Dan Lavinskas is the founder and CEO of Citera, a Montreal-based company who lead on digital energy and emissions calculations and consultations. And it all started for him when he studied a unit on environmental accounting at university.

Dan tells us about the challenges of founding and building a sustainability business, the need to be willing to fail and start again, and how his company use their data expertise to analyse companies’ energy usage and emissions.

Dan questions how we might address crucial global consumption issues if we are to become more sustainable, enlightens us on what Scopes 1, 2, and 3 are when it comes to emissions for companies, how businesses can get information on all three, and what they need to know and do with that information.

We look at the carbon impact throughout a building’s life cycle, and how you can make decisions that alter that impact; and how politics are changing priorities around ESG, sustainability and energy efficiency in North America.

Plus, we find presenters on the extremes of the coffee divide (and discuss the sustainability credentials of a cuppa), porridge causes more friction, and consider if St Andrews is better known for golf or accounting.

For more details about Citera, see here: https://www.getcitera.com

And for coffee buffs, Dan recommends James Hoffman: https://www.jameshoffmann.co.uk/

How do we get more people to leave the car behind and take the bus? When public transport can make such a positive difference to the planet, the task is to get the public to use it.

Ben Wakerley is a Lancaster University graduate – and long-time friend of Paul – whose lifelong love of buses has taken him on a journey from driving them around Manchester when he was a student to become CEO of Warrington’s Own Buses. The company has an award-winning fleet of 105 electric buses that makes them even better for the environment, but Ben catches the No.1 bus to campus to tell us you still need more to encourage passengers on board.

We consider the natural fit between public transport and sustainability, how better bus networks can help ease congestion and speed up life in big cities, and how we can build bus cultures that match that of London.

Ben explains how the sunk costs of buying a car plays a major part in people deciding to drive or take the bus, and what bus companies need to do to encourage people to make the switch without making it a war on motorists. We find out the challenges – logistically and investment-wise – and benefits – economically and environmentally – of switching from diesel to electric buses; and dispel some of the myths on battery range.

Find out whether the introduction of electric buses has seen passenger growth, how new housing developments need to better consider bus access, and how bus companies across the UK are taking on the sustainability agenda.

Plus, Ben is impressed by Paul’s bus knowledge, we think about our favourite bus routes around the UK, and we uncover Jan’s history working with bus companies.

Find out more about Warrington’s Own Buses: https://www.warringtonsownbuses.co.uk/

If you want to know what the Laffer curve is, look here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve

And discover some of the Great Scenic Bus Journeys here: https://www.greatscenicjourneys.co.uk/

Episode Transcript

Dr Leighanne Higgins and Dr Killian O’Leary are here to talk about their Marketplace & I project, which works with organisations to improve their accessibility for consumers through specialist training.

We find out how they use art and artworks produced by people with a disability and their families at the heart of their project – and which artworks really stand out to the project leaders; and how their work goes beyond shops and cafes to charities, universities, and councils, taking a broad look at issues.

Leighanne and Killian tell us why they are so passionate about ending exclusion from society, and how all of us might face accessibility issues as we enter old age. They show how things have evolved over the last decade when it comes to accessibility attitudes, and how organisations they worked with several years ago are now exemplars of change.

We talk about the difference between visible and invisible disabilities, and how needs differ when entering the marketplace. And we discover how public exhibitions of the artworks led to direct business engagement with key issues.

We look at the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere, uncover myths surrounding the costs of accessibility, and see how employees can be inspired by training.

Plus, why is Jan not a fan of shopping? And why are we talking about Monsters Inc’s Mike Wazowski?

Find out more about the Marketplace and I project and some of the artworks here: The Marketplace and I

 And details of their accessibility training workshops are here: Accessibility training workshops - Lancaster University

This is the website of the Jumbulance Trust, whom we mentioned in the show: Jumbulance Home

And the NeuroChatin podcast can be found here: https://pod.co/neurochatin

Episode Transcript

Farmon Asadov is now a PhD researcher at Lancaster University, but before that he spent time as a forced labourer within Uzbekistan’s cotton industry. Farmon is here to tell us about his experiences in a country that only moved away from widespread forced labour in the last decade.

He also enlightens us the history of his country, why cotton has been such an important pillar of the Uzbek economy, and the intensive labour system that involved two million people being corralled by the government for each year’s harvest.

But most importantly, Farmon tells us how as a student he was sent to remote camps to carry out the cotton harvest, receiving little to no reward, and all framed as being his patriotic duty. We hear about the long hours of hard labour in intense heat, the sometimes-impossible quota targets they were set, and the punishments for not meeting them.

We discover the forces that brought about change to the state-imposed forced labour system, the influence of major corporations in the change, and how Uzbekistan tried to get around sanctions when the world clamped down on exports.

We find out how the cotton industry works now; how new markets have been grown; how supply chains have been built with international support; and how quickly new generations have no memories of the old system.

Plus, do your clothes have a label saying ‘Made in Uzbekistan’? Chances are you’ll be rooting around your wardrobes to find out. Meanwhile, Jan is already planning her next holiday on the old Silk Road to Samarkand – joining 10 million other annual tourists to the country.

Find out more about Farmon and his work within the Pentland Centre here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/about/meet-the-team/farmon-asadov

Discover the Better Cotton Initiative in Uzbekistan: https://bettercotton.org/where-is-better-cotton-grown/better-cotton-in-uzbekistan/

And learn about other groups here:

Cotton Campaign Uzbekistan: https://www.cottoncampaign.org/uzbekistan

Better Work Uzbekistan: https://www.betterwork.org/uzbekistan/

GIZ Uzbekistan: https://www.giz.de/en/downloads/giz2021_en_Factsheet_Cotton_Uzbekistan.pdf

Richard Mason is Positive Business Director at Pentland Brands – who include Speedo, Canterbury, Berghaus, and many more brands under their umbrella – and is a two-times Lancaster University graduate.

Richard talking us through how sustainability threaded through and was inspired by his studies at Lancaster and went on to influence his subsequent professional roles with the likes of AO and Burberry. And as we consider how we each end up in our careers, Jan reveals a boring teenage rebellion that revolved around accounting, Richard reveals how his mum sent him in the right direction.

We find out how sustainability has grown over the last two decades, and how it no longer sits separately from the rest of a company but rather as part of everything.

As we delve into how corporations consider sustainability in their operations, Richard talks about how businesses balance sustainability and innovation with considering consumers – while not being dragged down by unengaging jargon – and the influence of global politics on business operations.

We look at the challenges of brands selling clothes they do not always manufacture in-house, how clothing brands collaborate when it comes to sustainability in their supply chains, the challenges that regulations present to corporations, and how companies can no longer make unfounded green claims.

Plus, can you ski in Belgium? When is a journalist not a journalist? And did we really find some positives about AI?!

Discover more about Pentland Brands: https://pentlandbrands.com/our-brands/

And you can see the six points to check when figuring out if a green claim is genuine, or take part in a quiz on green claims to see if you understand the rules, here: https://greenclaims.campaign.gov.uk/

Episode Transcript

The EU has been a major innovator when it comes to sustainability regulation, but it has not come without controversy. Professor Andreas, from the Copenhagen Business School Centre for Sustainability, joins us to talk about the changes that we have seen in recent years, where they have worked – and where there have been issues.

We talk about why the EU gets involved in sustainability directives and regulations in the first place; discover how they have been a pacesetter in the field; and show how regulations are more than just red tape, but also question how they could be improved.

We touch on the ambitions of the Green Deal, the environmental taxonomy, Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulations (SFDR), the attempts of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to standardise sustainability reporting, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), and try to understand the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). All the while trying not to drown in acronym soup and looking at the whole as one big system.

We see how thousands of companies have been affected – even if they don’t have to report themselves; how politics has pushed back against regulations, with the USA playing a role from outside; where the omnibus comes into everything (it’s not an actual bus); and the ever-changing nature of regulations, and why that can cause confusion.

Plus, we send Goldilocks on the hunt for just the right level of regulation; come to understand the concept of smart compliance – companies following the rules even if they don’t have to; and we look at how other countries are following Europe’s lead, and may even overtake the EU when it comes to regulations.

And we might even mention Brexit – however briefly.

For an overview of the EU’s Green deal: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en

Information about the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) is here: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/sustainable-finance/disclosures/sustainability-related-disclosure-financial-services-sector_en

And to understand the rationale for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/doing-business-eu/sustainability-due-diligence-responsible-business/corporate-sustainability-due-diligence_en

Episode Transcript

Dr Charika Channuntapipat knows more about taxonomies than most people – certainly than Paul – and is perfectly placed to answer all these questions. Charika is a researcher and social scientist based in Bangkok, Thailand, where she works for the Thai Stock Exchange.

She gives us insight into how taxonomies decide which economic activities are environmentally sustainable, what the key objectives are, and how these and their enforcement can vary from country to country, and region to region. We discuss the concepts of the objectives (to which taxonomies seek to channel funding); Do No Significant Harm (DNSH), and its importance when deciding if an action is considered ‘green’; and Minimum Social Safeguards (MSS), which relate to human rights and community impacts.

Charika also tells us about the overall sustainability picture in Thailand – both environmentally and economically – and how the government has strengthened governance around sustainability and is pursuing ambitious climate change goals.

We learn how the Thailand taxonomy is a living document, that can evolve as sustainable technologies and endeavours become obsolete. And we discuss the importance of varied and local expertise in shaping policies, the complications of involving so many voices in its creation, and how different taxonomies around the world can complement each other.

And find out why Paul and Jan have gone down a road of confusion with stuffed badgers.

Enjoy a taste of the fast-moving world of taxonomies around the world here: https://www.climatebonds.net/expertise/taxonomy/world-taxonomies

And see more on the second phase of Thailand’s Taxonomy here: https://www.bot.or.th/en/news-and-media/news/news-20250527.html

Episode Transcript

We’re talking to Barbara Salopek, an innovation strategist; the founder and CEO of Vinco Innovation in Bergen, Norway; a Lecturer at BI Norwegian Business School; and the author of Future-Fit Innovation. She knows her stuff when it comes to innovation and business!

We look at how sustainability (across economic, environmental and social aspects) and innovation intertwine, how each can drive forward and reinforce the other, and how AI can be both a positive and negative force for them both.

Barbara tells us about how innovation means more than just something new – it has to be useful as well – why sustainability and innovation are not one-size-fits all solutions, the importance of long-term innovation over short-term thinking, why we all have innovation inside us – and the problems of lionising certain individuals as innovators, and why it should not be exhausting.

We discuss the problem of treating innovation as a buzzword, take lessons from companies who have failed to innovate in the past, and learn from those who have innovated successfully, and assess what elements can create an environment where innovation and sustainability can flourish – or fail (including politics).

Plus, Jan questions Paul’s levels of innovation and waxes lyrical about Bergen, we try to rehabilitate the reputation of the Luddites, glueless chairs (!), and we dive into the concept of functional fixedness.

You can see more about Barbara’s book Future-Fit Innovation here: https://practicalinspiration.com/book/future-fit-innovation

Discover more about Barbara and the Norwegian Business School in Bergen: https://www.bi.no/en/about-bi/employees/department-of-leadership-and-organizational-behaviour/barbara-salopek/

Find out about the Luddites: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/why-did-the-luddites-protest/

And for everyone looking for 101 uses for Vaseline, look no further: https://www.vaseline.com/za/en/articles/ingredients/hundred-and-one-uses-for-vaseline-petroleum-jelly.html

Episode Transcript

Sanjay Rishi is a leadership coach with experience around the world, and the founder of @intersections. He is also an Entrepreneur in Residence in Lancaster University Management School, and he comes to us having seen how sustainability and leadership go together (or not).

Sanjay talks us through his nomadic existence, a stint as a film student, and his life consulting on organisational change and coaching leaders – via his studies at Lancaster.

We take a dive into transitions – where individuals and companies are moving from one reality to another, and where old tools and skillsets are no longer relevant. In this context, what are sustainable transitions, and how do you build an organisation and yourself to make it possible?

We look at the conflicts between attitudes and behaviours, the importance of knowing your own role and story – not just what your organisation expects of you, and how intent among leaders plays a big role no matter where you are in the world.

