Episodes
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Prince Jaime de Bourbon de Parme, Climate Envoy of the Netherlands, talks about the current state of the climate negotiations and the importance of listening, bridging divides and collaboration.
He reflects on the impact of the war in Ukraine and the human dimension of the climate crisis.
Prince Jaime's experience as a diplomat ranges from conflict management and posts in Iraq and Afganistan, to being the ambassador at the Vatican and working for the UN addressing the refugee crisis.
The podcast was recorded by Inner Green Deal co-founder Jeroen Janss in the run-up to COP27, but the the insights on the human dimension in climate negotiations are timeless.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also be interested to listen to our episode from season two titled "how can we all be climate diplomats" with previous Dutch Climate Envoy Marcel Beukeboom.
Please consider subscribing to our podcast or leaving a review. In doing so you make it easier for people to discover our podcast. We thank you for your support.
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit organisation based in Cologne and Brussels with a growing community around the world.
It addresses the human dimension of sustainability and supports leaders, change makers and facilitators to accelerate the green transformation. The non-profit offers a range of short and longer programmes cultivating collaboration, systems thinking and compassion. In addition to programmes for organisations, it empower facilitators to create communities of change by offering train-the-trainer programmes, access to curricula and digital tools.
The Inner Green Deal podcast is produced by Tom Weimann. Original music by Marc Matthaei and Tom Weimann. For more information, send an email to [email protected].
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Inner Green Deal founders Liane Stephan and Jeroen Janss explore the inner, human dimension of sustainable leadership by telling their own personal story of why they created the Inner Green Deal and what they learned during these first three years.
They share about their relationship with nature, their search to integrate climate action in their contemplative work and how they see leaders transform in their programmes.
With this episode, we are starting Season 3 which will bring you inspiring stories about the human dimension of sustainability.This season also marks the beginning of our regular community events. Are you a listener or subscriber of this podcast and would like to connect with like minded and explore your personal Inner Green Deal? Then visit our interactive monthly community events. You can find the dates on the Inner Green Deal page on LinkedIn.
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit organisation based in Cologne and Brussels with a growing community around the world. We address the human dimension of sustainability and support leaders, change makers and facilitators to accelerate the green transformation. We offer a range of short and longer programmes cultivating collaboration, systems thinking and compassion. In addition to programmes for organisations, we empower facilitators and offer train-the-trainer programmes, access to curricula and digital tools to create cohesive communities of change.
Our podcast is produced by Tom Weimann from Hamburg. Music by Marc Matthaei and Tom Weimann.
For more information, visit us on LinkedIn, innergreendeal.com or write to [email protected].
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Missing episodes?
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We are pleased to invite you to the launch of a new monthly community series around the theme of connection. In this brief 5-minute introduction, listen to Inner Green Deal founders Liane and Jeroen reflect on the human dimension of climate change and the importance of connection.
The first online community event will take place on Thursday October 27th from 4 to 5 pm CET.
Please register via THIS LINK for the event.The one-hour event will offer time to exchange and connect and include a guided practice and a conversation with Jamie Bristow, the co-director of The Mindfulness Initiative and co-author of the landmark report "Reconnection - Meeting the Climate Crisis Inside Out" You can share with your community on LinkedIn VIA THIS LINK.
The Inner Green Deal addresses the human dimension of sustainability and supports leaders, change makers and facilitators to accelerate the green transformation. We offer a range of short and longer programmes cultivating collaboration, systems thinking and a widening sense of care. In addition to programmes for organisations, we empower facilitators and offer train-the-trainer programmes, access to curricula and digital tools to create cohesive communities of change.
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit organisation based in Cologne and Brussels with a growing community around the world.For more information, go to the Inner Green Deal website or write to [email protected].
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For this final episode of the season, we welcome Satish Kumar, one of the great peace activists of our time and founder of Schumacher college, a renowed international center for ecological studies. Together with Satish we explore the role of trust and courage in leading personal and societal transformation.
About Satish Kumar
Satish is highly regarded for his peace walk in the 1970s advocating for nuclear disarmament by walking 8000 miles to the nuclear capitals of Moscow, Paris, London and Washington D.C. Having founded Schumacher college in 1981, Satish is also Editor Emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist magazine which he has been editing for more then 40 years. Satish advocates that reverence for nature should be at the heart of every political and social debate. You can find more information on Satish at his page with Resurgence Magazine here.About the Inner Green Deal The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.
