The Ecologist Podcast

Join a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Alice Pirlot (Assistant Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute) about the interlinkages of taxation and climate change. Sebastian Zünd and new host Kristi explore Professor Pirlot’s fascination with the topic and how taxes affect environmental problems. The discussion covers tax governance, carbon pricing, as well as the controversial Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on the critical link between economics and sustainability.

The Ecologist Podcast is back for a new season! Join us for a very exciting first episode with our guest Dr. Oksana Tarasova, a Senior Scientific Officer in the Infrastructure Department of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In this discussion, we take stock of the current state of the climate and the key dynamics that are influencing it (both now and in the future). We also discuss the activities of a Senior Scientist at the WMO, and the implications of converging scientific, sociopolitical, and economic realities. Special thanks to Le Sablier de Cassandre, who facilitated the discussion as part of their flagship Apéro Climat Initiative! This episode was recorded with a live audience during the Geneva Sustainability Week at La Fabrique, IHEID.

Join us for a very special final episode of season 5 of the Ecologist Podcast, featuring a live-discussion with the renowned Julia Steinberger, a well renowned economical ecologist, IPCC author, and climate activist! In this discussion we seek to challenge the conventional wisdom of 'green growth,' examining its implications for equity and unraveling the intricate connections between economic activity, material usage, and well-being. A special thanks to the team at the Fabrique for hosting our live podcast!

In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Davide Fanciulli, an Assistant Program Management Officer at the UN SDG Lab in Geneva. We ask exactly where we are at with the SDGs, and discuss the outcome of the recent SDG Summit held in New York. We also explore the role of youth voices and perspectives in large international forums, and the opportunities available.

Welcome back to Season 5 of The Ecologist! This season we are joined by two new hosts - Raghu and Sebastian, alongside Bo. For our first episode we are joined by Valeria Mendez, a conservation biologist and visiting fellow at the Graduate Institute. We discuss the Global Biodiversity Framework, and Valeria’s insights from her research on the role of Indigenous peoples and other interdisciplinary aspects in biodiversity conservation. She also shares with us her experience and opportunities of being a young researcher.

Join us for a very special occasion for the final episode of season 4 of the Ecologist Podcast. In this episode, we host a live-discussion alongside our friend Moe Shiojiri from The Graduate Press as part of the 2023 Book & Podcast Festival at IHEID. In this discussion, we are joined by three wonderful panelists Albert Ng, Raghuveer Vyas and Hussein Ghandour, to discuss one of the key challenges to combating climate change - how can we amplify local approaches and knowledge in an ecosystem of increasing universality. The discussion brings together stories from different corners of the world as the panelists reflect on both the challenges and opportunities of driving our approach from local and Indigenous perspectives. A special thanks to the team at the Fabrique for organising the Festival and hosting our live podcast!

In our second and very special episode of season 4, The Ecologist Podcast, in collaboration with IHEID’s Centre for International Environmental Studies, host Juan Diego Prado is joined by his former ARP team members Anne-Lise Hadzopoulos, Michael King, and Noelia Villazón to recap their 2022 Capstone project. The group shares with us their insight to the ARP project and how they promoted ecological connectivity through nature-based solutions in the Carpathian region of Eastern Europe. A special thank you to CIES for their collaboration with not only the ARP group but also the EC to make this episode possible. Stick around for more exciting content coming your way very soon!

In our first episode of season 4, The Ecologist Podcast hosts Juan Diego Prado and Bo Mun are joined by Emily Mathias, the Senior Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand, and good friend of Bo! Emily shares with us her insight to the world of COP and the intricacies of carbon markets. She also talks about the role that the youth can and is already playing in the realm of sustainable development. Stick around for more exciting content coming your way very soon!