How do geography and generations play a role in approaches? Can younger leaders pull themselves away from the idea that success equals fast cars, big houses and private planes to move towards a more environmentally friendly approach? And how can organisations rewire themselves to consider the sustainability of their people?

Plus, is Jan a good leader? Is Paul planning to start a dictatorship? And do we use the word joy enough?

Find out more about Sanjay here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjay-rishi-26-intersections

And read about his thoughts on the interplay between families and business for leaders here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_20/38/

Episode Transcript

More than 1.1 billion people on Earth are aged 60 and over – this is how old people are defined (whether you may like it or not), and at 65 you are seen as elderly. That number is only set to grow and grow. So, how do we manage social care and protection?

Dr Qisha Quarina, from Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is working with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the costs of caring for older people in Indonesia, and returns to Lancaster to discuss her work.

We look at how the demographic shifts in Indonesia, and the long-term social security situation in the country, including who pays for elderly care once people retire, and what happens in a nation where nursing and retirement home networks still need to be developed.

Discover how the burden of elderly care often falls on daughters and daughters-in-law, the problems that arise when people work in informal sectors with no pension schemes, and what governments need to think about when planning for future societies.

There is time to discuss pensions and retirement age, the relevance of Logan’s Run to modern-day society, the political implications of the issues, the role of the ILO in liaising with governments, and the stigma of putting parents and grandparents into care (including Paul’s cut-price plans for his dad).

Plus, Jan gets touchy about her age, Paul ponders flossing, Qisha joins a disturbingly large group of people who miss the Lancaster weather when they move away, and we clarify for our listeners that Indonesia is more than just Bali (a whole 17,000 islands more).

Find out more about Qisha’s university here: https://ugm.ac.id/en/

And if you want to remind yourself about Logan’s Run, look no further: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan%27s_Run_(film)

Episode Transcript

Alfie Stephenson-Boyles is an architect with Donald Insall Associates, who specialise in conservation and heritage architecture. He brings his experience across working on ancient buildings and new builds to the show, and of working with clients to show them the impact sustainable actions can have.

Alfie tells us how sustainability has grown as a key aspect for clients, and we look at the many ways sustainability and architecture go together; the key issue of decarbonisation in new constructions and renovations; and the importance of considering sustainability from the start of a project and not putting it in as a late-stage ‘eco-bling’ bolt-on.

Discover the difficulties of working in heritage buildings – and the opportunities to make changes; the myths and reality of Passivhaus, and the concept’s application both around the world and in Jan’s home; and the problems with retrofitting UK homes to – in theory – make them more energy efficient and sustainable.

Learn why you should never speak to strangers on a train; what architects actually do – it’s much more than drawing nice pictures with crayons (though Alfie is a self-professed colouring-in specialist); whether Paul rabbits on too much; and about the oil age of architecture.

Plus, ask yourself if Windsor Castle has a podcast studio.

You can find more information about the idea of ‘Passivhaus’ here: https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/what_is_passivhaus.php

And the wonderfully named Association for Environmental Conscious Building can be found here: https://aecb.net/

Episode Transcript

Professor Alfredo De Massis, of Lancaster University Management School; the University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy; and IMD, in Switzerland, has worked on family businesses and entrepreneurship for decades – striving to produce knowledge that these firms can use to their advantage.

He joins us to look at why family business decisions are not always rational, why the generation in control of a firm is key to sustainability, and the differences made by geography, company size, industry, and the involvement of external experts at board level.

We look at why some family firms want to have a positive social impact and are more embedded in the community, the importance of transitions in leadership in affecting change in sustainability attitudes, and the differences between a business-first and a family-first family business.

Plus, Alfredo reveals why he is the black sheep of his family, we consider what AI will mean for the future of sustainability in businesses, Paul gets muddled by Gen-Z, and Jan is mesmerised by an Italian accent.

Read more about Alfredo’s work on environmental practices in family firms here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_23/50/

For more information about Lancaster University’s Centre for Family Business, see here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/research/areas-of-expertise/centre-for-family-business/

And discover more about Alfredo here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/alfredo-de-massis

Episode Transcript

Paul puts his decades of sports reporting experience to good use as we talk to Dr Idlan Zakaria, from the University of Birmingham.

Idlan returns to her old Lancaster University stamping grounds and brings with her passions for both football and sustainability. She talks us through a love of football sparked by the 1982 World Cup and nurtured through years of supporting – to Paul’s annoyance firstly Manchester United, but now mainly Arsenal Women – watching, playing, and then coaching, and how sustainability ties into it all.

From the greenhouse gas emissions of clubs, fans and major global and continental tournaments, to the ‘world’s greenest football club’ Forest Green Rovers and their vegan-only diets across staff and players, and the rationality (or lack thereof) of supporting Barrow AFC, we look at how the beautiful game affects the planet.

We analyse the climate impact of constructing and maintaining stadiums – from carbon footprints to single-use plastic waste to water use to floodlight usage; become diverted by the Olympics; talk fast fashion football-style; consider the huge pay disparity between world-famous players and other club staff; and praise the power of grassroots organisations in instigating change among fans and clubs.

Can footballers be sustainability influencers? Can more clubs follow the Forest Green model? Why do clubs have so many different shirts?

Plus, Paul takes the chance to have a rant or two; Jan faces awkward questions about football; Dundee United, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle take some unwarranted abuse; the definition of a good Geordie comes into question; and Jan is bafflingly compared for the first – and probably last – time to pop megastar Taylor Swift!

Read more about sports sustainability charity Pledgeball, who support fans and players to take meaningful climate action, here: https://pledgeball.org/about-us/

And you can discover more about Forest Green Rovers – minus why other teams don’t like them – here: https://www.fgr.co.uk/another-way/

Episode Transcript

Duncan Pollard, Honorary Professorial Fellow with the Pentland Centre, joins us to expand on his previous discussion of business and biodiversity with a talk about helping species move.

With a focus on agriculture, forestry, lineal infrastructure (such as power lines or railways cutting across landscapes), and asset owners, Duncan looks at the actions that companies have taken, and what they might do going forward.

We talk about the dynamism of nature, what a nature corridor can be – both naturally and artificially – why governments and business have focused on protected areas rather than connectivity in the past, and the importance of neighbouring organisations working together to make a substantial difference.

Discover how golf courses can encourage nature, whether there are any companies reporting well on their dependency on nature, and what might be coming next.

Plus, is Jan’s garden a menace to her neighbours? How has this podcast aged its hosts? And what has Jan geeking out?

For more information on the Pentland Centre’s Business and Biodiversity Knowledge and Action Hub, see here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/activities/knowledge-and-action-hubs/business-and-biodiversity/

And details of the free business briefings from the Pentland Centre can be found here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/activities/knowledge-and-action-hubs/business-and-biodiversity/biodiversity-literacy/

The Global Reporting’s standard on biodiversity can be found here: https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/standards-development/topic-standard-for-biodiversity/

For more detail on Suzano’s restoration in Brazil activities see here: https://www.suzano.com.br/news/suzano-will-restore-cerrado-atlantic-forest-and-amazon-biomes and see the funding model they have adopted here: https://www.suzano.com.br/en/sustainability/planet/environment-and-biodiversity/biomas

Episode Transcript

Dniprotech University, in Dnipro, is in an area that has experienced power outages, bombing, drones and jets flying over. Yet, they have maintained a full education programme – utilising blended learning – and continue to build relationships with business and with international partners.

We spoke to Kseniia Tiukhmenova, Olena Krasovska and Tetiana Kuvaieva, from Dniprotech, in late 2025 about how they are operating in such a difficult situation.

Lancaster is twinned with Dniprotech as part of Universities UK’s Twin for Hope initiative, supporting Ukrainian universities through the crisis in matters relating to the brain drain, resilience, research, skills and knowledge exchange. We learn how this works, and the benefits both sides are gaining from the new relationship – even if our guests are too polite to admit they had not heard of Lancaster before the partnership started!

We find out about how a university in the industrial heart of Ukraine has grown and developed, how it has built expertise around sustainability, the enthusiasm of students for these topics, and the setting up a new rival (or partner) to the Pentland Centre.

Kseniia, Olena and Tetiana tell us about the power of universities in uniting people in a time of war, the importance of relationships with business, and the strength they gain from their endeavours now as they plan for post-war recovery.

Plus, Paul finds something positive to say about rankings, Jan smiles as the word benchmarking comes up unprompted, and there is talk of the legendary status of Ukrainian soil.

Find out more about the Twin for Hope initiative here: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/creating-voice-our-members/campaigns/twinforhope-uk-universities-standing

Episode Transcript

Susan Murray is Director of the David Hume Institute, an Edinburgh-based economics-focused thinktank – despite not classing herself as an economist.

She joins us to talk about the importance of diversity in economic thinking, how resources are allocated across society, the changing nature of migration over the last 40 years, and three major projects the David Hume Institute is involved in.

We discuss the importance of local communities and place in contributing to shaping action and policy, how to reach and include ‘normal people’ in otherwise ignored places, the importance of recognising what we all have in common, and what it actually means to be thriving.

Susan introduces us to the Great Risk Transfer, how people consider risk in their own lives, the importance of having resources to manage those risks, and why people don’t always trust organisations such as insurance providers.

We look at public attitudes towards the economy and how they change; what people wanting to save rather than spend can tell us; and how economic and sustainability issues tie in with politics at a national level.

Plus, we discover how sustainability became a part of Susan’s life when she was young – via the media of Blue Peter and Raymond Briggs, the cause of Save the Whales, and under the threat of nuclear war.

And finally, we ask the important questions: When is an economist not an economist? What’s the difference between an accountant and an economist? Do accountants and economists ever walk into bars together? To hear if we ever get to the punchlines of these and other bad economics jokes, listen in.

To find out more about the David Hume Institute, visit: https://davidhumeinstitute.org/

Episode Transcript

On our 100th episode, we welcome Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, the former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability in the Malaysian government, to tell us about his career, and how he has seen governments around the world tackle sustainability challenges.

Nik has gone from the self-professed school geek to being an elected legislator in his homeland, a minister in government, and a part of major international climate meetings such as COP. Now he gets to take part in our podcast centenary celebrations.

Discover how the environment sits in the political world; how the youth voice and voters can be influential on politicians – and the risk for government of ignoring them and climate change issues; and the power of the people in making an impact in saving the planet.

Niks tells us about the major issue of waste – both plastic and electronic – in Malaysia, and how the world contributes to the issue; the attitudes across ASEAN to waste, and the challenges of finding a common voice; and his views of the attitudes of some leading global politicians that climate change is hokum.

We discuss whether Jan is the Kevin Bacon of the sustainability world – and discover Jan’s shocking lack of knowledge of Mr Bacon’s career; the parallels between BBC sitcom Yes Minister and real life; and how Nik has learned a lot from groundbreaking politicians from around the world.

Discover Nik’s book Saving the Planet here: https://www.penguin.sg/book/saving-the-planet/

And Nik even has his own Wikipedia page, so you can find out more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nik_Nazmi

Episode Transcript

Professor Christina Hicks, from Lancaster Environment Centre, is a leading expert on fisheries – particularly in Africa – and the broader food system, and she gives us an introduction to the global trade in nutrients. Her work in West Africa shows how fish provide otherwise unavailable nutrients in places where plants make up the bulk of the diet. 

While in the UK seafood is recommended as part of a wider diet, in these countries it is a key source of micronutrients and protein for the population – especially those who are less well-off. 

Find out the effects of fish farming and the fishmeal industry on ecosystems; the health, environmental, economic and social impacts of moving from local economies of fishers in canoes to bigger boats and factories owned by companies in countries thousands of miles away catching these fish; and the difficulties in policing fishing regulations designed to protect local waters. 

We discover how large corporations build a presence on the Senegal coast – and how it is hard to uncover the ownership of vessels fishing in West African waters; the gender-related effects of machines replacing workers; why Jan is a big fan of haddock; and whether Christina will become a supervillain! 

Plus, is there anything you can do as a consumer to help solve the problems? 

See here for more details on Christina and her work: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/christina-hicks 

Find out more about the People and the Ocean Knowledge and Action Hub of the Pentland Centre here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/activities/knowledge-and-action-hubs/people-and-the-ocean/  

Episode Transcript

Dr James Heath, from Lancaster Environment Centre, is one of the team taking daily readings from the Hazelrigg Weather Station, which measure temperature and rainfall, and contributes to long-term Met Office records. He has always been obsessed with the weather, and recent years have brought a lot to think about in his role.