Resources:
You can find all of Satish´s writings within the catalogue of Resurgence Magazin here.
In the podcast we talk about the Anthology published for the anniversary of Schumacher college: Transformative Learning - Reflections of 30 years of Head, Heart and Hands at Schumacher College.
Satish´s latest book is called: Elegant Simplicity - The Art of living well
All information on Schumacher college and the courses offered.
The collection of Earth-Talks at the college.
Independence
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit initiative of training and leadership development company Awaris. The Inner Green Deal is in the process of establishing itself as an independent non-profit initiative. Neither the Inner Green Deal nor this podcast episode has been funded by any of the guests or their organisations.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast.
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We welcome Matt Scott, expert in green finance and explore how the financial world is coming to terms with Climate Change. Matt talks passionately about risk management but also stewardship, mindset change and the role of compassion.
About Matt Scott
Matt is Senior Director of the Climate and Resilience Hub at Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory firm. Before that he led the Bank of England´s Climate Hub. Matt holds an MBA from Stanford and teaches entrepreneurship and innovation at Oxford´s Saïd business school. Matt on: LinkedIn
About the Inner Green Deal The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.
Reflective questions: For this episode we invite you to contemplate together with us on the following:
- Awarenes: what are the risks and opportunities for myself and my organisation while we are transitioning to a sustainable economy?
- Alignment of intention: what is my intention? What are our intentions and how do we align these?
- Agency: how can I empower myself and everybody around me to take the action we need?
Resources:
more on Climate Stewardship
more on the Climate Transition Index
more on Climate Transition Pathways
The Executive Compensation Guidebook for Climate Transition
People as the ‘stewards’ of climate strategy
Central Banks Network for Greening the Financial System
The Task force for climate related disclosure
Speech by Mark Carney ( former govenor of the bank of England) - Breaking the tragedy of the horizon
More On the book "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson
Independence
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit initiative of training and leadership development company Awaris. The Inner Green Deal is in the process of establishing itself as an independent non-profit initiative. Neither the Inner Green Deal nor this podcast episode has been funded by any of the guests or their organisations.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast.
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We welcome Heather Grabbe, expert in societal change and reflect on what is needed to rise above populist sentiment, overcome polarisation and inspire people to embrace positive change.
About Heather Grabbe
Heather is the director of the influential Open Society European Policy Institute and advocate for democratic pluralism and open societies. From 2004 to 2009 she was senior advisor to then European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn. She conducted research at the European University Institute (Florence), Chatham House (London), Oxford and Birmingham universities, and taught at the London School of Economics.Heather on: linkedin / twitter
About the Inner Green Deal
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.For this episode we invite you to contemplate together with us on these reflective questions:
How can I start to prepare for the change ahead so my brain will not go on red alert? How can I be part of the solution instead of feeling as part of the problem? What role do mindfulness and compassion play in my life and how can they help me to not get cynical but actually stay in touch and be touched by what I see around myself?Resources:
Open Society European Policy Institute
Heather´s remarkable Ted Talk (including the brain on red alert)
Finnish Fund for the Future - Sitra ( as mentioned in regard of the sust ainability questionaire)
Read how to manage the politics of a fair climate transition in Europe @ Carnegie Europe
Heather´s piece on How to built lasting support for the EU´s green deal @ politico
Independence
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit initiative of training and leadership development company Awaris. The Inner Green Deal is in the process of establishing itself as a separate and independent non-profit initiative. Neither the Inner Green Deal nor this podcast episode has been funded by any participant.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
We welcome Matthias Berninger, Senior Vice President Public Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer and explore with him the role companies can play in transforming the global food system. And, to what extent the activities of Bayer and the Monsanto business it bought in 2018, enable or contradict its efforts to improve biodiversity and sustainability.
