Zero: The Climate Race

Julia Wolfe, Pulitzer Prize–winning composer known for large-scale works and the climate oratorio unEarth, discusses using orchestra, voice and text to explore climate and habitat loss. She explains the three movements—Flood, Forest, and a protest-like finale. Conversation covers research, shifting meanings over time, using words with music, and collaborating with performers and youth voices.

Manoj Sinha, CEO of Husk Power Systems, a founder scaling mini-grids and distributed energy in Asia and Africa. He discusses mini-grids, solar-plus-storage and biogas as fast paths to electrify underserved areas. He explains how DERs can ease grid bottlenecks, support industry and data centers, and the policies and payments tech that help systems scale.

George Saunders, Booker Prize–winning novelist known for inventive, empathetic fiction. He talks about why he set a climate story at the heart of Vigil and how his research and past engineering work shaped an oil-industry protagonist. He discusses balancing humor with darkness, the challenges of telling climate stories, the risks AI poses to creativity, and writing exercises that unlock fresh voices.

Kingsmill Bond, a strategist at Ember and author of the Electrotech Revolution report, shares insights on the crucial role of electrification in the climate narrative for 2026. He describes how supply and demand are reshaped by solar, EVs, and smart grids, emphasizing the urgent need for policies to support this shift. Bond highlights India’s leap into cheap solar and the potential for local resilience over external control. He also explores bottlenecks in deployment, the impact of fossil fuel incumbents, and the modular technologies necessary for a sustainable energy future.

Lisa Sachs, director of Columbia University's Center on Sustainable Investment, discusses the shortcomings of current climate finance strategies since the Paris Agreement. She argues that mere data disclosures and net-zero goals haven't driven necessary changes. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of market incentives and structured risk-sharing to make clean projects bankable. Sachs also highlights the investment potential in emerging markets and the need for integrated solutions, like a cross-border clean grid in Southeast Asia, to unlock funding.

Join U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a fierce climate advocate, as he tackles the darker side of American petrostate actions. He argues that the U.S. is acting as a petro bully under Trump's influence, harming its global credibility. Whitehouse emphasizes the need for Democrats to boldly address climate issues and connect them to voters' everyday concerns. He discusses successful strategies from Australia and warns against fossil fuel interests undermining progress. Carbon pricing is presented as crucial for a sustainable future.

Kim Stanley Robinson, a renowned science-fiction author known for his climate-centric works like Ministry for the Future, shares his vision for a sustainable future. He argues against the notion of abundance, instead advocating for adequacy, equality, and communal projects to combat nihilism. Robinson discusses the role of economic insecurity in stalling climate action and emphasizes the importance of making low-carbon choices accessible. He also highlights the potential of science fiction to inspire change and imagines democratic energy systems for a fairer society.

In this insightful conversation, Lauri Myllyvirta, co-founder of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, discusses the pivotal moment in China’s emissions trajectory. He explains the factors behind a 1% decline in emissions, highlighting advancements in renewable energy and electrification of transport. Lauri delves into the reliability of China's data, the challenges of coal-to-chemicals expansion, and the interaction between trade tensions and climate policy. He shares thoughts on China’s potential to lead in green technology and the implications for global climate action.

Sebastian Kind, an energy policy expert and former undersecretary at Argentina's Ministry of Energy, shares insights on Argentina's impressive renewable energy journey. He discusses how the country escalated its renewable sources to nearly 18% despite significant economic challenges. Sebastian dives into the design of the groundbreaking 2015 renewable law, attracting $11 billion in investments through innovative guarantees, and highlights the crucial role of international partnerships, particularly with China. His work at RELP aims to replicate Argentina's success in other nations.

When Canada elected Mark Carney as prime minister, there was hope that the country would pursue climate policies. That hope was crushed after Carney signed a deal with the oil-producing province of Alberta that will roll back or dilute green regulations.  As a result, Steven Guilbeault, Carney’s culture minister has resigned from cabinet. He was the environment minister under Justin Trudeau and responsible for many of the policies at risk. This week on Zero, Guilbeault tells Akshat Rathi why the Alberta deal was the last straw. Explore further: Carney Defector Says ‘No Way’ Canada Can Meet Climate Goals Now - Bloomberg Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney Stands by His Climate Agenda - Bloomberg Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Danielle Bochove, Sommer Saadi, Mohsis Andam, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.