Climate Action

In this 'Pioneers' episode, two experts at the cutting edge of green tech innovation share their insights and expertise.

Dr Alan James has a vision for sustainable national transport systems for the UK and beyond that are powered by renewable energy. As well as updated grid systems capable of storing captured energy from renewables, he introduces us to exciting concepts such as hyperloops which could cut down inter-city travel times to mere minutes.

Also, Dr James - through his personal example at his own house - demonstrates how it is possible to save thousands of pounds of money and achieve hugely significant reductions in CO2 emissions... by installing the latest green tech in the home.

Sri Hollema is a young inventor and green tech entrepreneur whose innovative product - Mat Zero - creates a warm and comfortable sleeping surface for refugees using renewable energy. Sri shares her advice for innovators and makes a case for why business should - and can - be done in a sustainable way.

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

The usual format of The 17 podcast is to focus each episode on one of the UN's 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) but the next two episodes are different. They will feature Sustainability Pioneers - the experts, thought-leaders and innovators who have shaped sustainability up to the present day, and will address the challenges of the future.

In this Pioneers episode we talk to:

Mike Berner-Lee, an expert on carbon footprints and net zero and a globally-respected expert on the changes needed at a global systemic level to protect the future of the planet.

Jo Fairley, one of the leaders of the Fairtrade movement, who, as co-Founder of Green & Black's chocolate, changed the game in terms of business being done in a sustainable way.

John Elkington, often referred to as a founding father of sustainability, he pretty much coined the term and has written many influential books grappling with a path through the competing pressures of economic thriving and environmental responsibility.

Asking the questions are Kate Hutchinson and Lella Halloum. These interviews were recorded at Yorkshire Sustainability Week 2023.

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

The UN's Sustainable Development Goal 15 is 'Life On Land' - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Dr Wayne Visser has a clear vision on how to go about meeting this goal. He is the author of more than 40 books on sustainability and is recognised as a world expert on nature, society and the economy. In this episode Dr Visser discusses with host Kate Hutchinson how nature can often be forgotten as climate change takes centre stage in environmental discourse and debate.

This episode discusses how we need to put nature and biodiversity at the heart of our current future actions as a planet, because the rates of land degradation and species loss are truly startling. 

Kate and Wayne take a practical and positive approach, breaking down the challenge into 7 missions that will make a real difference - Donating, Off-setting, Greening, Sourcing, Innovating, Transforming, Tipping.

There is no doubt that SDG 15 is a real challenge - so much damage has been done to fauna and flora already, but listeners will leave this episode with a far greater understanding of an often under-featured issue and also with hope... as shown by the examples of change and innovation that Dr Visser is able to highlight.

As a published poet, Wayne Visser takes the chance to end the episode with a poem that warns, challenges and inspires. 

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

This episode, recorded at Yorkshire Sustainability Week, features two powerful young voices. Dev Sharma is a Youth MP in the UK Youth Parliament, chair of BiteBack 2030 and is an influential food activist.

Taking over hosting duties from Kate Hutchinson is Lella Halloum,  a Digital Changemaker and Power of Youth Champion.

Together they discuss SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) with a particular focus on food poverty here in the UK - something that Dev has campaigned strongly on.

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

SDG 13 is 'Climate Action' - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

In this episode Kate Hutchinson is joined by Clover Hogan and Areeba Hamid - two women of great influence within the environmental sector - to address the subject of climate action head-on.

Clover is a 24-year-old climate activist and the founding Executive Director of Force of Nature - a youth non-profit mobilising mindsets for climate action. Areeba Hamid is co-leader of Greenpeace, one of the world's most important campaigning groups on eco matters.

This episode, recorded at Yorkshire Sustainability Week in July 2023, is a passionate and insightful exploration of where we genuinely are on climate change right now... and what can actually, practically be done to make a positive difference at global, national, regional and individual levels.

If you feel that climate change is too big for you to contend with and it's too late to make a difference, then don't despair... but do listen to this episode. 

Clover reveals fascinating insights on how it's in the interests of the big fossil fuel companies to put the responsibility for climate action back on us... and Areeba makes the point that those in power who could force change are actually a tiny number of people who we can influence.