About Matthias Berninger
Matthias has over 30 years of experience in sustainability and knows politics and industry inside out. He was elected four times as a Member of the German Federal Parliament for the Green Party and following his time in politics, he joined the Mars company and then in 2019 joined Bayer, a life science company in the area of healthcare and agriculture.About Matthias: linkedin / twitter
About the Inner Green Deal
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.UN initiative to change the Global Food System
The Inner Green Deal is collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme on their Conscious Food Systems Alliance to explore how mindset, consciousness and inner qualities can help to transform the food system from within. If you are also interested to partner with the UN on this vital initiative, do contact us.
Reflective questions for this episode:
For this episode we invite you to contemplate together with us on theses questions:
How can I become more aware of the carbon food-print of the food that I eat? To what extent do my professional activities impact biodiversity? What simple things could I change to improve my carbon footprint and impact on biodiversity?Resources:
About Bayer's sustainability efforts
COP26 outcome from Matthias
Bayer's ranking on the Food & Agriculture Benchmark by the World Benchmarking Alliance
Independence
The Inner Green Deal is a non-profit initiative of training and leadership development company Awaris. The Inner Green Deal is in the process of establishing itself as a separate and independent non-profit initiative. Neither the Inner Green Deal nor this podcast episode has been funded by Bayer.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
We welcome Volker Quaschning, professor for renewable energy at HTW Berlin, founding member of Scientists for Future and plaintiff in the historical climate case against the German government.
He shows us the interconnections between science, activism and politics and explores with us how we can transition to clean energy within one decade.
About Prof. Volker Quaschning
You can find out more about Prof. Quaschning on his personal website. There you will also find links to his youtube channel and his own podcast (in German).About the Inner Green Deal:
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.Reflective questions for this episode:
If you have been touched by what Prof. Quaschning had to say and you would like to put your inspiration into practice, we invite you to reflect on these questions over the course of this week:
What is my resposibilty, something that I can do so I am able to look into the mirror years from now, knowing that I really took care and acted upon it?
Resources:
Guadrian article on the historic court ruling in Germany
Official release from the German supreme constitutional court
Scientists 4 future statement on the floods in Germany
Scientists 4 future founding statement (pdf)
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
Jeroen hosts a live panel as part of the official COP26 EU programme. Three inspiring leaders explore the question: What leadershop qualities are needed now?
This is part 1 of this special episode around Climate Conference COP26, please also join us for a deep dive with panelist Eva Karlsson, CEO of Houdini, in part 2 of this episode.About our panelists
Christine Wamsler is Professor at Lund University Center for Sustainability Studies in Sweden. You can find more on her work here:
Contemplative Sustainable Futures program at Lund University Recent article on inner qualities and inner-outer transformation for sustainability via sciencedirect.com Recent article on inner dimensions of climate change based on lessons from the COP via sciencedirect.comClara de la Torre is the Deputy Director-General for the DG for Climate Action in the European Commission.
About the policy of the European Commission and the work of DG CLIMA please use this link to the website of the European CommissionEva Karlsson is the CEO of Houdini, a Swedish outdoor brand. She has led Houdini since 2001 and is a recognised and award winning leader in sustainability and the circular economy.
CEO Houdini wins sustainable leadership award Houdini ManifestoAbout the Inner Green Deal:
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a di alogue with us, please reach out to us here.Reflective questions for this episode:
We would like to share the intriguing question that Mark Aink raised during the COP26 event in the session chat but which did not make it into the life stream due to time constraints:
"If transformation means we will have to change our culture, and we change the paradigm of separation to inter-being, what is the no.1 value that is the most important to you ?"
Resources:
Eva Karlsson mentions the planetary boundaries framework. You can find more on it at the site of the Stockholm Resilience Centre.You can find the video version of the panel via this link.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Collage in the beginning made from source material from the UN youtube climate channel and material kindly published by the EU commission. Speakers in the collage include: UK PM Boris Johnson, Sir David Attenborough, Vanessa Nakate, President Barak Obama, First VP of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, President of COP26 Alok Sharma and Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
We welcome Eva Karlsson, CEO of Houdini, a Swedish outdoor brand. Eva has led Houdini since 2001 and is a recognised and award winning leader in sustainability and the circular economy.
She shares how sustainability is "lived" in the company and talks about the value of being bold and uncompromising while never giving up on being curious and open to learn new things.
