Energ’Ethic - Climate Justice and Energy Transition

🎧 Guest: Seda Orhan, Renewable Energy Programme Manager at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe and board member at the Renewable Grids Initiative 🔎 Episode Summary: If the first time locals hear about your wind or solar project is when the diggers arrive, you’ve already lost. In this episode, Marine Cornelis is joined by Seda Orhan to discuss the invisible ingredient that makes or breaks renewab...

This episode is a call to action. Recorded at the stunning Florence School of Regulation with sponsorship from Energy Traders Europe, this special episode of Energ’Ethic shines a very necessary light on the link between representation, power, and progress in the energy transition. Let’s say it again: there’s no energy transition without equality . From gas platforms with no toilets for women, to b...

This episode is about the people who got tired of waiting their turn — and built their own table instead. Marine Cornelis sits down with Federico Barbieri and Carlotta Ferri , President and Vice-President of EYEN – the European Youth Energy Network , a buzzing coalition of young minds who decided that youth in Europe didn’t need another panel slot or empty round of applause — they needed power, pr...

In this episode of Energ’Ethic, host Marine Cornelis sits down with Mark Copley , CEO of Energy Traders Europe , to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood parts of our energy system: trading . Energy trading often feels like a secret society—shrouded in jargon, heavy with high stakes, and, let’s be honest, not the most relatable part of the transition narrative. But Mark shows us a...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis swaps roles and becomes the guest on Decisions Now , a podcast by Evalueserve exploring how AI and data are reshaping business decisions across sectors. Together with host Erin Pearson, Marine dives into a topic close to her heart: how to make sure that innovation in the energy sector actually serves people—not just systems or markets. This candid and wide-ranging...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis welcomes Fabrizio Chiara, founder and CEO of Sunspeker — an Italian startup proving that energy does not have to stand out to make a difference. At Energ’Ethic, we have often asked what it takes to make the energy transition feel right. With Mirte Jepma, we explored how homes carry more than walls — they carry dignity, stories, and belonging. With Giulia Ulpiani, w...

Can urban renewal be fair? In this episode of Energ’Ethic, host Marine Cornelis meets Mirte Jepma, a PhD researcher, feminist activist, and documentary maker whose work explores how cities can be made more liveable—without pushing out the people who already live there. Mirte shares the story behind her film The Sinking Fringe, which follows the residents of a social housing neighbourhood in Amster...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis sits down with Rune Kirt , industrial designer, futurist, and co-founder of Kirt & Thomsen . His mission? To make the invisible visible. Rune helps clean tech innovators, policymakers, and communities turn energy projects from abstract concepts into tangible, visually compelling narratives that drive trust and acceptance. Takeaways: 🎨 Seeing is Believing: How...

How do we make cities truly climate-neutral, according to science? In this episode, Marine Cornelis welcomes Giulia Ulpiani , a Scientific Project Officer at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, who is at the forefront of urban climate adaptation and mitigation. With a background in applied physics and energy efficiency , Giulia’s career has spanned building optimisation, urban overhea...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis hosts Christoph Malzer , Business Development Manager at Navitasoft , to discuss one of the most significant shifts in European energy history: the Baltic synchronisation . On 8 February 2025 , Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania officially disconnected from Russia’s BRELL system, marking the end of their reliance on Russian-controlled electricity operations and fully i...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis sits down with Duygu Kutluay, a campaigner at Europe Beyond Coal/Beyond Fossil Fuels , to explore her inspiring work in renewable energy and local solutions. Originally from Istanbul and now based in Berlin, Duygu brings a unique global perspective to the fight against fossil fuels, shaped by her journey from sustainable agriculture in Anatolia to advocating for co...

In this episode, Marine welcomes Olivia Sicurani , Head of Innovation at Sympower , a flexibility aggregator leading the way in creating a renewable energy future. Olivia shares her journey from being inspired by An Inconvenient Truth to driving innovation in the energy sector. With Sympower’s mission to balance the grid through smarter use of energy assets, Olivia offers insights into the challen...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis welcomes Monica Vidal , the powerhouse behind CAN Europe ’s Build Better Lives campaign, to discuss the intertwined challenges of energy poverty, housing crises, and climate change. Monica shares how her science-driven background shaped her approach to advocacy and policy-making, focusing on collaboration and practical solutions. Together, Marine and Monica explore...

