industrial decarbonization, taking into account each country's existing domestic assets, financial capacity, and geography (i.e., carbon storage capacity). Read our full publication here: https://lnkd.in/eF7SCJN6