News Stories:

In our latest episode, The Ecologist Podcast welcomes our two new co-hosts: Laure Driessen and Bo Mun! Alongside them, brand-new EC President Camille Darbo also joins us for our chat with our latest guest. Diane Henny, the co-founder and director of local NGO Terrases Sans Frontières, shares with us the benefits and challenges of promoting the use of green roofs right here in Geneva. She explains the intricacies of the organization’s operations, from convincing the canton about the advantages of green roofs to the continued maintenance of finished projects. If you would like to know more about Diane and her work, you can follow her organization on Instagram at @terrasessansfrontieres ! Stick around for season 4 coming very soon!

News Stories:

· France Bans Domestic Short-Haul Flights: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/02/is-france-banning-private-jets-everything-we-know-from-a-week-of-green-transport-proposals

· Renewables to Produce More Energy than Coal in US: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/11/24/renewables-to-produce-more-energy-than-coal-in-the-us-for-the-first-time-this-year

· Rare Bird Rediscovered in PNG: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/11/22/like-finding-a-unicorn-rare-bird-lost-to-science-for-140-years-rediscovered-in-papua-new-g

In this episode, EC President Marta La Placa joins us again in a fascinating episode where we talk to Abdallah Mikulu, a Zero Waste Model expert currently working in his home country of Tanzania. Abdallah sheds light into an amazing project currently making strides in a region that deserves more awareness. He explains the intricacies of repurposing numerous kinds of waste and educating the local population about sustainable habits while simultaneously creating employment. If you would like to know more about Abdallah and his work, you can follow his organization Mazingira Plus on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/mazingira-plus/ and Instagram at @mazingira_plus ! Stick around for our next episode for a superb surprise!

News Stories:

· Wild Bison Born in UK: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/21/wild-baby-bison-born-in-the-uk-for-first-time-in-thousands-of-years-after-surprise-pregnan

· Seaweed Food Wrapping: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/23/your-burger-could-soon-come-wrapped-in-packing-made-from-seaweed

· Indian Solar Village: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/21/indias-first-solar-powered-village-is-transforming-residents-lives-says-un-chief

Welcome to the third season of The Ecologist Podcast! For our first episode, EC President Marta La Placa and Vice President Nadia Bucher join us for a detailed conversation about the Environmental Committee and the role that they have played during the past year. We highlight some of the many available initiatives part of the committee and we discuss the importance of continuing the growth of each project both within the Institute and around Geneva. If you are interested in joining the Environmental Committee, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/environmental_committee/or our email gisa.ec@graduateinstitute.ch!

News Stories:

· EU Central Climate Scores: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/09/20/europes-central-bank-to-give-companies-climate-scores-when-buying-bonds

· Wyoming Carbon Capture Plant: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/09/15/carbon-capture-wyomings-new-plant-could-be-a-game-changer-in-the-race-to-slow-global-warmi

· EU Solar Power Record: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/09/08/solar-power-helped-the-eu-avoid-29-billion-in-gas-imports-this-summer

In this episode, we invite Dr. Tim Flannery, an acclaimed author, scientist, and climate change mitigation advocate, on our podcast. Dr. Flannery gives us his take on the current situation regarding climate change, what climate science is telling us today, and whether we have surpassed crucial tipping points. He also highlights the importance of communicating and connecting with different parts of society in order to help better align climate agendas. Promising case studies, such as South Australia and Scotland, show us that society is taking the driver’s seat in setting and reaching its own climate targets. Renewables, such as solar, are becoming more economic and cost competitive with coal, pointing to an achievable clean energy transition that must also be coupled with political will.