We learn about Hazelrigg’s origins; James’s family links to the Met Office – and the lack of Bill Giles and Michael Fish at mealtimes; why the way we manually measure the climate in the long-term has not changed in decades; and discover what the term ‘since records began’ when we hear about record-breaking weather events.

Find out the limits of weather stations when it comes to recording patterns beyond a small geographic area; the differences between the weather and the climate; and the changes Hazelrigg has tracked that are reflected across the globe – both for heat and for rainfall levels.

Plus, are the Norwegians – and their natural gloom – really so much better at forecasting weather in Lancaster? Is Jan always such a slacker when it comes to homework?

See links to the Hazelrigg Weather Station here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/environmental-science/facilities/

Read about the record breaking weather patterns from spring 2025 here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/lancaster-scientists-measure-record-breaking-spring-weather

And find out more about the lawnmower aurora incident here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37168678

Episode Transcript

As we wonder whether sustainability is even the right word to reach right audience, Florencia Lujani, co-founder and Strategy Director of ACT Climate Labs, joins us to talk about language and communication in winning the battle.

Florencia works with the likes of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth, bridging creativity and strategy to drive their messages home. She talks us through the campaigns ACT have worked on to shift attitudes and behaviours around the world – from Brazil to the West Midlands.

We learn about the Persuadables – the crucial middle ground of the population who believe in climate change but need to be drawn into action or change and away from climate denial. And we take optimism from companies continuing to pursue sustainability plans despite any changes in the political winds.

Florencia tells us about the key to effective advertising, the problem of false messaging, and the trap of communicating only with those who are already convinced – leaving other to think action is ‘not for people like me’. And she moves from local communities to the United Nations, working across all levels of society.

Paul admits his bafflement at the non-stop stream of sustainability messaging he is exposed to on his way to work. Jan’s pub discussions are in the spotlight. Roger Moore and Tony Curtis get long-overdue praise. And Jan struggles to accept Paul’s assertion she is an extremist.

For more details on the Overton Window concept, which is definitely nothing to do with stained glass, see here: https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow

And find out more about ACT Climate Labs here: https://www.actclimatelabs.org/

Anna Cockman, Head of Estate Development (Project Delivery) at Lancaster University, was once the hands of BBC2 (really), but is now overseeing a huge project to build the Net Zero Energy Centre.

After discovering exactly what project management is, we discuss the challenges universities face when it comes to declaring a climate emergency, and achieving Net Zero targets, and how approaches to sustainability in project management have changed in recent years.

We discuss the importance of messaging for major construction projects and their impacts, the challenge – and criticality – of carrying out life carbon assessments, and find out what the Net Zero Energy Centre is and how it will impact Lancaster’s carbon footprint.

Among the big questions, we ask: Is Jan good at managing projects? How niche can specialist topics be on Mastermind? And, is watching energy silos being delivered a good use of your weekend?

We reminisce over old BBC trailers, Jan offends Australians (again), Paul discovers the person responsible for his workplace conditions, Anna bemoans the impact of The Apprentice on the image of project managers, and Shortland Street gets some more well-earned publicity.

Read an outline of Lancaster University’s Net Zero Energy Project here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/facilities/estates/net-zero-energy-project/

And find more background on Lancaster University’s approach to sustainability here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sustainability/annual-report/

Episode Transcript

A concerted effort to hunt golden eagles led to a massive reduction in their numbers in the 1800s. But why were they persecuted? And what can we learn from how many were killed to tell us how many there used to be?

Jason Harrison, who combines being a PhD researcher at Lancaster University with being Jan’s husband, joins us to discuss his work on sustainable mountain development in Scotland, and the eagles who live there in particular.

We discover what was happening in the Scottish Highlands when the eradication efforts stared, skirt around the politics of the Highland Clearances, talk about why landowners wanted rid of eagles (and foxes), and how they drove golden eagles from their habitats.

Valuable bounties were offered on eagles, their chicks and eggs – and you needed gruesome proof to claim the rewards – and it led to up to 75% of the population being wiped out. This is a tale of man against beast, where man was the definite victor, and where – to Jan’s delight – accounting record keeping is the key to understanding historical biodiversity baselines.

We discuss how place names can tell us where eagles used to nest; look at the status of the birds in Scotland and England today – and how the fate of England’s hen harriers now harks back 200 years; and wonder why there is no specific Sustainable Development Goal for mountains.

How do Wordsworth and the Lord of the Rings fit into all this? And what’s the story with Balamory?

Discover more about the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Centre for Mountain Studies here: https://www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/subject-areas/centre-for-mountain-studies/

And see the paper by Agetsuma on estimating previous populations from hunting data: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0198794

Episode Transcript

It’s time for us to bring the law back to Transforming Tomorrow, to look at how the legal system is evolving as the climate is changing.

Camilo Cornejo Martinez, a PhD researcher in Lancaster University School of Law, joins us once again to discuss how verdicts and advisory opinions from across Europe, the Americas, and the world are shaping nations’ attitudes and behaviours.

We look at how the courts view the impact of human activity on the seas, the responsibilities of states when it comes to climate change, why even advisory opinions – and we explain what those are – have weight in courtrooms and law-making, and ask how does denouncing climate treaties affect a country’s legal position?

We discover how a group of students from Pacific states have made a major impact on international rulings; the obligations of nations to abide by the likes of the Kyoto Protocol – whether or not they signed the agreement; and how the International Court of Justice has surprised even the most optimistic climate lawyers with their opinions.

Plus, pirate courts!

Discover more about Camilo and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/about/meet-the-team/camilo-cornejo-martinez

And these are links to explanations about the various cases and advisory opinions that we discussed with Camilo:

Klimaseniorinnen case from the European Court of Human Rights (April 2024) - https://www.netzerolawyers.com/news-events/failure-to-act-on-climate-change-violates-human-rights-the-klimaseniorinnen-case

Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea -ITLOS- (May 2024) - https://www.biicl.org/blog/77/a-commentary-on-itlos-advisory-opinion-on-climate-change

Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (July 2025) - https://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2025/07/08/a-blueprint-for-rights-based-climate-action-the-inter-american-court-of-human-rights-advisory-opinion-on-the-climate-emergency/

Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the International Court of Justice (July 2025) - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10354/

Episode Transcript

We bring together Donald Trump, satellites, Greenland, rocket launches, polar bears – and penguins – to explore the connections between the Arctic and Outer Space.

Dr Mia Bennett, from the University of Washington, has seen a polar bear in Svalbard, but her expertise is on the indigenous people of the Arctic and how the space industry has grown in their homeland and affected their lives.

She tells us how her dreams of being an astronaut evolved into an interest in the Earth’s poles, and then the links between them in the forms of satellites, inter-continental missiles, and spaceports.

We go back to the origins of the connections between the Arctic and space, when stars were used to navigate and to monitor the seasons; how the threats of the Cold War turned the Arctic into a region to monitor space, and the impacts of this development on the land and the local peoples.

We discover how populations have been displaced and damaged by colonial and militaristic expansions, how land and sea have been polluted by radioactive waste, how food systems have been disrupted, and how Trump’s Greenland obsession fits into the bigger historical picture.

But we also learn how the growth in the satellite industry – particularly Elon Musk’s Starlink network – has brought jobs to new areas through ground stations in the harsh environs of the far north, and that there are other benefits for the indigenous communities as well.

Jan dredges up her worst snow-related puns, Paul ponders why he keeps forgetting Greenland is an island, and we ask, what is the perfect number of penguins in a fight?

Mia and Klaus Dodds have written a book about the future of the Arctic, Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic. Discover it here: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300259995/unfrozen/

Read about the Outer Space Treaty here: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.html

And find out more about Mia and her work here: https://www.cryopolitics.com 

Episode Transcript

Professor Nick Barter, from Griffith University, in Australia, returns to discuss the concept of generational governance – where organisations consider the next generation in their actions.

Nick tells us whether we are closer to the Future Normal being normal now, looks at how we think 30 years ahead, and reveals the importance of bringing younger people into the boardroom – and even having next generation advisory boards.

We consider existing examples of companies with future boards in place; talk about how Wales and Finland set examples for other countries to follow; wonder how we can help the next generation move in the right direction; and dig deeper into Nick’s survey of companies across the UK, Japan, and Australia, to see what it reveals about attitudes and practices around generational governance.

Plus, why is everything 5 out of 10 in Japan, how have we lost sight of the meaning of sustainability, what are the origins of Nintendo, and – possibility most importantly – how sustainable are the Moomins?

See how Wales has integrated future generations into its thinking: https://futuregenerations.wales/

Take a glimpse into the Finnish Committee for the Future: https://www.parliament.fi/EN/valiokunnat/tulevaisuusvaliokunta/Pages/default.aspx

Read about Dr Innan Sasaki’s work on ancient companies in Japan: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/research/fifty-four-degrees/old-and-crafty

And discover more about Nick’s work on his Future Normal site: https://futurenormal.net/

Episode Transcript

If you answered yes to any of these questions, did you think about the energy consumption and sustainability consequences?

We tell you how much energy a ChatGPT search uses – and as generative AI becomes increasingly commonplace, and infrastructure spring up around the world to cope with demand, we need to understand these often-invisible costs that come with it. It might even cost you a loaf from your local bakery!

Professor Adrian Friday – still not a fan of the Sustainable Development Goals – returns to talk to us about data centres, what they are, how big they are, and what happens in them; who they provide services for; their need for rare earth metals; and the need to cool and power them – and to deal with the heat they generate. It turns out data centres use more energy each year than Italy – and the demand is growing faster than the system can cope with.

We discover why Adrian’s picture (with silly hat included) is stuck on Paul’s fridge; contemplate the logistical difficulties of putting a data centre at the bottom of the sea; discuss the potential need to take an army of ninjas to change a lightbulb; realise the importance of AI to the survival of the Welsh language; and rant about the blanket default of AI across all of life.

And remember, to turn off the AI functionality of a ‘normal’ Google search, simply type ‘-ai’ at the end of your search.

A UK Parliament research briefing provides an entry point to our discussions: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10315/

And discover more about Adrian’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/people/adrian-friday

Episode Transcript

We return to the topic of modern slavery, this time with someone who has experience on the ground in the UK, Greece, Australia, and Bangladesh, and who has some shocking tales to tell.

Kyla Raby is an antislavery specialist completing her PhD at the University of South Australia. She has designed and managed support services for refugees and survivors of trafficking, is a Non-Executive Director of Be Slavery Free, and was an inaugural member of the New South Wales Anti-Slavery Commissioner's advisory panel. In other words, she knows her stuff.

We uncover the extent of human trafficking into the UK and the development of response services; how Modern Slavery Acts in Britain and Australia changed the situation in the two countries; the problem of forced marriage and domestic violence; the importance of recognising the impact of trauma on trafficking victims and building support structures; and the problem of relying on consumer behaviour to force corporations to change their actions on modern slavery in their supply chains.

Kyla talks us through her time in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee camp on the border of Bangladesh and Myanmar – home to around 1.4 million people (which would make it the second-largest city in the UK). This is a hotspot for human trafficking, and one negatively affected by cuts to global aid funding. And we compare this with Greece in 2016, towards the end of the refugee crisis.

Kyla is also Australian, prompting Jan to test Paul out on his knowledge of the differences between New Zealand and Oz, and create a new species of koala bears made from kiwi fruit.

Watch the Everyday Slavery series here: https://www.youtube.com/@Everyday_Slavery

Find out about the Palermo Protocol, designed to present, suppress and punish trafficking in persons: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/protocol-prevent-suppress-and-punish-trafficking-persons

And the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act: https://oag.ca.gov/SB657

And, finally, discover more about Kyla and her work here: https://people.unisa.edu.au/Kyla.Raby#About-me

Episode Transcript

It may not be covered in the TV forecasts, but it affects our lives – and on technology.

This is not Michael Fish and telling us about rain on Mars, or storms on Jupiter, but how solar activity influences us on earth.

Jim Wild is President-Elect of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, and is perfectly placed to tell us all about what space weather is.

He brings us up to (light) speed about solar flares, predicting the sun’s behaviour, how space operators can protect themselves, how it might affect you and your phone, the importance of the Earth’s magnetic field (and its similarities with the shields on the Starship Enterprise), monitoring the aurora borealis, and his work with UK infrastructure operators on the risk of space weather to their operations.