This episode is shocking at times - it lays bare the scale of the challenge and danger facing the planet - but it is also optimistic and practical. You will come away feeling empowered that there are things you can do right now to have a voice, lead change and take action on climate.

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

In this month's episode we cover the essentials of SDG's 9 and 12 by looking back at highlights from episodes 3 and 4 of The 17.

In Episode 3, the expert guest was Eve Roodhouse, Chief Officer for Economy and Culture for Leeds City Council.

In Episode 4, Kate was joined by leading voices Andrew Ostcliffe (Head of E-commerce & Retail Innovation for Oxfam) and Josie Warden (who explores regeneration for business consultancy Volans).

What needs to be done at global, national, local and individual levels to meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals?

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

This month, The 17 takes the chance to revisit its first two episodes and share highlights from both to deliver 'The Essentials' on two crucial SDGs linked to Water and Economy.

In Episode 1,  Niki Roach spoke about SDG 6 - clean water and sanitation for all.

In Episode 2, Tim Frenneaux gave his insights into SDG 8 - decent work and economic growth.

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 12 - Responsible Production and Consumption  

Episode 4 of 'The 17' podcast focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goal 12. It explores how our way of living - especially in the Western world - puts a massive and unsustainable strain on the planet's natural resources. It also discusses what changes in production and consumption (at all levels from individual to global) can pivot us toward progress. The task is huge. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the current state of affairs looks like this:

• Unsustainable production and consumption are the root causes of 3 global crises - climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution
• Our reliance on natural resources is increasing - up 65% from 2000 to 2019
• There are problems in multiple industries. For example, 17% of the world's food is wasted. Safe recycling of electronic waste can be as low as 1.2% in some parts of the world.

Goal 12 raises an important question: Is it possible to produce and consume responsibly when the majority of the world's companies are designed to prioritise profit? If making people want and consume more is profitable, how can we move toward sustainability? 

Experts with retail experience and fashion industry insights 

Andrew Ostcliffe is Head of E-commerce & Retail Innovation for Oxfam and has shaped their strategy aimed at reducing waste by being a conduit for both re-use and recycling. He argues for more innovative uses of materials that are beyond re-use (such as Oxfam inventing a new way to turn waste textiles into a new hard material than be used in shop-fitting, displays and sign-making). But Andrew's main appeal is to us consumers and how we need to rediscover the art of patience:

“Do you really need your new purchase tomorrow morning? Could you wait a little longer? If you can, you help the climate by affecting transportation logistics… and perhaps you start to fight that "quicker, bigger, faster, more” mindset that fuels over-consumption.” - Andrew Ostcliffe, Oxfam

Addressing the goal directly

Each episode of 'The 17' ends with our influential expert guests suggesting practical actions at individual, regional, national and global levels to help move the planet toward meeting the UN Sustainable Development goal in question.

Josie Warden, who explores regeneration for business consultancy Volans, thinks that individually we should start to embrace buying pre-loved clothes as a way of expressing our unique identity. Choosing unique second-hand items displays our taste in a more effective way than buying fast fashion. 

She also proposes that at a global level we take the opportunity to regulate high consumption industries. She makes the point that if the onus is on companies to change themselves it's hard to be the first-mover and be at a competitive disadvantage.
 

Yorkshire's ambition to lead on Sustainability

Both Andrew and Josie point out that Yorkshire's textile heritage can help make the region a leader in making the fashion industry more sustainable. There is expertise and legacy skills that can be harnessed, plus local distinctive sustainable production that can be encouraged and promoted more.

This episode of 'The 17' was recorded at the first ever Yorkshire Sustainability Week which took place earlier in July 2023.. Go to www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com to learn more about the impact of this new event.

Be informed, take action and spread the word

'The 17' is a podcast  dedicated to sustainability. It is structured around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals. They represent, in essence, a plan to protect the future of the planet. We all need to know what they are, take reasonable positive actions in our own lives to help... and spread the word. 

This new sustainability podcast has made quite an impact. Episode 1 was a hit - hitting Number 2 in the UK Apple Podcasts ‘Earth Sciences’ chart - an amazing result for a brand new podcast.. A new episode of ‘The 17’ is released on the 17th of each month and each episode is themed around a different one of the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Follow 'The 17' to make sure you are informed and hear from influential experts about what actions to take to play your part in building a sustainable future. Listen every month, subscribe, leave reviews and tell your friends. 