News Stories:

· Human Urine Fertilizer: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/05/01/human-urine-could-be-an-effective-and-less-polluting-crop-fertiliser 

· European Solar Panels: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/05/11/solar-panels-could-be-on-all-europe-s-public-buildings-by-2025-in-phase-out-of-russian-fos

· Solar Car Park: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/05/11/largest-solar-car-park-in-the-world-opens-at-famous-dutch-festival

The Ecologist Podcast is out with Episode 2 of Season 2! In this episode, Juan Diego, Mariam, and Tanvee put the spotlight on the energy consequences flowing from the Ukraine War, with Prof. Giacomo Luciani, who is teaching this semester at the Institute and is a well-known expert on the geopolitics and economics of energy. Our good news section brings you some positive news about the environment. If you want to read more about these developments, you can find the links below:

News Stories: 

· Solar Night Panels: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/04/08/reverse-solar-panel-technology-still-works-when-the-sun-goes-down

· Fisherman Stops Illegal Trawling: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/19/italian-fisherman-sinks-illegal-trawlers-with-other-worldly-underwater-sculptures

· Swedish, Wooden Skyscraper: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/28/sweden-s-innovative-wooden-skyscraper-captures-as-much-carbon-as-10-000-forests

Hello there! The Environmental Committee is back and we are very excited to be hosting season two of The Ecologist Podcast. For this first episode, Mariam, Tanvee, and Juan Diego, your new hosts from the EC, invite our colleague Arno Ratzinger to share with us his experience with co-founding his own company that deals with biomaterials. We also share with you some positive environmental news; progress is being made! Finally, we hope you have enjoyed the 2022 edition of Sustainability Week Geneva/Switzerland! Stay tuned for more. :)

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News Stories:

The sixth and final episode of the first season (2020). For this season finale episode in collaboration with Collaborate for Social Innovation, Olivier interviews Lorenzo Niola, the Head of Ecosystem Development at Hatch CoLab. Hatch CoLab accelerates the development and scaling up of technologies to solve sustainability issues. It helps startups work with international organisations to develop their technologies and make real change possible. The student contributor for this episode was Matthieu Guillier, a master student at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, and codirector of Collaborate for Social Innovation, a contest bringing together young professionals, students and international organizations to create solutions to current challenges. He added his insight on the pros and cons of applying social innovation to environmental issues, citing his favorite previous entries by contestants.

The fifth episode of the first season (2020). In this episode, Anna and Olivier interviewed Chris Jones, a landscape architect who is opening urban farms in countries throughout the world. He hopes to place circularity and sustainable food systems at the heart of these areas, while also providing quality produce for all. The student contributor for this episode was Jarrod Suda, a Master’s student in International Affairs at IHEID, who added his personal insight on the topic after having done a summer of farming with four families and entrepreneurs across Switzerland.

The fourth episode of the first season (2020). Find out how the Covid-19 crisis affected the world of environmentalism and sustainability! To commemorate the release of 170 Actions to combat climate change brochure produced by the Perception Change Project in partnership with the EC, Anna and Olivier interviewed Tatiana Valovaya, the Director General of the UNOG, about the foreseen environmental impacts of Covid-19. They discussed the role of the UN in implementing policies to reduce global emissions and the important lessons that have come out of this pandemic that may lead to more sustainable environmental solutions.

The third episode of the first season (2020). This time, the hosts are joined by IHEID professor Marc Hufty as they discuss the complex relationship between Lithium and a green economy. This episode is also our first episode in French! Dans ce nouvel épisode, Anna et Olivier discutent avec leurs invités de l’économie verte et de ses limites comme alternative pour protéger notre environnement. On explore ses liens avec la RSE et l’industrie du lithium, en plus de discuter de modèles d’entrepreunariat durable en Amérique Latine.

The second episode of the first season (2020). In this episode, Anna and Olivier discuss the impacts of tourism and how sustainable tourism can be a less impactful way to travel. To explore the subject, we host Ben Gill, who has been working on sustainable tourism projects for more than 15 years with a charity named Bioregional. Pablo, a Graduate Institute’s student from Indonesia, talks about the effects of tourism on his home country.

The first episode of the first season (2020). This episode explores the broad theme of sustainability by addressing a transformative idea: the circular economy. Later on, Anna and Olivier discuss with two students from the Université de Genève about the upcoming Sustainability Week in Geneva.