Plus, we learn about the Carrington Event in 1859, when telegraph lines went haywire after a giant solar flare erupted. What might happen if something similar were to occur in the modern electronic world? How often do these big solar events happen (and could they be bigger)? And how does it all tie in with the Northern Lights over Lancaster and GPS glitches for farmers and their tractors in California?

You can find out about Aurora Watch UK here: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

See the latest space weather forecasts from the UK Met Office here: https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/specialist-forecasts/space-weather

And discover more about Jim and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/people/jim-wild

Episode Transcript

Paul and Jan look back over the series and discover themes that run through our guests’ thoughts on sustainability – whether they were with us to talk about plastics or biodiversity, Morecambe Bay or Malaysia.

It’s a chance to talk about how things have already changed since we talked to some guests and pick out our favourite moments from a packed series.

We consider the recognition of the importance of long-term resilience and determination to change and progress; realise just how wide a reach there is to the sustainability world; celebrate what once was theory being turned into practice; and place hope in the next generation.

Plus, we find the time to discuss which of our hosts is most likely to murder the other (and Jan’s possession of a new sword); give Luxembourg it’s due when it comes to asteroid mining; and lament Paul’s ice hockey tipping prowess.

Transforming Tomorrow will return for a third season in autumn 2025.

Episode Transcript

Find out what businesses are doing to address biodiversity concerns, and how they can be helped to improve their actions.

Dr Michael Burgass is from Biodiversify, a consultancy company that uses cutting-edge science to develop biodiversity strategies for some of the world’s largest companies. He has long been interested in how people interact with their environment.

As businesses have become more interested and engaged with biodiversity, Michael is working with companies who are at the heart of some of the planet’s biggest issues. The mainstreaming of biodiversity into company planning means just about all organisations are becoming involved.

We learn about spatial science, physical risk and transition risk, look at action and implementation over discussion and policy, discuss why big companies are listening to external experts when it comes to biodiversity education, the impacts of biodiversity loss on supply chains, and how the Science Based Targets for Nature can help to validate company efforts.

Find out more about Biodiversify here: https://biodiversify.com/

And learn about the Science Based Targets for Nature here: https://sciencebasedtargetsnetwork.org/how-%20it-works/the-first-science-based-targets-for-nature/

Episode Transcript

Dr Alex Ryan, Director and Founder of Learning Energy, returns to her old Lancaster University haunts to tell us about her work inside and outside universities on the ‘great big gobbling monster’ of sustainability. Alex helps people and organisations address sustainability challenges: work is not always easy.

We discuss the evolution of understanding and action in universities over the last 20 years; the importance of changes to culture and strategy; how to place the common good ahead of self-interest when making changes; and how the university sector mirrors other areas of society and the economy when it comes to attitudes and behaviours around sustainability.

We discover how a positive mindset change across an organisation can help overcome ‘change humps’; the essential role of universities in brokering systems change; and how to think differently around reporting and numbers.

Plus, Jan questions her own knowledge and skills, we discover Paul and Alex’s differing experiences of Lancaster University Library and its fines system, the Great Vowel Shift gets belated publicity, and we consider becoming the Pentland Centre for Love and Justice in Business.

Read the Advance HE Measuring What Matters report here: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/measuring-what-matters

Episode Transcript

But in recent decades, overuse of antibiotics has led to the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This evolutionary response has been accelerated as humans have developed more and more antibiotics – leading to a biological arms race.

Dr Oskar Nyberg, from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Dr Patrik Henriksson, from Leiden University and the Stockholm Resilience Centre, are part of a project looking into the effects of antibiotics in the food system on humans and the animals involved.

We take a deep dive into Thai shrimp farming (and contrast them with the shrimp living in Morecambe Bay), learn more about aquaculture, and ecotoxicology in the marine environment, consider how long it takes and what conditions are needed to raise a shrimp (they do not eat sausages), discover how you measure how much antibiotics are in a shrimp (something that many farmers do not know themselves), and discuss why the drugs are used and how you can avoid needing them in the first place.

Oskar and Patrik tell us more broadly about superbugs, the regulations and protections in place for using antibiotics in farming, and the differences between human and animal treatments.

Plus, Paul’s aversion to penicillin, Oskar’s history in the culinary industry, and why is Patrik in a German beer garden?

Discover more about the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Keystone project: https://seabos.org/anti-microbial-resistance-amr-keystone-project/

Episode Transcript

Dr Chiara Donelli, from the University of Venezia, is an expert in cultural sustainability and she is here to keep us informed. She explains why culture does not have a specific SDG assigned to it, how it fits into the big picture, and how it has been involved in sustainability activity for longer that you might think.

Taking Venice as a prime example, we look at sustainable business models for tourism, the problems of over-tourism – and how the industry can be just as destructive as other more obviously damaging sectors – and how a place can lose its very nature and identity through an excess of visitors.

We discuss Venice’s new tourist tax, conservation at Machu Pichu, population displacement in the Dolomites ahead of the Winter Olympics, Lake District honeypots, Morecambe jetties, and much more.

Find out why Paul is speaking Italian – while the Biennale leaves Jan flummoxed; why Venice at one point needed to stimulate tourism; the role of hippies in the sustainability movement; and the arts as advocacy for positive change.

 Discover more about Chiara and her work here: https://www.unive.it/data/people/25748316

Episode Transcript

Professor Sreevas Sahasranamam, from the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow, pipped Jan and Paul to the Management Publication of the Year Award – but do they hold a grudge? No, they don’t!

Sreevas is a keen proponent of communicating research and expertise in novel and accessible ways. His blogs aim to reach and engage policymakers and government, as well as the public, opening previously inaccessible doors for him, such as opening up access to the world of the G20, and giving his work new impact potential.

We talk through Sreevas’s work in his India homeland looking at the role of digital ecosystems among entrepreneurs, and on how rural entrepreneurship ecosystems are built in remote communities, as well as more broadly on the links between the Sustainable Development Goals and entrepreneurship.

Sreevas has found that despite a lot of talk about entrepreneurs in the Global North engaging with sustainability, it is those in the Global South who are taking the lead – where the impacts of climate change are being felt more keenly.

Discover the difference between SDG awareness and SDG action, the familial links to natural resources in parts of India, and the benefits to business of the spread of cheap internet access across that country.

Plus, buying chai from a small roadside business with contactless payments, the rise of the Chinese sustainability market, and the benefits of QR codes (even for accounting).

Find out more about Sreevas and his work here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/sreevassahasranamam/

And read some of his award-winning blogs here: https://sites.google.com/view/sreevas/media?authuser=0

Episode Transcript

 In the first of our Local Heroes episodes, Steve Parkman, from Cumbrian design studio 42 Creative Thinking talks us through the changes he has made to his company’s operations to make it more sustainable.

Steve has been part of the Transforming Tomorrow journey since before it was a podcast, and he discusses his learning journey in both design and sustainability. We discuss how sustainability has changed fundamentally the role of a designer – when they work in both print and digital; how Steve has switched to solar power for his design work; and the attitudes of the businesses and customers Steve works with towards being greener.

Steve talks us through how print and paper products can be sustainable, the growth of European forests in recent years, how green servers can reduce digital carbon footprints, and the advantages small businesses have when they decide they want to make a switch in their operations.

Discover why Jan turned down the chance to cycle to Malaysia, how the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fits into everything, whether Paul and Jan understand a word of Welsh, and why Steve has gone off the grid.

Find out more about 42 Creative Thinking here: https://www.42creative.co.uk/

Episode Transcript

What if, instead of a crane, you charge by the number of lifts it carries out; if instead of selling a physical tyre, you provide a certain amount of miles; if a company offers you so many air miles from an engine? These are all examples of servitization that already exist – it even applies in industrial food packaging.

Lancaster University Management School’s Professor Andreas Schroeder is a servitization expert, working with numerous firms on how they can change their operations to move to a servitization model to benefit their operations, and others on how they can use their data in new ways.

He tells us about the key differences between products and services; how servitization blurs the boundaries on relationships with customers and suppliers – are they now more like partners?; the differences between rental agreements and servitization; and why it can be easier for smaller companies to pivot their operations to this model.

Discover some of servitization’s success stories, how it can affect a company’s carbon footprint and align profit with sustainability, how it encourages an operation to design and create products for service, repair and circularity, and how data collection, analysis and optimisation can identify where value opportunities lie and improve practical operations.

Paul lets his anger at American spelling take over; Jan discovers a new friend who can put on a Kiwi accent; and everyone becomes fascinated by tyres, hydrogen-powered diggers and aeroplane engines.

Find out more about Andreas and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/andreas-schroeder

Episode Transcript

As a sustainable travel option that is enjoying a resurgence in Europe – and, perhaps surprisingly, in China – they link big cities and are evolving to meet modern needs.

Lancaster University Management School Marketing Lecturer Dr Nicole Bulawa may never have taken the midnight train to Georgia, but her work on sleeper trains tells her that Murder on Orient Express and From Russia With Love may not be the most accurate depictions of the medium.

She tells us why sleepers went into decline and how attitudes towards sustainability played a role in why they came back; the importance of speed – and sometimes the lack of it; how services have evolved to include private mini-cabins for individual travellers; and how issues of logistics tend to lead to arrivals that are either really early or too late for some travellers.

We find out that Jan’s knowledge of 1970s and 80s soul and R&B music is sadly lacking, but that she is the only person in the studio to have been a regular sleeper user; that Paul’s James Bond watching may have put him off this particular form of transportation; and that Austria has been a leader in the sector’s resurgence.

Plus, everyone picks out their favourite train journeys – taking in Sweden, Morecambe Bay, Switzerland, and beyond.

Discover more about Nicole and her research here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/nicole-bulawa

Enjoy the drama set on a sleeper train between Glasgow and London that Jan mentions here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002265y/nightsleeper

Episode Transcript

Dr Stephen Homer has gone from being a commercial fisherman and a fishmonger to a leader on sustainability education at Sunway Business School in Malaysia, inspired by his experiences before moving into academia.

He tells us all about the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) and how they help management and business schools make sense of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Stephen explains the need to educate students on sustainability actions, so they take values with them into their careers; how different universities take varying approaches to sustainability; and the importance of understanding what students want to learn.

We talk about Malaysia’s chocolate and palm oil industries; the desire of students in Malaysia to achieve economic success, and how his can be balanced with sustainability; the challenges of delivering a sustainability education that is interesting and engaging to the country’s different ethnic groups, and to those on a wide range of programmes; and the problem of accountancy students (to Jan’s disgust).

Discover more about Stephen and his work here: https://sunwayuniversity.edu.my/sunway-business-school/staff-profiles/dr-stephen-thomas-homer

Find out about PRME here: https://www.unprme.org/about/

And read Lancaster University Management School’s PRME report here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/content-assets/documents/lums/PRME-Report.pdf

Episode Transcript

We want to talk about the need for greater gender equality in business, the challenges the movement is encountering in the face of Donald Trump and other vocal critics, and how Malaysia measures up when it comes to EDI.

Sunway University’s Professor Yuka Fujimoto has spent years travelling from country to country and has built and interest and expertise on diversity and inclusion as a result.

We discuss how the political climate can change corporate behaviour; how organisations can foster harmonious workplaces and encourage varied perspectives – and how this can affect productivity and innovation; and whether the battle is, as some people would have us believe, already won.

We ask how Japan, Malaysia and Australia measure up to each other – and the rest of the world – on diversity efforts? Why is Malaysia such an inclusive society? What do we mean by affirmative action? Why is EDI such a political football – and are people misrepresenting it on purpose?

Plus, we look at how nature can be a part of EDI considerations.

Discover more about Yuka and her work here: https://sunwayuniversity.edu.my/sunway-business-school/staff-profiles/professor-yuka-fujimoto

Episode Transcript

From the site of a former mining operation just outside Kuala Lumpur, we are joined by Professor Mahendhiran Sanggaran to discuss how the location is now home to Sunway University, a leading light in Malaysian sustainability research and development for more than 50 years.

Mahendiran’s work includes the Desa Mentari project, and we discover how work among low-income communities can benefit young and old who might be caught up in a polycrisis of health, economics, environmental and social factors. Through encouraging better access to education, the programme assists families in bettering themselves and inspires hope among residents. The models used there could be applied in other housing projects in Malaysia and SE Asia – and even links in with our own Morecambe Bay based initiatives.