Resources

Shop sustainably with Oxfam here: https://onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk

Discover what Volans do and why sustainability is at the heart of their values here: https://volans.com

Discover the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Check out the highlights from Yorkshire Sustainability week here: 

https://www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com/

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation 

Episode 3 of 'The 17' podcast focuses on UN Sustainable Development Goal 9. It  reveals just how interconnected our economic systems are and how complex a task making them sustainable will be. The 3 “I’s” (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) must all work together for a sustainable future to be possible - a huge challenge. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the current state of affairs looks like this:

• Globally, only 1 in 3 small manufacturers have access to loans or a line of credit
• Manufacturing growth is increasing globally but stalling in less developed countries
• Hi Tech industries are far more resilient to crises than low tech industries
• The least developed countries have huge challenges in providing universal and affordable access to the internet
• All countries need to upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them environmentally sustainable

Goal 9 raises an important question: Is sustainable industrialisation a valid aim… or a contradiction in terms? Can you continue to grow industry without causing further harm to the planet? 

An optimistic expert with broad experience

Eve Roodhouse has experience in delivering national level digital infrastructure and now has a leadership role for an entire UK city (Leeds) on culture and economy. Her skillset is in bringing varied (and sometimes non-aligned) strands together to deliver progress. She has an unshakeable belief that things can get better and that business and industry (if given the support to innovate) can come up with the solutions to deliver a sustainable future.
 

“Some people would think “My mind is blown - are we ever going to be able to solve all this? We’re all doomed!”… Whereas I look at it and think we’ve got some really brainy people around, we’ve got people who are really committed to solving these challenges. Our question is - How can we go faster? ” - Eve Roodhouse

Eve highlights a few key things that would help us go faster. Digital inclusivity - we must even out (regionally, nationally and globally) reliable and cheap access to the internet. Diversity in innovation - being an entrepreneur is hard, but vital for the innovation needed to meet the planet’s sustainability challenges. Eve argues that it has to become easier for all people, all over the world to have the financial support they need to get new sustainable companies, ideas and products off the ground. 

Start / Stop
 

Each episode of 'The 17' ends with our influential expert guest giving us their Stop/Start - one thing we can all stop doing and start doing right now to help move the planet toward meeting the UN Sustainable Development goal in question.

Eve’s 'Stop' relates to our attitude to industry - she argues we need to stop thinking that business is bad when it comes to the climate. She thinks the exact opposite is true - a properly innovative industrial sector can deliver the solutions the planet needs.

Eve’s 'Start' is about encouraging collaboration and mutual respect between groups sometimes (wrongly in Eve’s opinion) characterised as being on opposite sides of the climate debate. Eve wants campaigners and public sector bodies to start seeing how business and industry can be part of the solution, not seen as part of the problem when it comes to sustainability.

Yorkshire's ambition to lead on Sustainability

Both guest Eve Roodhouse  and host Kate Hutchinson live in Yorkshire and they sense that the county is keen to be a leading regional voice on sustainability. Eve points out that Leeds as a city is the perfect size to lead on innovation - small enough to progress quickly but big enough to scale. Eve believes that Leeds and Yorkshire companies can play a vital role in originating new solutions that can play a part in addressing the climate crisis.

The first ever Yorkshire Sustainability Week takes place this coming July and will have an in-person conference as its centrepiece featuring keynote speakers such as Greenpeace's Areeba Hamid. Go to www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com to find out more and get your tickets.

Be informed, take action and spread the word

'The 17' is a podcast  dedicated to sustainability. It is structured around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals. They represent, in essence, a plan to protect the future of the planet. We all need to know what they are, take reasonable positive actions in our own lives to help... and spread the word. 

This new sustainability podcast has made quite an impact. Episode 1 was a hit - hitting Number 2 in the UK Apple Podcasts ‘Earth Sciences’ chart - an amazing result for a brand new podcast.. A new episode of ‘The 17’ is released on the 17th of each month and each episode is themed around a different one of the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Follow 'The 17' to make sure you are informed and hear from influential experts about what actions to take to play your part in building a sustainable future. Listen every month, subscribe, leave reviews and tell your friends. 