This is part 2 of the COP26 episode where we explore the leadership qualities that are needed now.
If you enjoyed this, please also listen to part 1 with a live panel discussion from COP26 together with Eva, Prof Christine Wamsler from Lund University and Clara de la Torre, Deputy Director-General for the DG for Climate Action in the European Commission.
About Eva Karlsson
You can find out more about Eva in this article about winning the NMC sustainable leadership award. Eva also wrote a remarkable article on corporate sustainability at Houdini on ISPO.About the Inner Green Deal:
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.Reflective questions for this episode:
We would like to share the intriguing question that Mark Aink raised during the COP26 event in the session chat but which did not make it into the life stream due to time constraints:
Does this product deserve existence? Will it last long enough? Is it versatile enough? Will it age with beauty? Nothing added that isn’t needed, right? Will it be easy to repair? Is it durable enough for our rental program? Do we have an ”end-of-life” solution?
"If transformation means we will have to change our culture, and we change the paradigm of separation to inter-being, what is the no.1 value that is the most important to you ?"
More practical questions can be found at Houdini´s designer checklist:Resources:
Houdini:
Here you find more on Houdini´s Open Source campaign, which we talk about in the beginning. The values of Houdini are written down in their manifesto.Friluftsliv - Skandinavian way of deep connection to nature:
Article on National Geographic on FriluftslivThe frameworks, Eva talks about are:
Planetary boundaries framework at the Stockholm Resilience Centre Donot Economics at Donot Econo mics Action Lab (also mentioned in Episod 2 by Dutch Climate Envoy, Marcel Beukeboom) Deep Ecology on intrinsic value of nature, founded by Nils Faarlund, Sigmund Kva løy Setreng, and Arne Næss.Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
We welcome Marcel Beukeboom and explore the world of climate diplomacy, looking back on Marcel’s 5 year term as the Dutch Climate Envoy.
With COP26 unfolding, Marcel gives us context and helps us understand what really goes on inside the halls of the UN Climate Conferences but also to how this relates to our actions and daily lifes as citizens, and how we all can be climate diplomats.
About Marcel Beukeboom:
You can find out more about Marcel on his linkedin profile.About the Inner Green Deal:
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.Reflective questions for this episode:
If you were touched by what Marcel shared and if you would like to put your inspiration into practice, we invite you to reflect on these questions over the course of this week:
How do our daily habits, the way we consume and the way we communicate on social media, shape the context in which politicians are embolded to take pro-environmental decisions - or actually hesitate to do so, believing that this does not reflect "the will of the people"? What is it in our daily life or in our leadership role that we can do to become a climate diplomate and speak up for the environment?Resources:
Survey for the whole EU Survey for the Netherlands
If you are curious about the extent to which citizens support climate policy, you may find the following EU surveys helpful:Doughnut Economics co-founded by Kate Raworth: https://doughnuteconomics.org
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
In this first episode of season 2, Tom welcomes Dianne Dain, Chief Innovation Officer of the World Humanitarian Forum and founder of COPxx. The episode is our first out of 3 covering the UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
With her impressive track record in technology, innovation and humanitarian efforts, Dianne gives us insights on how important a deep connection to nature, reciprocity and hopeful action are when negotiating climate action on an international level. She also gives us guidadance on the question: How can we listen to all the voices? Including those of women, children and indigenous people.
About Dianne:
You can find out more about Dianne on her website here. More on how to listen to the nurturing qualities on the website of COPXX, the initiative founded by Dianne.About the Inner Green deal:
The Inner Green Deal podcast, a podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership is an effort of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support or start a dialogue with us, please reach out to us here.Reflective questions for this episode:
If you have been touched by what Dianne had to say and you would like to put your inspiration into practice, we invite you to reflect on theses questions over the course of this week:
How can we hear all the voices when we come together? At conferences of the parties like COP26 in Glasgow, when we gather within companies and also at home. How can we hear all the voices within our selves? Especially the quiter ones, the ones that will stand in for caring, nurturing, preserving, restoring what is around us? And if we hear those voices: what are they telling us and how can that guide our actions and decisions?Resources:
The Economics of Biodiversity: Final Report of the Independent Review on the Economics of Biodiversity led by Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta. Dianne referred to one of the UN competitions winners: Grow your own cloud Dianne and Tom are both inspired by the book "Braiding Sweetgrass" by Robin Wall Kimmerer
In the course of our conversation we also mentioned a couple of resources. Here are the direct links for your convenience:Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth. Made with compassion and active hope. From Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
In this intro episode to season 2, Jeroen welcomes Tom as the new host for this season. Together they reflect on releasing the podcast while the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 is taking place in Glasgow. They also hint at the changes we will see in the course of season two.