Beyond that, we look at the importance of higher education across Southeast Asia – and how students who used to leave the region and never return are now starting to both study and work back at home, thanks in part to partnerships such as that between Sunway and Lancaster University.

Mahendiran tells us about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is made up of 10 nations across the region and home to more than 670 million people. The ASEAN committee is being chaired by Malaysia in 2025, and the words ‘Sustainability and Inclusivity’ can be seen on signs across the city.

We discuss how ASEAN can help close societal gaps within and between countries, how it can ensure long-term sustainable development, whether an integrated transport system across member nations could become a reality, and how this could affect other areas of society and industry through a GRID economy.

Plus, Paul and Mahendiran bond over Liverpool FC, there is more chat on Malaysian thunderstorms – and the effects of climate change on Mahendiran’s own home. Meanwhile, Jan explains what a ‘green’ taxonomy is.

More details on the Desa Mentari project can be found here: https://sunwayuniversity.edu.my/desa-mentari/about

You can find out about ASEAN Malaysia here: https://myasean2025.my/about-asean-2025/

Learn more about the 10-10 MySTIE framework here: https://stip.oecd.org/stip/interactive-dashboards/policy-initiatives/2023%2Fdata%2FpolicyInitiatives%2F99991585

Episode Transcript

 Jan’s ‘academic granddaughter’ Dr Ann Marie Sidhu is a chartered accountant who works with business and government in Malaysia on the challenges of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.

We discuss what Government and industry in Malaysia need to do to achieve the SDGs – especially energy transition in an economy where the petrochemical industry is dominant – how an emerging economy deals with regulations around sustainability, the potential for green financing, and how the underprivileged in society – the Bottom 40 – might be affected by changes.

Ann Marie reveals the attitudes of the companies she works with towards sustainability, how SMEs are acting, and what help small firms need in seeing value in enacting sustainability.

And as the word ‘sustainability’ is plastered on posters and banners across capital city Kuala Lumpur (KL), we talk about the need for sustainability education in Malaysian schools and universities, and the biodiversity considerations for a country that is still developing and reliant upon palm oil as a major export.

Plus, the effects of climate change on the monsoon season and flooding in major cities such as KL; how Malaysian companies react to EU and other overseas regulation; the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM!) and its effects; and Malaysia’s leading role in Islamic finance, and how this complements the SDG principles.

Episode Transcript

Dr Rebecca Liu, from Lancaster University Management School’s Department of Marketing, and Steve Kremer, from consultancy Periphas, who specialise in connecting technology innovators, join us to discuss Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0. Both concepts envision the world’s next evolution.

This means a vision of a super-smart society, where smart tech is integrated into every aspect, serving the needs of humanity, and solving major global issues as it blends the cyber and physical worlds.

In industry, it is about achieving growth and creating jobs, but also driving prosperity and respecting planetary boundaries, prioritising societal well-being and recognising limits of resources.

It is a move away from the take, make, dispose industrial model to adopting green tech, reducing carbon emissions and minimising waste.

In both cases, tech and industry work for people, not the other way round.

We consider what came before Industry and Society 4.0; how the next iterations are different; whether 5.0 should really be 4.1; and the challenges of realising ideas and ideals.

Plus, Manga, Greek mythology, the Terminator, and Jan’s Industrial Revolution rebirth.

Discover Rebecca’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/rebecca-liu

And find out about Periphas here: https://periphas.com/

Find out more about work ongoing under the Industry 5.0 initiative see here: http://industrial-upcycling.cz/

Episode Transcript

Biraj Patnaik, Executive Director of the National Foundation for India, introduces us to the concepts and realties food poverty and food inequality, and how his organisation works with communities on the margins of Indian society towards enabling social justice.

We discuss how and why the right to food has been part of legislative discourse in India; how the caste system and gender discrimination influence who suffers malnutrition and starvation; the right to life; and the devastating prospect of teaching your child to sleep hungry.

How will climate change affect different communities – especially in the already baking heat of India? Where will extreme weather impact global crop production and food availability, especially in low-lying coastal areas?

We cover the complications of industrial agriculture; the lessons the world can take from India’s changed farming practices; the environmental pitfalls in relying on importing most of your country’s food; and the importance of learning how to live with nature from indigenous communities.

Find out more about the National Foundation for India here: https://www.nfi.org.in/

The start of the Lake District Farmers mini-series on Transforming Tomorrow can be found here: https://pod.co/transforming-tomorrow/lake-district-farmers

And discover Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach here: https://iep.utm.edu/sen-cap/

Episode Transcript

The same goes for how we characterise the public and private sectors. The private sector goes beyond a simple characterisation of making a profit – and the public sector beyond providing services for people. The boundaries are blurring – where do the public and private sectors meet, and how does their symbiotic relationship work?

Dr Martin Quinn is a Reader in OWT – which in his northern brogue suggests a life of vague reading lists and relaxed afternoons in a comfy chair. But he brings with him expertise in the private and public sectors, and how they play out in terms of politics and the environment.

We discuss the concept of public value, how the public sector can help the private sector flourish, whether the private sector operates for anything other than profit, and examine anchor institutions that provide sustained employment, and sometimes even a reason for towns and cities to exist.

Plus, as Martin searches for hope, we take a journey to the world of Thomas the Tank Engine – and Paul’s childhood on Sodor – discuss GCSE geography lessons; talk about how Venice – and Morecambe – changed during Covid; and reveal the joys of working with geologists.

Discover more about Martin’s research here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/martin-quinn

Here is more detail on the Ministry of the Future book mentioned in the podcast: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_for_the_Future

Episode Transcript

Darren Axe, Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS)’s International Membership and Engagement Manager, has an ironic name given he has planted many trees during his career – and surely no-one has ever mentioned it!

We discuss the work of SOS in the UK and across their international team in galvanising students and allowing them to realise how sustainability cuts across the challenges they face.

Darren talks us through the main environmental issues concerning young people around the world, how to get students active and involved – and how they engage with university management and try to hold them to account.

Jan gets very excited about trees – but depressed about the world we are leaving the next generation – and Paul wonders whether the trees he helped plant will one day end up as hand-carved spoons in Jan’s kitchen.

Discover more about Students Organising for Sustainability International here: https://www.sos.earth/

Episode Transcript

Dr Jose Alcaraz-Barriga, from Lancaster University Leipzig, tell us how he teaches his students to connect business activities with the planet’s future.

Jose takes his own knowledge on planetary boundaries and the Anthropocene and applies it in his teaching to ensure young people are not overwhelmed by the situation but also understand how action at a local level can make a real impact.

We learn how filmmaking can become a valuable medium for students to learn sustainability lessons in a personal way. We discuss the importance of imagination, and of connecting with people from different walks of life to gain new perspectives. And we wonder how we ended up talking about Elon Musk.

Discover more about Jose and here work here: https://www.lancasterleipzig.de/staff/dr-jose-alcaraz-barriga/

Here is a taster of Afrofuturism: https://thecontrapuntal.com/afrofuturisms-reflection-on-waste-and-climate-crisis/

Episode Transcript

Hilary Barraclough oversees events organisation across Lancaster University, and she and her team try to make them as sustainable as possible.

From promoting sustainable travel to and from venues, to ensuring lower levels of food waste from catering – and increasing the amount of vegan and vegetarian food being served, and cutting down on needless packaging, there are many ways to make a difference.

Discover the challenges posed by cling film, the importance of educating and training events staff, how sustainability sits in importance for agencies organising events, an innovative milk packaging solution, and a whole new accreditation system to delight Paul.

Does Jan’s sustainability obsession make as boring as she sounds at parties? And why is Paul cursing Warwick?

Discover more about the wildlife walks Hilary mentions here: https://wildlifewalk.co.uk/

Episode Transcript

Professor John Virdin has always loved the ocean – despite growing up hundreds of miles from the sea. As Director of the Ocean and Coastal Policy Programme at Duke University Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions in North Carolina, he has a job title too long for his business card, but a long-term dream of better protection and management of the way we use ocean to provide more food and jobs for people on the coast around the world.

John works to analyse the activities of the biggest companies operating in the ocean, engaging with them to see what they are doing and might yet do to conserve the oceans. From wind energy companies, to dredging firms, to container shipping, marine construction, seafood, and offshore oil and gas – so many companies have a presence in the oceans. While these companies are head-quartered in a small number of countries, their operations and impacts span the globe.

John explains the work being done to try to bring companies together to make progress, where the major impacts of their actions are, and what factors are influencing their behaviours.

We confirm Georgia is not in Texas, bring out the comedy drum sound effect, doubt the possibility of mining a lobster, and explain the mystery of blue carbon.

Will we keep Jan’s promise to talk about everything in the sea? And is Paul’s vision of a cruise ship with a wind turbine on top and fishing nets out the back just a crazy pipe dream?

Find out more about John and his work here: https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/people/john-virdin

Episode Transcript

Professors Julia Binder and Knut Haanaes from IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland, are here to discuss their new book Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation, and the many topics it addresses.

There are many positive examples of business practice across economic, social and environmental sustainability – and Knut even sees the sustainability ‘backlash’ as a positive sign.

We take a journey from the importance of business schools in shaping behaviour and attitudes of future leaders, and impacting the bosses of today, to examine how using your head, heart and hands are all essential to pursuing and incorporating a sustainability perspective into business.

Along the way, we take in system leaders, sustainability as a team sport, future-back thinking, the importance of entrepreneurs, Chief Sustainability Officer Barbie, and a quick dive into the career of ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky!

Find out more about Julia and Knut’s book here: https://www.imd.org/ibyimd/leading-the-sustainable-business-transformation/

Episode Transcript

Dr Alexandra Harrington is an environmental law specialist in Lancaster University Law School who has been part of the negotiations for a proposed international plastics treaty as a UN-accredited observer. It has not been straightforward – hence the lack of an agreement so far.

She takes us behind the scenes on negotiations that have taken place around the world – even if all she ever gets to see are the never-ending corridors of conference centres – and explains why there is the need for a treaty around plastic pollution. And while it may seem to be taking a long time to reach a conclusion, it has been quite speedy compared to similar agreements.

Discover how the plastics situation compares to mercury regulations and chemicals frameworks, how countries have banded together to wield their mass influence, and the unexpected connection between this issue and the effects of climate change for low-lying and island nations.

And is it possible to say Alex’s title of Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Commission on Environmental Law Agreement on Plastic Pollution Taskforce without taking a breath?

Plus, is there more to Busan than zombies and trains?

Discover more about Alex’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/law/people/alexandra-harrington

Episode Transcript

So, why do these residents only recycle 36% of their plastics? What could you as a resident do to improve your habits? And what happens to the plastic that is recycled when the council collects it?

It’s time to bring an end to our investigation of the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project – and we bring it all back home.

Carly Sparks, Lancaster City Council’s Public Realm Improvement Lead, joins us to talk about their involvement in PPiPL as a waste collection authority.

We look at the reasons different councils have different rules for recycling collections, how PPiPL has helped Lancaster City Council find ways to encourage residents to recycle more and in the right way, what can be done to avoid confusion over what can and cannot be recycled, and whether Jan is a conscientious recycler. Could she even become an exemplar – or a pariah – in her community?

Plus, the importance of Sort, Wash and Squash. And why does Jan know so much about New Zealand soap operas?

Read more about Lancaster City Council’s involvement with PPiPL here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/22/

And find out more about the Wash and Squash it campaign from the council here: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/bins-recycling/recycling/recycling-boxes

Episode Transcript

As we continue our journey through the plastics pipeline, we encounter bin juice and the Mafia.

Lancaster University’s Dr Clare Mumford and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM)’s Richard Hudson take the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project to the final stage of its process – how plastic waste is dealt with.

It turns out plastic is not very sociable – one type does not get along with another – and this just adds to the complications when it comes to recycling.

We talk about the importance of being able to predict how much waste people are going to produce; the post-Christmas purple polypropylene surge; the need to properly sorting your plastics before recycling, and how to avoid recycling contamination; why moving away from plastics does not automatically mean greater sustainability; and public pessimism over what happens to their recycling.

