The Climate Solutions podcast by European Investment Bank returns for its second season from 11 March and explores attitudes towards climate change in light of COVID-19.
Hosted by Matt Rees, the podcast covers the results of the European Investment Bank Climate Survey with Director of Research at Sciences Po Martial Foucault, Director of Opinion Polling at BVA Adelaide Zulfikarpasic and Head of the Climate Policy Unit at the European Investment Bank, the EU climate bank, Edward Calthrop.
Climate Solutions surveyed 30,000 people in every EU country as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States and China to find out what we’re ready to do to stop climate change and how the COVID-19 crisis is changing our perception of the climate emergency.
The survey revealed that 72% of Europeans believe their own behaviour can make a difference in tackling climate change.
Each episode examines what we’re prepared to do to pave the way to a sustainable future.
Episode themes include:
- What would you give up to save humanity?
- Down to work: COVID, teleworking and behaviour changes
- How much would you pay to stop climate change?
- Travel to the future
- The very philosophical episode: Climate change and post-materialism
The first episode, launching tomorrow, 11 March, tackles the question: Is COVID-19 good or bad for climate change?
He explores whether COVID-19 is causing us to change our behaviour in ways that might be positive for climate change such as by remote working, instead of commuting to an office, thus reducing carbon emissions.
Matt also looks at responses to the global recession caused by COVID-19 and investigates those who want investment at any cost compared with those in favour of a ‘green recovery’ that would pump funds into sustainable businesses that don’t compromise the environment.
Adelaide Zulfikarpasic points out: “The majority of Europeans consider that the government’s priority should be the green recovery,” but there were differences from country to country.
“In countries such as France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Spain, it was clear that they believed the fight against climate change must be a part of the economic recovery,” she continues, “On the other hand, countries including Greece, Denmark, or Sweden, were in favour of recovery by any means.”
Matt highlights that 75% of Europeans feel the impact of climate change in their daily lives and that “climate change remains firmly on the list (of concerns), which is why most people tell us they want a green recovery.”
Both he and his experts also discuss the importance of acting soon in tackling the climate emergency. Ed Calthrop says, “The overriding lesson from the pandemic is that we have to learn that we cannot ignore the longer-term risks of climate change.”
Climate Solutions is available on Apple, Spotify, Acast, and all major podcast platforms.