Resources

Find out more about Eve Roodhouse’s work in Leeds here: https://invest-leeds.co.uk/

Discover the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Explore the plans for  Yorkshire Sustainability week here: https://www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com/

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk

UN Sustainable Development Goal Number 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Episode 2 of 'The 17' focuses on Goal 8 and a subject that dominates the thinking of governments globally - the economy. The nature of this goal means it affects all the other Sustainable Development Goals. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the current state of affairs looks like this:

• Global economic recovery post-covid is hampered by - amongst other things - rising inflation and labour market challenges
• Global unemployment is over 6%
• 1 in 10 children are engaged in child labour
• Global annual GDP growth is 2.5% (when it was 4.4% before the Ukraine War)

Goal 8  is also one of the most hotly debated of all the UN’s goals. Will economic growth pull more people out of poverty and kickstart the tech innovation needed to address climate change? Or is a focus on making more money - by definition - unsustainable. This episode triggers a fascinating debate.

An influential expert with a different vision

Tim Frenneaux has worked on both sides of the economic argument. Earlier in his career he worked for institutions that did prioritise growth, but now he is independent and has chosen to follow a different path. He’s moved from shaping economic development policy in the public and private sector, to focusing on designing regenerative economic models.

Tim believes that aiming for economic growth should not be part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, because he thinks that chasing more money pulls in the opposite direction to caring for the planet:

“There's a great phrase that the environment is starting to send invoices back to the economy. We've always had this narrow view of economic growth as the prime thing that would deliver all the other benefits that we wanted from society. It's starting to be shown as the fallacy that it always was.” - Tim Frenneaux

Each episode of 'The 17' ends with our influential expert guest giving us all their Stop/Start - one thing we can all stop doing and one thing we can all start doing right now to help move the planet toward meeting the UN Sustainable Development goal that is the theme of that episode.

Tim’s 'Stop' relates to our attitude to money. We need to stop chasing it and instead focus on wellbeing - our own, our community’s and the planet’s. His 'Start' is about searching out an emotional connection with the people around us. If we can feel the impact of the issues facing our unequal world, we can be motivated to be part of improving the situation.

Yorkshire's ambition to lead on Sustainability

Both guest Tim Frenneaux  and host Kate Hutchinson live in Yorkshire and they sense that the county is keen to be a leading regional voice on sustainability. Tim recognises the increasing passion for sustainability in the region and thinks Yorkshire can be a test bed for best practice that can be shared more widely. 

The first ever Yorkshire Sustainability Week takes place this coming July and will have an in-person conference as its centrepiece featuring keynote speakers such as Greenpeace's Areeba Hamid. Go to www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com to find out more and get your tickets.

Be informed, take action and spread the word

'The 17' is a podcast  dedicated to sustainability. It is structured around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development goals. They represent, in essence, a plan to save the planet. We all need to know what they are, take reasonable positive actions in our own lives to help... and spread the word. 

This new sustainability podcast has made quite an impact. Episode 1 was a hit - hitting Number 2 in the UK Apple Podcasts ‘Earth Sciences’ chart - an amazing result for a brand new podcast.. A new episode of ‘The 17’ is released on the 17th of each month and each episode is themed around a different one of the UN’s seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Follow 'The 17' to make sure you are informed and hear from influential experts about what actions to take to play your part in building a sustainable future. Listen every month, subscribe, leave reviews and tell your friends. 

Resources

Find out more about Tim Frenneaux’s work in regenerative business design: https://timfrenneaux.co/

Discover the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Explore the plans for  Yorkshire Sustainability week here: https://www.yorkshiresustainabilityweek.com/

The 17 is a podcast themed around the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. A new episode is published on the 17th of each month, and explores a different one of the 17 goals in detail. 

The UN SDGs represent an all-encompassing plan to protect the future of our planet, it is our responsibility to know what they are, understand them, and make sure that we are doing our bit to help.

We are a new podcast and keen to grow. Please subscribe on your usual podcast platform, leave reviews and spread the word about the podcast. Thank you.

The 17 is produced by Bwlb - www.bwlb.co.uk