Discover the wonderfully named Association of Cleansing Superintendents of Great Britain and how it grew to have 17,000 members in its current iteration; cringe at the perils of bin juice; and feel the tension rise when Paul’s jokes about the waste management industry being a front for organised crime turn out to be closer to the truth than he imagined.

Learn more about plastic packaging and how it can be processed in the Fifty Four Degrees article here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/14/

And read the PPiPL white paper, Waste Matters, here: https://zenodo.org/records/10839761

Episode Transcript

Do supermarkets care about the planet? What actions are they taking to reduce waste? How are they changing their packaging to address the plastics problem?

The team hit the road to speak with Katie Gwynne and Jane Routh, from Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project partners Booths, about how the supermarket chain thinks and acts around plastic packaging, and how they are looking to change their own behaviours and those of their customers.

With an ethos of ‘being the good grocers’ discover how Booths are looking to do the right thing on plastic packaging – both for their own products, and for those of their suppliers.

Discover how they have been involved with PPiPL, what they have learned from the project – and their customers, the benefits of working with the other organisations involved, how supermarkets can use their collective influence to instigate change, the shift in attitudes across the industry towards sustainability, and what comes next for them.

And do you know which is older – Booths or New Zealand? Paul makes the common mistake of thinking of post-colonial New Zealand, not when people first came to Aotearoa (the indigenous name for what became New Zealand). History is often complex. Pliny the Elder would approve of the conversation.

Read more about Booths’ involvement in the PPiPL project here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/26/

And see their sustainability efforts here: https://www.booths.co.uk/sustainability/

Episode Transcript

Professors Alex Skandalis and James Cronin bring their marketing and consumer culture expertise to the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives project – and to the podcast – to analyse consumer behaviours around plastic. But are they just making up all of the language and concepts they mention?

From the Aztecs to the Dark Ages, the Victorians to the present day, we discover plastics have been around our culture for much longer than you might think and go far beyond drinks bottles and food containers.

Discover a shift from plastic as an environmental saviour to a major sustainability problem, from a luxury item to something almost invisible in its ubiquity, and how the material is intrinsic to our modern-day society.

See how the PPiPL team have looked at household behaviours – from their shopping habits to their plastic disposal routines – how actions around recycling at home and at work affect each other; and how individual choices and behaviours are shaped by many factors around you.

And we find out the answer to the key question about whether Ancient Egyptians used plastics to wrap their mummies.

Read more about consumer attitudes and behaviours towards plastics here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/18/

And read the PPiPL white paper on household recycling here: https://zenodo.org/records/10839795

Episode Transcript

Packaging manufacturers and retailers need to take action too.

Professor Linda Hendry makes a return visit to the podcast, explaining how her work on supply chains unites her interests in plastics as part of the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives (PPiPL) project and on modern slavery.

We look at how food producers, packaging manufacturers and retailers decide how to package and transport food before it reaches consumers; the role of government and regulation when it comes to packaging design and redesign – and the difficulties companies have in using packaging that meets these requirements; and how consumer attitudes affect how companies operate.

Linda outlines the strategies businesses can apply to cut the plastic packaging and waste they produce, and explains the ‘regrettable substitute’ concept as she tells us why alternatives are not always better.

We cover important issues of the day: Does Jan have a crisp addiction problem? Does Paul give his children too many crisps? Did Linda mislead her kids about how many crisps they had in the house? And how does this all fit in with packaging decisions?

Plus, does Linda – or her domestic engineer – know whether the Ancient Egyptians wrapped mummies in plastic? Is there a serial killer on the PPiPL project? And how do the Minnesota Vikings defensive line of the 1970s fit into it all?

Read more about the seven steps towards sustainable packaging innovation: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/10/

And read the PPiPL project’s white paper on packaging here: https://zenodo.org/records/10839787

Episode Transcript

We don’t have Dustin Hoffman, but we do have a journey into a fascinating world as we take a deep dive into the Plastic Packaging in People’s Lives (PPiPL) project.

Dr Alison Stowell and Professor Maria Piacentini join us as we discover how consumers think and behave when it comes to plastic food packaging, and how PPiPL hopes to change the attitude-behaviour gap.

Discover how the project researchers have engaged with organisations from supermarkets to local government, SMEs to waste management firms, to gain a big picture of attitudes and actions, and make a real-world impact.

What happens in your household when it comes to plastics recycling? Do you say you’re going to do one thing, but then do another? Do you make a concerted effort to buy packaging that can be recycled – or even packaging that is not made from plastic?

There is so much to talk about, and many questions for all of us to consider when it comes to our usage of plastics – including how Nonna can swap out plastic for tea towels to bring a famous family pizza all the way from Glasgow to Lancaster.

And how many words are in the sentence ‘It’s complex’?

Find out more about the PPiPL project here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ppipl/

And read more from the PPiPL team here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_21/

Episode Transcript

Morecambe Bay is a natural marvel. Stretching from Fleetwood in the south to Barrow-in-Furness in the north, it encompasses Lancaster, Morecambe, and many small towns and villages along the Lancashire and Cumbria coastlines.

And Paul feels right at home as he and Jan welcome Carys Nelkon and Dr Beth Garrett to reveal the wonders of the Morecambe Bay Curriculum to them.

The curriculum involves more than 140 educators across the Bay and is embedded in day-to-day teaching. It uses the wonders of the area and its people and ties them into the National Curriculum. It allows children to develop a love for their home and take a practical interest in its future, and schools and colleges to take a fresh look at how they deliver education to young people.

From birds to beaches, travel to the energy industry, there is a lot to cover.

Discover why Morecambe Bay is such an important place, what brings its communities – and its schools and educators – together, how the Eden Project Morecambe has provided a spark to reinvigorate the area and develop the curriculum, and how Lancaster’s role as a civic university fits in.

Find out more about the Morecambe Bay Curriculum here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/morecambe-bay-curriculum/

And read about the Beach Schools Network here: https://www.forestschools.com/pages/beach-schools

And as a bonus, here is a starting point for finding out more about Patrick Geddes: https://camera-obscura.co.uk/article/patrick-geddes

Episode Transcript

Dr Marian Iszatt-White becomes our first return guest as she talks to Jan and Paul about her work on the B-School to ESG School project. Her latest work is looking at how Environmental, Social and Governance should be at the heart of a business school’s operations.

Discover how we can help to ensure our graduates go into the world and make a positive change.

How do students think about environmental and sustainability issues? Do opinions change depending on where they are from? How do lessons learned as a student compare to the reality of going into the world of business?

Marian explains the disconnect between what students are taught and what they see happening across a University; how business schools can embed ESG at the core of their operations; and reactions among senior management and staff to the projects suggestions.

Read more about the B-School to ESG-School project here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_23/47/

Professor Carlos Larrinaga, from the University of Burgos, talks us through the process by which new ideas spread and become norms – both with and without regulation in place.

With a focus around Carlos’s expertise on sustainability reporting, we look at how voluntary actions start to feel compulsory; and why it is that entrepreneurial heroes and their efforts to force change can take the focus away from important mundane advances that take place in the background.

We ask why some regulations and laws do not change actions and attitudes; why companies can converge on a new behaviour and turn it into a norm without regulation; and how an understanding of accounting history helps Carlos with his work.

Carlos explains how norms can differ from companies’ core values, how behaviours can change to align with new requirements, and whether some companies only comply with reporting in a symbolic way.

And, as Jan and Carlos try to out-humble each other in an argument over who know more than the other, why does everyone want sausages for their dinner?

Find out more about Carlos and his work here: https://investigacion.ubu.es/investigadores/35281/detalle

Not everyone is an elite athlete, but we should all be active.

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) is doing important work with some of the biggest names in their sector to help make this a reality.

Emma Zwiebler, a World Championship and Commonwealth Games badminton player who is now CEO of the WFSGI, explains how the trade association body operates and how they have put this mission at the core of their activities.

We investigate the issue of global physical inactivity, its wider costs to society, and the actions of WFSGI in trying to address the problem while working with the World Health Organisation.

Discover how Emma and the WFGSI can elevate issues both for business and for countries; how they can influence across industries to deepen their impact; what is already happening, and how this can inspire future change; and how each of us takes a different approach to physical activity.

And we are left pondering the questions of whether the head of the International Olympic Committee listens to Transforming Tomorrow, and if Jan and Paul will be recording future episodes while walking – or running?

 Learn how business schools build sustainability into their operations; why accreditation bodies – whose backing schools rely on for their prestige – take the issue so seriously; and how important the topic is when it comes to rankings.

Rose White, External Accreditation Manager at Lancaster University Management School, comes ready for Paul to rant about whether rankings should be important to anyone – and she gets just what she expects!

Rose and Jan might be unable to convince Paul of the merits of benchmarks, but is he more open to accreditations? The difference between these two approaches will become apparent in the conversation.

For accreditations, we cover everything from why business and management schools want to be accredited in the first place; who pays attention to these accreditations; the innumerable acronyms that come with the process; how sustainability is a key pillar to overall strategies; and the importance of showing people how we do engage in sustainability.

And as Paul tries to avoid starting a fight over rankings, we discuss their audience; their changing consideration of sustainability’s importance; whether they are as important – or more so – than accreditations; and throw in some breaking and Raygun for good measure!

Episode Transcript

Chief Sustainability Officers are among the fastest growing jobs in the UK – but who are these people, what do they do, and does anyone actually listen to them?

Dr Katherine Ellsworth-Krebs, from the University of Strathclyde, brings gifts from her allotment to the studio as well as an avid interest in all things sustainability that started in childhood in Washington state, USA – where she was surprised to learn not all other youngsters had the same obsession. She also comes with a healthy dose of cynicism!

Through her work with a whole host of sustainability managers, we discover which businesses are leading the way by employing sustainability managers; what regulations are in place to encourage companies to have one; the importance of getting everyone on board when it comes to sustainable behaviour; and the stresses facing those pushing the sustainability agenda.

How does Jan slip up when it comes to her attitudes towards reporting? Why has Katherine stolen Jan’s ‘keystone actors’ term to apply to sustainability managers? And what will Paul do with his orchard’s worth of cooking apples?

Find out more about Katherine and her work here: https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/ellsworth-krebskatherinedr/

And listen to the episode with Dr Carolynne Lord covering her work with Katherine on sustainability fairy tales here: https://pod.co/transforming-tomorrow/fairy-tales-and-mermaids

Episode Transcript

We make an investigation of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and its work with the Pentland Centre’s Dr Neytullah Ciftci – Neo to his friends – who works with Jan on that very topic.

Discover how companies can change nature; how these changing ecosystems could be a risk to your business; and the importance of analysing supply chain impacts as well as your own operations.

We look at how companies are adapting to the TNFD framework, and how widespread reporting is; discuss how TNFD fits in with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD); gain an understanding of the different biodiversity scenarios for companies looking up to 100 years into the future; and hear Paul wonder if he knows too many accounting acronyms.

Reporting under the TNFD is moving quickly, with new reports expanding our understanding of the reporting framework. Here are the four most complete biodiversity scenarios within TNFD reports we have found to date, and the TNFD’s guide on scenario analysis.

KAO TNFD Report: https://www.kao.com/content/dam/sites/kao/www-kao-com/global/en/sustainability/pdf/biodiversity-tnfd.pdf

Kyuden Group Integrated Report 2024:

https://www.kyuden.co.jp/english_company_news_2024_h240925-1.html

Norinchuking Climate & Nature Report 2024: https://www.nochubank.or.jp/en/sustainability/backnumber/pdf/2024/climate_nature.pdf

Sekisui TCFD & TNFD Report 2024: https://www.sekisuichemical.com/sustainability_report/pdf/2024_TCFD_TNFDReport_E.pdf

TNFD (2023) Guidance: https://tnfd.global/publication/guidance-on-scenario-analysis/

Find out more about Neo and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/neytullah-ciftci

And catch-up on the previous episode that covered the TCFD with Duncan Pollard here: https://pod.fo/e/272bf5

By helping to restore nature, firms big or small, local or global, can help themselves and their operations – and maybe all of us. But what are they actually doing, and why can it be so hard for them to tell us?

Dr Tim Lamont, a marine biologist in Lancaster Environment Centre, explains his work on corporate reporting around nature restoration, and how the subject fits in with his expertise on tropical coral reefs and how we look after them.