In this final episode of 2024, Marine Cornelis welcomes journalist and moderator Anna Gumbau for a deep dive into the pivotal moments, challenges, and opportunities in energy policy this year. Together, they explore the progress made on the EU’s Fit for 55 package, the shifting focus from social equity to competitiveness, and the pressing need for modernising Europe’s energy grids. Anna shares her...

In this episode, Marine Cornelis hosts Thomas Samuel, the visionary founder of Sunna Design and Moon , two transformative ventures aimed at extending clean, accessible energy to underserved regions. Thomas shares how his journey from a surfing trip in Senegal led him to revolutionize solar-powered solutions for remote and off-grid communities. He discusses his mission to empower regions worldwide...

In this compelling episode of Energ’Ethic , host Marine Cornelis sits down with William Brent, a true leader in climate solutions and energy justice. As the CMO of Husk Power Systems, a frontrunner in community solar energy, William shares his deep insights into the fight against energy poverty and the essential role of sustainable energy in the Global South. His journey—from early days witnessing...

The EU Fit-From-55 policy framework aims to balance climate goals with social objectives, but is it enough? Host Marine Cornelis sits down with Louise Sunderland, Managing Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), to explore how Europe’s energy transition can become more equitable—and what lessons we can learn from global movements. The EU framework: a step forward, but… Europe has mad...

How Much Land Do We Really Need for 100% Renewable Energy? Imagine a world where Europe runs entirely on renewable energy by 2040. That’s the vision Cosimo Tansini shares in this episode of Energ’Ethic —but how much land will that take? And can we achieve this without harming our planet's biodiversity? In this engaging conversation, Marine Cornelis hosts Cosimo from the European Environmental Bure...

What role do unions play in driving a fair transition to renewable energy? In this episode of Energ'Ethic , we explore this critical question with Tuscany Bell , Utility Sector Lead at the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) . In this episode of Energ'Ethic , we dive into the role of unions in driving a fair and inclusive transition to renewable energy . Tuscany Bell, Utility Secto...

Episode 55: Tackling Energy Poverty and Building a Fair Transition with Miłka Stępień How can renewable energy end energy poverty while creating better jobs? In this episode of Energ' Ethic , we explore how Central and Eastern Europe is confronting these challenges with Miłka Stępień , Just Transition Campaign Coordinator at CEE Bankwatch Network. Miłka brings 25 years of activism to the table, an...

In this thought-provoking episode of Energ’Ethic, we sit down with Jad Mouawad , a trailblazer in climate communication and a key figure in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) pivot towards clean energy advocacy. With a career spanning over two decades, Jad has been at the forefront of merging energy policy with climate imperatives, advocating for a future where energy security and sustainabil...

"We all live under the same sun" In this fascinating discussion, Tedd Moya Mose, a lawyer, academic, and consultant at the University of Oxford, looks at the power of law to broaden access to electricity worldwide. From his experience as a lawyer in Kenya to British universities, he has come to understand that “if we get the legal framework or policy or regulation wrong, it is very, very difficult...

Why is energy poverty unsustainable?  How do disabled people navigate the transition to net-zero?  The “just transition” could be the right framework to rethink the way our societies are designed, and make sure disabled people are taking ownership of the opportunities presented. But first, we need to acknowledge that “The current distribution of energy is unfair to disabled people in the sense tha...

"We cannot afford to exclude any community from this transition"  What is energy justice and how can it be developed?   In this episode, Dr Elizabeth Blakelock shares her experience as a fierce advocate for citizens' rights to fair treatment in the energy market. She tells us how she opened her eyes to the intersectionality of race and vulnerability in the sector, and how she is now fighting for e...

" If we design for low-income vulnerable energy consumers, there can be benefits to a whole range of consumers " Rose Chard, Fair Future Lead at Energy Systems Catapult, shares her expert insights on how to make the net-zero transition work for low-income and vulnerable consumers and how businesses can design products and services that benefit all consumers.  We discuss the challenges of fuel pove...