Season two will feature 8 inspiring guests (and a new original soundtrack!)
Episode 1 with Dianne Dain Chief Innovation Officer world humanitarian forum, founder COPXX release on Wednesday November 3rd Episode 2 with Marcel Beukeboom Climate Envoy of the Netherlands (up to July 2021)Now Dutch Representative to the UN in Rome release on Wednesday November 10th Episode 3 live from COP26 EU Side Event at COP26 recorded on November 10 with Eva Karlsson, CEO Houdini sportswear, including panel discussion of COP26 event together with Eva Karlsson, Christine Wamsler, Lund University Center for Sustainable Studies and Clara de la Torre, Deputy Director General DG Climate Action at the EU Commission.Release on Wednesday November 17th Episode 4 with Prof. Volker Quaschning Prof. of renewable energy systems, University of Applied Sciences Berlin Release on Wednesday November 24th Episode 5 with Matthias Berninger Global Head of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer release on Wednesday December 1st Episode 6 wiith Heather Grabbe Executive Director of the Open Society European Policy Institute, release on Wednesday December 8th Episode 7 with Matthew Scott Senior Director, Climate and Resilience Hub at Willis Towers Watson, release on Wednesday December 15th Episode 8 with Satish Kumar Peace activist, founder of Schumacher college, editor of Resurgence magazine for 43 years. Release on Wednesday December 22ndAbout the Inner Green Deal Initiative: The Inner Green Deal podcast, the podcast for exploring compassionate and sustainable leadership, is an initiative of Awaris and the Inner Green Deal initiative. If you would like to support us or start a dialogue, please reach out to us here.
Reflective questions: This season we will invite you in every episode to reflect together with us on some questions. You will find these questions transcribed here in the show notes.
Resources: Whenever we talk about a specific initiative, mention a reference or reflect on something that inspires our guest, we will supply you in this section with links directly to the resources on the web.
Credits
Intro song "the Inner Green Deal" by WayUpNorth Made with compassion and active hope. from Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg, your team of the Inner Green Deal podcast. -
Liane asks Fernando Garcia about the state of our planet and whether sustainability is a realistic focus.
Should we hold on to a belief that we can live in a sustainable way with 8 billion people on this planet – or should we start thinking about the possibility that this may not be realistic – and start reflecting on what is truly worth saving, what we need to let go off and what we need to come to terms with?
Fernando is a former Director of Health and Wellbeing at the European Commission. While is not a scientist he is one of the most informed citizens I know. Since he retired two years ago, he has been attending and facilitating retreats where he explores how we relate to nature.
In this podcast he raises some tough questions but also offers answers that not only present a more realistic future but also one that is more enjoyable and in connection with our ourselves and with nature.
This is the final episode of our first podcast season. We look forward to continuing this journey together.
For the next season we will open up the podcast platform to new facilitators and guests. If you want to join our podcast team or be an occasional contributor, send a message to [email protected] – we would love to hear from you!
Equally as we are all volunteers, we would welcome financial donations to cover the costs and support the ongoing functioning of our podcast.
Anyhow, we loved making this first podcast season and look forward to continue the exploration together!
For now enjoy this special episode with Fernando Garcia!
About Fernando Garcia
About Liane Stephan
Interested to contribute to the Inner Green Deal podcast? Send a mail to Jeroen Janss of the Inner Green Deal Initiative via [email protected]. Thank you!
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In this episode Liane is talking to Parham Vasaiely about the role of technology in the green transition.
Parham is the Global director for Advanced Safety and Autonomous Driving at a large technology company. In addition, Parham is a Global Advisory Board Member to the United Nations on the topic of technology and innovation.
And to complete the list, he was the former Chair of the Private Sector and Workplace charter of the British All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mindfulness.
