Climate Change, Global Warming, Net Zero and Sustainability with Suraj Bhatia

In this episode, we interview Jeffrey Rissman, the author of Zero Carbon Industry - Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity. He discusses his book, which provides details on sectors such as Chemicals, Paper and Cement, via well researched data and technologies. The book seamlessly blends technical, statistical, philosophical and human issues to offer solutions for industrial decarbonization.

In this episode, we speak once again to Dan Delurey, a clean energy and climate expert, who has been to all recent COPs. He disects the implication of the breakthrough agreement for transition away from fossil fuels, and tells us how the COP process truly works through the course of the year leading up to the final negotiations. He also explains the various zones at COP- blue, green, etc, where real ideas germinate and real transformations take place.

In this episode, I speak to Virgilio Viana, ex- Secretary of State for Environment in Brazil, and Director General of the Amazonas Sustainability Foundation. Virgilio provides his candid views on the successes and shortcomings of COP 28 Dubai, from the standpoint of Biodiversity and its close relationship with decarbonization. He also discussed UN's lack of agreement on standards for Carbon Trading.

In this episode, we break down the key agreements reached in Dubai, to address global warming. We also analyse the shortcomings and provide a clear conclusion from the conference.

In this episode, we speak to Dan Delurey, a UN climate advocate and advisor, to get his take on how the UN is progressing in its attempts to get the world to restrict global warming. We discuss recent climate cases in the courts, one of which is California's case against 5 oil majors, on the topic of climate change. Finally, we talk about a disturbing new trend, especially among young people - Climate anxiety.

In this episode, we review Cimate Week New York, and provide a synopsis of key announcements and findings from over 400 events. As the emphasis on biodiversity takes center stage, we discuss recent announcements from the United Nations and from the State of California - the UN Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) guidelines, and California's lawsuit against five oil majors. We visit a rooftop farm, and meet with the farm's custodians, and speak to other experts attending the conference.

In this episode, I travel to the island paradise of Aruba, which has recently felt the impact of climate change, through the advancement and expansion of the Carribean Hurricane Cycle, causing it's well known dry, windy climate to be impacted, through heavy rainfall and a counteracting of wind speed.

I speak to a Real Estate developer, who gives me her views on how the real estate business is being transformed because of consciousness relating to its carbon footprint. A multistoried commercial or residential property has many tools available for it to decarbonize - of course there is a cost element, higher for exisiting buildings and a little less for brand new construction. Power sources, and smart zone based sensors, coupled with behavioral changes, will go a long way towards decarbonization.

In this episode I talk about the naked eye planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), their rotations and distances from the sun, and muse about the precarious planetary balance that we should not take for granted. I explain when you can see Venus, and why it is rare for Venus and Jupiter to be seen together.

In this episode, I speak to Guilherme Santana and Marcelo Da Costa, founders of Preservaland, and get their expert commentary on the successes and shortcomings of Biodiversity COP 15, which concluded last quarter in Canada. Marcelo explains the proper methodology for preserving forestland, balancing preservation needs with social issues in the massive Amazon Rainforest, and tells us how Brazil is trying to maintain biodiversity equilibrium, and emphasizes the importance of doing so to save our planet.

In this episode we review the definition and significance of Biodiversity in maintaining the earth's ecological balance. We list out the key objectives of COP 15 Montreal conference - December 2022, and outline the main outcomes, list out some of the players, and objectors, and provide hopes for next steps in implementation.

In this episode, we review the recently concluded COP 27 conference in Sharm El Sheikh Egypt. We desribe the agreement to create a Loss and Damage Fund, and we also talk about Indonesia's use of a climate fund to retire coal burning power plants. 

In this episode, we review the acronyms COP and UNFCC, we take stock of the history of COP meetings, the landmark agreements coming out of COPs, and give a preview of what to expect during COP 27. We also discuss the  importance of watching European economies following the war and the energy crisis in Europe.

In this episode, we define the three types of Hydrogen - Grey, Blue and Green. We visit the actual site where the Hindenburg's Hydrogen storage chambers burst into flames, causing the massive airship to crash. We play the recording of an anguished reporter relaying the Hindenburg landing accident. We discuss safety of Hydrogen as a fuel source. 

In this episode, I have a summer chat with a corporate strategist about his interations with boards. He gives his take on how corporate boards think about climate change solutions. 