Discover how humans have damaged the planet, how the current generation is equipped with tools to repair it, and why Jan was described as ‘not a complete idiot’ and how her accounting expertise fits into the picture.

Can Paul’s inherent pessimism be overcome as we discuss the different ecosystem restoration practices from around the world; the importance of involving local people in restoration efforts and of long-term commitment over short-term attitudes; what can be done to drive change; and whether companies are more than just evil, faceless entities?

Plus, a bonus discussion on the size of Cumbria and how it could be used as a term of measurement.

Find out more about Tim and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/about-us/people/timothy-lamont

And read his paper co-written with Jan and others here: https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/201803/1/CombinedPDF_Lamont_adh2610_accepted.pdf

Episode Transcript

Brands and brand values send messages and have their own sustainability identities, so it’s time to look at how this affects their actions.

Kaeisha Gibson, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Pentland Brands, discusses how brands including Speedo, Canterbury, Endura, Mitre, and more, approach their strategies towards sustainability.

The conversation focuses in on the Berghaus outdoor gear brand and its B-Corp certification, which demonstrates their determination to be a positive influence on the world and do no harm.

Learn why Berghaus pursued B-Corp status, what they do to maintain that certification, how they challenge themselves to improve, the plans for other brands under the Pentland banner to follow the Berghaus lead, and how old Jan’s Berghaus rucksack is.

Plus, after Jan uses the word ‘groovy’ once again without irony, does Kaeisha have the power to have her fired? And does Paul really only wear branded clothing?

Find out more about Berghaus’s B-Corp certification here: https://www.berghaus.com/positive-business/bcorp.list

We look at how companies can balance profit with doing right in the world, why it doesn’t necessarily take as long as you think to move to a new way of thinking and working, and whether the world needs to be in crisis to force corporations to act.

Professor Steve Kempster explains his work on Good Dividends, and how he has worked with businesses to see how they work and if they can change it for the better.

Discover what a Benefit Corporation is, how purpose-led businesses perform against their competitors, and whether Steve has hope for the future.

Plus, Steve sets out to change our understanding of Adam Smith – and contemplates if he would be the kind of person to give you a High Five – and Paul becomes self-conscious about his eyebrows.

Find out more about Steve and his work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/about/meet-the-team/steve-kempster

Discover the Good Growth programme featuring Good Dividends here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/business/good-growth-burnley/

We find out the differences between being an activist and an academic, how you go from being one to the other, and how experience as an activist gives you unique and invaluable insights for research.

Frida Bengtsson describes her journey from growing up in a family where Greenpeace was an important presence, to being lead of the organisation’s Global Oceans campaign, before becoming a PhD researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Frida’s work now looks at ocean governance and transhipment (and we will definitely find out what that means), introducing Jan and Paul to a world where understanding vessel ownership leads to murky waters, where regulations in the middle of the seas can be a maelstrom of confusion, and where we consider the ethics behind a fish finger sandwich.

What happens on fishing boats that stay at sea for months at a time? What is it like meeting with an organisation as an academic when you last met them while working for Greenpeace?

And why does Jan send Frida pictures of ships in every port she visits?

Discover more about Frida and her work at the Stockholm Resilience Centre here: https://www.stockholmresilience.org/meet-our-team/staff/2021-06-01-bengtsson.html

And read about Frida’s new paper on reefers and transshipment here: https://www.stockholmresilience.org/reefers

Episode Transcript

Discover which laws you have to follow beyond Earth’s atmosphere, how we get to asteroids in the first place, and what this might mean for life here and millions of miles away. 

Dr Craig Jones joins Jan and Paul for an astronomical start to the new series. He specialises in asteroid mining and the myriad issues that arise when it comes to considering how it could be done, and what the practice could mean for sustainability. 

The discussion covers potential harm to the ozone layer, how space junk could damage satellites and our oceans, and if all this is a pathway to building a back-up colony should Earth fail. 

And what does William of Orange have to do with asteroid mining rights?

Read more about Craig's asteroid mining research in Fifty Four Degrees: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_22/30/

And discover more about Craig’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/craig-jones 

Episode Transcript

We bring Season One of Transforming Tomorrow to a close with Jan answering some of the questions that have come up during previous episodes.

Jan explains externalities, and how (not when) they can be internalised; why it is important to know about the EU’s impacts; and the many elements to justice.

Plus, a sneak peek at what is coming up in Season Two.

Find details on the Frontiers of Justice book Jan mentions here: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674024106)

And the paper on justice and earth systems is here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-023-01064-1

Professor Nick Barter, from Griffith University, takes Jan and Paul through the origins of the phrase from his time working with industry while completing his PhD with Jan at the University of St Andrews.

Covering topics from corporate direction-setting and vision to culture and language, learning from nature, and enabling others, Nick talks to us about how companies can change to be part of a world they want to live in.

Find out more about Future Normal here: https://futurenormal.net/

Jan and Paul welcome Dr Elisavet Christou and Violet Owen to enlighten them.

Co-authors of the Little Book of Creative Evaluation, they explain what Creative Evaluation is, and how it can be used across many disciplines.

Elisavet and Violet discuss their EViD tool, which helps people with their evaluation processes; the value of hearing from different voices; the importance of design; and why evaluation is so much more than a tick-box exercise.

Jan gets to talk benchmarking again. And is Paul right to be worried that the team are secretly being evaluated the whole time?

Check out the Little Book of Creative Evaluation here: https://creativeevaluation.uk/

And read a little more about the work here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_20/34/

Linden Edgell – Inquisitor, Collaborator and Explorer extraordinaire – joins Jan and Paul from Perth, Australia, among her 150 mango trees to answer these and other questions.

Linden is ERM’s Global Sustainability Director and is a member of the Pentland Centre’s Advisory Board. She has worked in government and latterly in consulting, where she is seeking to bring about change in corporate behaviour.

What developments has she seen over the decades? How do companies balance profit, sustainability and longevity? Can you walk and chew gum?

Farmed salmon is the UK’s biggest food export – and Dr Josi Fernandes is obsessed!

Josi joins Jan and Paul to talk about her work looking at salmon farming practices and sustainability in the UK and how her research in the area all started over a conversation in the pub.

We discover what Josi has learned from speaking with salmon farmers, processors and retailers – though not everyone wanted to talk.

We take in the differences between farmed and wild salmon; how farmed salmon came to be such a big market; the industrial scale of production; potential futures for the industry; and whether anyone in the studio eats salmon in the first place.

Find out more about Josi’s research here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/josiane-fernandes2

You can discover Paul Greenberg’s Four Fish book here: https://www.paulgreenberg.org/books/four-fish/

And see more on Mark Kurlansky’s Salmon book here: https://www.markkurlansky.com/books/salmon-a-fish-the-earth-and-the-history-of-their-common-fate/

Jan and Paul welcome Professor Mark Shackleton to discuss the world of finance and how it intersects with sustainability.

They discover why the King can’t enter the City of London without permission; how data can be used to influence ‘green’ investing; and how shareholders can instigate change.

Among discussions of ethics and politics, they find the time to talk about physics and Paul’s strange childhood fascination with global stock exchanges.

Find out more about Mark’s research here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/mark-shackleton

Even if you would, is it possible consumers can change how businesses operate through such decisions?

Jan and Paul welcome back Professor Dakshina De Silva, and Drs Anita Schiller and Aurelie Slechten to discuss the factors that influence consumer spending on green goods; different cultural attitudes towards green spending; how income levels affect these attitudes; and whether the future is carrying your own ice cream spoon.

Read more about the team’s research into green consumer spending in this short article: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_18/10/

With pollution impacting health and employment opportunities, can regulations help these communities? Will they make industries pack up and leave? Or is that just a handy excuse?

A crash of economists invades the studio to talk to Jan and Paul about how industrial pollution ties in with economics and sustainability.

Professor Dakshina De Silva, and Drs Anita Schiller and Aurelie Slechten explain how economists view the world –and how we can measure the social costs of pollution.

And we discover shockingly that there may be a ‘Wrong Side’ of the river in Lancaster.

And, where’s Jan? Paul is left to fly solo after a car breakdown means Jan cannot make it to Orton, and the farm of Jim Beary.

Luckily, Lake District Farmers Head of Purpose and Sustainability Phil Scott can help out as the trio discuss life at Gaythorn Hall, a farm in the far east of Cumbria that falls within the boundaries of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

From his home among the flocks of sheep and herds of cows – as well as smaller numbers of pigs and chickens – Jim tells us about his past experiences in farming – including a ‘horrifying’ time on an arable farm as a crop sprayer – and his determination to do things less intensively and more sustainably to create high-quality food.

We learn about the benefits of working with LDF, how to adapt to circumstances and the environment, how Jim has learned from his mistakes, soil resilience, and more sustainable feed types.

You can see Jim’s Instagram account at @farmer_beary

Listen to Jan and Paul’s first farm visit here: https://pod.co/transforming-tomorrow/down-on-the-farm-part-one

We are on Cartmel Fell, in South Cumbria, to meet Fiona Daley, who along with husband Dave owns and runs Hodge Hill Farm, where a new-born calf is among the audience.

Fiona and Dave have a small herd of Belted Galloway cows and are members of the LDF network. LDF Head of Purpose and Sustainability Phil Scott joins everyone in the barn to discuss key sustainability issues.

Why did Dave and Fiona return to farming seven years ago with a determination to do things differently/ What is the significance of regenerative farming, wildlife and nature – and of sharing best practices across farms? And what is the wince-inducing difference between a bull and a steer?

We even talk farming numbers, as it turns out Fiona is a qualified accountant.

Discover the unique challenges facing farmers in the Lake District; find out how farmers are cooperating with Lancaster research; and learn the differences between Net Zero, Carbon Neutral and Carbon Positive.

Dr Laura Giles, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate working with Lake District Farmers, joins Jan and Paul to discuss her work – and tell us what her role means and how it operates.

Laura is working with LDF to understand how livestock farmers in the Lake District can work towards Net Zero meat production (the project is not making wild claims of Net Zero meat). This takes in soil science, farming practice, and even accounting – to Jan’s delight.

Watch a film showcasing some of the work taking place on the KTP here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZmmOGboCbE

Find out more about the LDF work in the introductory podcast: https://pod.co/transforming-tomorrow/lake-district-farmers

Jan and Paul talk sustainability with Lake District Farmers’ Phil Scott about the organisation’s sustainability ambitions.

As seagulls and buzzards circle, they look at how LDF think about sustainability in their own operations and those of the farmers in their networks, and the overall impact of their work. Phil explains the efforts reflect engagement with communities, proper discussions with farmers around their practices, and a real understanding of the natural environment of the Lake District.

Plus we look at the key issue of how eating meat can fit into a sustainable lifestyle.

Professors Jess Davies and John Quinton, from Lancaster Environment Centre, bring their expertise to focus on the work being done with the Lake District Farmers. They tell Jan and Paul about the effects farmers have on their land – and how they have affected it over the past centuries – and what might happen in the future. Using science, they can advise on the best path forward.

Plus, a bonus mention of Pliny the Elder!

Find out more about the Sustainable Soils research group in Lancaster Environment Centre here: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/sustainable-soils/

Jan and Paul travel to Ulverston – or Oolverston as Jan would have it – to meet LDF’s Phil Scott and find all about the organisation and its work with farmers across Cumbria.

LDF work with a network of around 50 farmers to process and sell high-quality meat. But how does this network benefit the farmers? Why do top chefs want their products? Why are they working with Lancaster University – and how? And what are the challenges facing the Lake District’s fell farmers?

Henrik is one of Jan’s favourite super-scientists, and he joins Jan and Paul from Stockholm. But just what does Anthropocene mean, and how does it tie in with sustainability?

How is the world changing due to human activity? How have we affected the behaviour of animals – do frogs really eat lightbulbs? What are the empirics of hope? Are there positive signs that we can tackle the challenges we face? How does art and creativity fit into sustainability science? And just what is Henrik’s favourite seabird (and Jan and Paul’s)?

Find out more about the Anthropocene Lab and its work here: https://www.anthropocenelab.se/ 

 And you can discover the Sounds of Science book Henrik talks about here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780443152672/the-sounds-of-science 

Divya’s research has taken her to the factory floor, and to the city of Leicester – where there were once claims of 10,000 people living in modern slavery – and has led her to shine a light on left-behind people, those often-forgotten people in our societies.