Liane asks Parham about the role of technology in the green transition and what is a helpful mindset given today’s complex and interconnected economy.
I encourage you to listen to Parham’s responses as he talks about his own leadership journey, and what helped him to broaden his perspective and be more effective as a leader.
About Parham Vasaiely
About Liane Stephan
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Louise Tideman is 29 and works at NGO "WeForest".
I ask Louise what it takes for a young person to have impact in purpose driven organisations that are led by really committed people with obviously more skills and experience than those that start out.
What obstacles did she had to overcome and what lessons did she learn?
As you probably can tell from the interview, it was a joy to meet Louise as she was not only one of the friendliest people I met - but also one of those rare persons that are willing to share their insecurities and the ways to over come them.
So enjoy listening to Louise and this week’s episode of the Inner Green Deal Podcast.
About Louise Tideman
About WeForest
About host Jeroen Janss
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In this special episode, I am talking to Bryan Welch, leading publisher on sustainability, CEO of mindful.org and committed rancher from Kansas.
I ask Bryan how he feels if Donald Trump were to win and what a contested election means for America.
Knowing the system from the inside he points to the divisions that he has seen deepening over the years and the media and vested interests that have played a role in that.
Yet despite the challenging outlook, Bryan also sees many positive developments and talks about the millions of people that discover the power of compassion – a quality that he sees not only as distinctively human - and grounding - but also as critical at a time of societal division, environmental mass extinction and climate change.
So take a deep breath and listen to Bryan’s wisdom while the reality of the US elections slowly unfolds.
More about Bryan Welch at Mindful.org
Host: Jeroen Janss - Inner Green Deal Podcast
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In this episode I am talking to Lionel Wauters, co-founder and chairman of Färm, a group of organic food stores.
I ask Lionel about the role of food in the green transition and the secret behind the success of Färm.
Lionel’s answers may surprise you. In particular when he talks about the organisation behind Färm and the way its founders invited farmers, customers, employees and other stakeholders to join their Board and take decisions together.
It is an inspiring model particularly at a time when Europe is debating the future of agriculture and struggling to agree on the substantial amount of change that needs to happen in the interest of all stakeholders - including our planet.
Anyway, am sure you will be intrigued by Lionel and think of this episode next time you enter a foodstore.
Färm website
About Lionel Wauters
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Christine Wamsler is Professor at Lund University Center for Sustainability Studies in Sweden.
She is at the forefront of research on the human qualities that are essential for sustainable climate action and has over 20 years of experience working in sustainable development, risk reduction and climate adaptation.
She has led many international projects and has published more than 200 academic papers, articles and books.
But beyond the academic credentials, Christine is a remarkable person. Having been on the ground in areas struck by hurricanes and other extreme weather events, Christine’s interest and understanding of human behaviour is profound.
From the conversation with Christine you will get an unusual amount of insight on how our inner qualities – such as awareness, openness and compassion – relate to pro-social behaviour and climate action in particular.
So let’s listen to Christine and her profoundly human vision of climate action.
For more information on Christine's work, go to:
- Contemplative Sustainable Futures Program: overview of research on the role of inner dimensions in transformation and sustainability. Two specific research projects referred to in the podcast: TransVision and Mind4Change.
- Christine’s profile at Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies (LUCSUS).
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Bernd Biervert is Head of Unit at the European Commissions’ Research & Innovation Directorate.
I ask Bernd about the scope of the European Green Deal and what we can expect over the next 5 to 10 years.
From Bernd’s replies you get a glimpse of what it takes to bring change at societal level. Which is fascinating.
In the media there is a tendency to glorify entrepreneurs who address specific needs some of which are social, which is of course wonderful but it’s becoming clear that we need large-scale systemic change to address systemic problems.
And this is the terrain of the European Commission. The Commission initiates laws, regulations and fiscal policies that drive systemic change across the Continent.
The question is, can it do so fast enough and can it convince leaders of Member States to embrace the necessary change?
Listen to Bernd as he talks about the vision, the courage and the endurance that is needed to drive systemic change.
For more on the EU and the European Green Deal go to:
The European Green Deal DG RTD: EU Research & Innovation - Show more