In this episode, we  list  three outcomes from COP 26 - Phasing Down Coal, Capturing Methane Gas, and Developing Green Hydrogen as a fuel source. We explain the three types of hydrogen - grey, blue and green, the benefits and challenges of using it as a clean fuel source. We discuss the use of Hydrogen in the Hindenburg Air Ship that went down in flames in Lakehurst, New Jersey. We contemplate the safety elements of  hydrogen as a fuel source.

In this episode, we visit with a gentleman who has been recycling and refurbishing discarded items for over 60 years. His roadside shop contains a collection of items ranging from farm equipment to apple cider makers to bird houses to benches - all saved from becoming solid waste. I sift through his collectibles and find a 10 pound, rusted 3 foot wrench, originally used to repair farm machinery. It is now an artifact in my front yard, sitting next to a vintage bicycle, used for harboring flower pots. 

In this episode I give some stats about the countries that genrate the most and the least amounts of solid waste. I give the names of only 3 countries in the world that are carbon negative. I take a trip out to rural New Jersey to discover a shop that has been restoring household items for decades.

In this episode we talk about the Net Zero Banking Alliance, what it hopes to achieve, how it proposes to do that, what are carbon sinks, what is the 1.5 degree trajectory, and other comments related to Carbon reduction

In this episode I "clear the air" on COP 26. What is COP, why is it important, what items were discussed there, what were some of the well known COPs in the past, what were the key outcomes and disappointments , what role did India and China play in COP 26, where do we go from here?

Ryan Laddey, who worked with the UN on significant papers describing the impact of climate change upon women in Africa and other developing zones, gives his commentary on studies funded by the Japanese government. He gives his reasons for concluding how women in developing nations are more greatly impacted than men. He shares how insurance companies are making carbon reduction commitments by signing on to the Net Zero Insurance Alliance. 

n this episode I take a trip to Marconi Tower and Marconi Beach in The Cape Cod National Seashore. I view a rookery of seals, I ponder upon the progress unleashed by Marconi and I stumble upon a paradoxical statement attributed to Marconi.

In this episode, I interview Michelle McGinty from The Center for Resource Solutions, a non profit that creates policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy

In this episode, we  revisit the day Martians landed at Grovers Mill NJ, on October 30, 1938, and we discuss the difference between the atmospheres of the Earth and Mars.

For the past 15 years, The Princeton Environmental Film Festival has been showcasing films related to environmental topics. In this episode I interview Susan Conlon on how they bring filmmakers, thinkers, viewers together to  focus on understanding and improving the environment.

In this episode, I give my views on the recent book by Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. I discuss the spiritual journey Senator Al Gore takes us on, in his book: Earth in the Balance. I end the episode  with a recital of a short Hymn of Peace!

In this episode I chat with Don Young, who has been in the asset management business his entire career. He shares his perspectives on sustainability, and explains how investors from different parts of the world have stepped up their inquiries on how their money is deployed in the ESG space. He also explains how it is important to have an ESG perspective in credit analysis, without sacrificing credit quality or returns. 

This is a poem to draw attention to the problem of smoke pollution caused by agricultural waste burning. Growing up on the Indian plains, I remember that the skies were clear and the nightime always offered lovely views of the heavenly skies. As cities sprawled and developed closer to farmland, things changed. In New Delhi - the (ex) city beautiful, pollution from automobiles, combined with smoke from agrowaste burning, combines to provide a choking smog hanging over the city all winter long. 

A few years back, I  stayed at a 14th century ex-Maharajah's Hill Fort in the Princely state of Alwar, and observed agro burning from a vantage point.

My poem - Hill Fort Kesroli - laments the tramsformation of the skies from blue to  black, from starlit to smoky, from clear to opaque.

Please send me your comments at surajbhatia@iitdalumni.com

Suraj Bhatia

Episode 21-4

My conversation with Lindsay Drogin, banker with New York Green Bank. How the bank entertains proposals from everyday "sustainable projects".

Is a Federal Green Bank in the works? 

The episode focuses on providing an easy to understand explanation of the Greenhouse Effect, its implications and the importance of maintaining a balance in the earth's temperature.

I interview Jay Gorawara, a pure Chemical Engineer with over 30 patents. I get his views on what it was like living in SIberia, and I ask him to explain the chemistry behind the formation of acid rain in the midwest. He explains his views on progress vs. climate change and pollution 

Contact Suraj: SurajBhatia@iitdalumni.com

This episode is a preview of the breadth of topics to be discussed in this podcast. Suggestions and feedback are welcome, as we continue this journey together.