What has Divya learned from her work in Leicester? What have been the effects on the city of the allegations and investigations? Have people paid enough attention to the impacts on the communities?

Find out more about Divya’s work on modern slavery in the fashion industry here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/spotlight/modern-slavery/

Ben tells Jan and Paul about how the Work Foundation works as it tries to influence policy across the UK. He covers issues of flexible working, how economic changes in recent years have affected working patterns, and the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.

What are decent and insecure work? How does the Work Foundation’s Insecure Work Index function, and what does it tell us? Are particular groups and parts of the country more affected by insecure work? What responsibilities do employers have towards their employees during times of financial hardship?

Discover more about the Work Foundation’s research and activities on insecure work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundation/our-work/insecure-work/

Through Project INSPIRE, Joanne and her team are speaking to pioneering companies across Cumbria to discover how they are tackling sustainability challenges, how it ties into the history and landscape of the county, and how their practices can be spread. 

What issues do business face? How can they move to a new way of operating? And, most importantly to Paul, how do you really pronounce Furness, and why does everyone get it wrong? 

Discover more about Joanne’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/joanne-larty 

Read more about Project Inspire here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_19/14/

The UK has the lowest connection with nature in Europe, and Matt’s work encompasses how we each appreciate nature in our everyday lives, the importance of considering nature from a non-human-centric perspective, the value of nature, and the importance of connecting with nature from a young age.

Plus, find out how connected to nature are Jan and Paul?

Read more of Matt’s work on ‘Taming the Green Monster’ here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_17/47/

Discover the work of Energy Lancaster here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/energy-lancaster/

And find out about the research taking place in Lancaster Environment Centre here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/research/

How many solar parks are there in the UK (clue, it’s not seven or 300)? How can solar parks affect biodiversity? How long do solar plants last? How do floating solar farms work? How many homes can a solar plant power? And did Paul really do the maths to answer that question so quickly in his head?

All these questions and more will be answered – and we discuss if you could wear solar powered clothes?

Discover the work of Energy Lancaster here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/energy-lancaster/

And find out more about Alona’s research here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/energy-lancaster/about-us/people/alona-armstrong

Specifically trust frameworks and trust affordances – explaining how and where people can trust data, and to what extent; why different people will trust different things – and the challenges of building trust with the right audience.

How does this all fit with sustainability data – especially given the uncertainty over how sustainability can be achieved, and that some people will try to twist data for their own means; and what is translucent reporting, and why might it be better than transparency?

Plus, Jan uses the word ‘groovy’ in a totally non-ironic sense.

Discover more about Lauren’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/lauren-thornton

Di talks about his experience of interviewing more than 200 businesses on their understanding of materiality – a concept that underpins reporting and which will be explained in the podcast. He explains why companies take part in greenhushing – and explains why he thinks the practice is only likely to increase. He also introduces us to the concept of brownwashing.

And Paul's brainwashing is complete, as the word ‘benchmarking’ comes into his head unprompted.

Find out more about Di’s work and research interests here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/di-wang

And you can see Di’s paper on Sustainability Reporting and Materiality here: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4687038

Dr Marian Iszatt-White heads to the studio to talk with Jan and Paul about her perspective on leadership and management – as well as her time working in the oil industry.

Marian discusses what authentic leadership is – and why we should or should not be authentic; how leaders address sustainability issues; where stewardship and accountability fit in; and the importance of teaching on how future leaders can be shaped by programmes such as Lancaster’s MBA.

Find out more about Marian’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/marian-iszatt-white

In tackling issues such as climate change, scientists and researchers face complicated scenarios that are not easily explicable, with problems that are not always solvable in a clean fashion. Jan explains the development of post-normal science as a way of addressing huge modern (wicked) problems such as climate change, how there is not always a definitive answer to every question, and why uncertain (clumsy) solutions are better than none at all.

Why is being uncertain a good sign? Why do we all need to be open to changing our minds? If we don’t rely on facts for solutions, does this lead to a post-Truth future? Do we need to involve more people from beyond science in drafting solutions? Can a solution to a wicked problem ever be permanent? We cover all these questions, and more.

Find out more about the Cynefin Framework here: https://thecynefin.co/about-us/about-cynefin-framework/

Law PhD researcher Camilo Cornejo Martinez returns to talk to Jan and Paul about the importance of both local and global attitudes, actions and policies towards climate change.

Discover more about Camilo’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/law/people/camilo-cornejo-martinez

Another member of Lancaster University Law School, PhD researcher Camilo Cornejo Martinez, comes into the studio with the unprompted assurance that he is not an accountant.

Camilo talks about his background as a practising lawyer in his home country of Chile; the different attitudes and approaches – legal and otherwise – to the environment and sustainability between Chile, the UK, and other countries; environmental courts; just transitions; and the rights of nature, and giving nature a voice.

Discover more about Camilo’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/law/people/camilo-cornejo-martinez

Dr Rafael Savva, from Lancaster University’s Law School, promises he won’t sue us, but will recording the podcast turn him into a supervillain?

Rafael talks to us about corporate governance legislation; the differences between hard and soft law – and how they apply to corporate responsibility; the potential conflicts between environmental regulation and seeking profit; the power of shareholders; socially responsible investing; and the importance of defining sustainable development in order to shape future legislation.

Discover if Paul and Jan would make good Law students – and whether Jan has any memory of her prior education in contract law.

Find out more about Rafael’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/law/people/rafael-savva

Dr Celine Germond-Duret steps into the studio to speak with Jan and Paul to discuss how people and business connect to the coast and the sea (including fish and chip shops); why an exact definition of the blue economy is hard to find; the politics and resources of the oceans in different countries; and the balance between economics and the environment in sustainable development.

Find out more about Celine’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ppr/people/celine-germond-duret

She reveals the changes she has seen over recent years, how policy debate has evolved and moved away from Westminister, Scotland-specific patterns and approaches – and (almost) answers the perennial question of whether you can recycle a paper envelope with a clear plastic window, or if you have to take the window out first.

Discover more about Lucy’s work here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/management/people/la24

Dr Lucy Wishart joins Jan and Paul from the University of St Andrews Business School to discuss something that is there in every action we make, but which we rarely think about.

We cover everything from discard studies to the circular economy and the difficulties in making it a reality, how we might extend the life of objects and encourage people to reuse, and the hidden labour and (physical and mental) effort needed in reusing and recycling. Plus, can there be sustainable waste?

Discover more about Lucy’s work here: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/management/people/la24

Dr Carolynne Lord talks to Jan and Paul about her work in making research more accessible to broader audiences; how green energy generation is like a mermaid luring businesses onto the rocks and distracting from other important issues; and why policymakers are waving garlic at vampire cars rather than brandishing stakes.

They also discuss urban sustainability transitions, and how experts need to cross boundaries to share ideas and expertise with other people working in the same area.

See more of Carolynne’s work on sustainability fairy tales, and the imagery that was created to go with the project here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_19/10/

Brian Gregory and Salma Atcha, from the Lancaster University Entrepreneurs in Residence network, join Paul and Jan in the studio to share their experiences.

They discuss differing attitudes towards sustainability; how the Sustainable Development Goals help shape business behaviours; when entrepreneurs are no longer entrepreneurs;

Find out more about the Entrepreneurs in Residence network here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/business/entrepreneurs-in-residence/

Read the article about degrowth and B-Corps by Entrepreneur in Residence Victor Giannandrea, the Pentland Centre’s Duncan Pollard, and B-Corp owner Celia Gaze here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_17/43/

Dr Georgiana Allison, Head of Sustainability at Lancaster University, joins Jan and Paul to discuss what the home of the Pentland Centre is doing to become more sustainable. They cover everything from Lancaster’s wind and solar farms, carbon impacts, changing attitudes and behaviours, how to make an impact in the classroom and where there is hope for the future.

Plus, why are sustainability strategies like icing and cake? And has Paul found an ally against rankings and benchmarking?

Find out more about sustainability at Lancaster University here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sustainability/

Dr Jean-Baptiste Jouffray, of the Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions, speaks to Jan and Paul from his home in Northern California. As well as busting myths on how many oceans we have on Earth, he discusses the many challenges it faces; his work across science, academia and business; the concepts of keystone actors and leverage points as a means to instigate change; and what it is really like working with Jan.

See the One ocean map, JB talks about here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/756bcae18d304a1eac140f19f4d5cb3d

Episode Transcript

What effects do regulations have? How can we encourage companies to treat modern slavery reporting as more than a tick-box exercise? How can AI be used to help tackle the larger problem? How can it be that only 15%of companies work with their suppliers to improve labour rights practices? Can Jan and Paul stop themselves going off on too many tangents? And does Jan really call statistics meaningless?

Find out more about the work taking place on modern slavery in Lancaster University Management School here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news/spotlight/modern-slavery/

Read the report Modern Slavery Reporting Practices in the UK, here: https://media.frc.org.uk/documents/FRC_Modern_Slavery_Reporting_Practices_in_the_UK_2022.pdf

Dr Allan Discua Cruz, Director of the Centre for Family Business at Lancaster University Management School, speaks to Jan and Paul about his personal experiences growing up in a family business, the issue of succession and longevity, how family firms address sustainability and consider the Sustainable Development Goals, and how faith and religion can impact their environmental behaviours.

Find out more about the Centre for Family Business here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/research/areas-of-expertise/centre-for-family-business/

Dr Jekaterina Rindt joins Jan and Paul to discuss the I-Connect project, which is looking at the future of Lancaster and Morecambe when the Eden Project arrives. How can the journey to Eden be made Eden-like? With a focus on the Net-Zero agenda; sustainable, accessible and inclusive transport; and the need to consider communities, health and sustainability across all areas of policy, its design and impact, there is much for everyone to consider.

Read more about the I-Connect project here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_20/14/

And here: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/i-connect/

Discover more about Jan’s work with the ICAEW on educating the next generation of accountants on sustainability here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_18/14/

Episode Transcript

Find out whether benchmarks have any effect on companies’ actions, if poor performers care that they are not doing well, and whether the World Benchmarking Alliance really is an organisation set up just to benchmark benchmarks (hint: it’s not). Can Paul’s natural cynicism be overcome?

Episode Transcript

We discover how he came to be a Professor of Computing and Sustainability – and just what that means – why having fewer people in offices does not always result in less energy being used, and why Adrian – to Jan’s shock – is not a big fan of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Plus – is beer sustainable? The answer to this question will delight the drinkers of North West England.

You can find out more about Adrian’s work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/scc/about-us/people/adrian-friday

Episode Transcript

Katy discusses two projects – Mobile Access North Yorkshire (MANY) and 5G Rural Integrated Testbed (5GRIT) – that brought digital technologies to rural areas in the North of England. She explains why isolated areas can miss out when new tech is rolled out, how these technologies can help in unexpected ways – from assisting mountain rescue teams to tracking sheep on the fells in heavy snow – and the importance of involving communities in the rollout.

You can find out more about the MANY project here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/research/innovation-in-place/#d.en.520893 and about Katy’s research projects here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/katy-mason

WARNING: This episode contains language that may upset some listeners, as ‘infrastructuring’ is used as a verb in defiance of all rules of English.

Episode Transcript

Linda's work looks at modern slavery in company supply chains. It takes in the impacts - good and bad - of legislation, how companies are responding to issues, and how businesses work together to improve practice and modern slavery detection. There is also accounting, to Jan's delight.

Read more about Linda's work here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lums/people/linda-hendry

Episode Transcript

Duncan has worked across NGOs and corporate sector on issues regarding biodiversity and sustainability, and explains the importance of companies understanding their impact on the climate and the biosphere, and how work at the Pentland Centre is looking at what good reporting on that impact would look like, and whether companies understand that.

You can read Duncan's blogs on business and biodiversity here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/pentland/news-and-events/blog/

Reporting on Nature 2022: A Navigation Guide: Reporting on Nature 2022 - Lancaster University

And find out more about the Pentland Centre's interest in the area here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_Transforming-Tomorrow/13/

Episode Transcript

Professor Jan Bebbington and Paul Turner examine what these 17 goals mean and how they tie into the research and activity that takes place across the Pentland Centre.

Find out more about the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) project Jan is involved with here: https://seabos.org/

Episode Transcript

Professor Jan Bebbington and Paul Turner explain all.

Episode Transcript