TRACK CHANGES - chats with climate change and sustainability experts

In this panel-pod, three guests discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the reformed Safeguard Mechanism - Australia's main policy for cutting industrial greenhouse gas emissions.  You'll hear how their views of the Safeguard have evolved, their thoughts on the policy's strengths and weaknesses, and their suggestions on how it could be improved. Joining the panel are Tejesh Kashyap, policy and res...

In this bonus episode, we take the Track Changes roving mic to Sustainability Business Live, Australia's largest corporate sustainability event. The conference component of Sustainability Business Live featured speakers including Matt Kean, chair of the Climate Change Authority, electrification guru Dr Saul Griffith, Dr Matthew Bell, global head of sustainability consultancy Anthesis, Ronni Kahn A...

The Track Changes science and technology division has invented the dejargonator - and Carbon Pulse Asia Pacific editor Mark Tilly has bravely agreed to test it out! We put this episode together because we enjoy hearing climate and environment professionals talking plainly about what they know. And we like hearing them explain difficult concepts (like carbon markets). Mark is a terrific communicato...

In these times, we need to celebrate the wins - and that's what we've done in this 'open mic' episode! It's a mix of short audio clips from contributors, and street vox pops - and it's about success in all its forms. Some of the things you'll hear about are individual actions, some are larger scale programs, and one is a mighty initiative that left Franziska and I almost awestruck.  Anyway, enjoy...

What has shaped Türkiye's approach to climate change? In this episode, ClientEarth's Gizem Koç chats to us about recent changes in Türkiye's climate law and policy, and the drivers of those changes (including the EU's Green Deal). In the lead-up to the UN's COP31 climate summit - which will be hosted by Türkiye - Gizem also talks about environmental litigation in Türkiye, the role of non-governmen...

If you like Track Changes, please rate us and review us on your pod platform, so more people hear about our show!  In this episode, leading international climate barrister Harj Narulla calls UN climate summits a "big, messy jamboree", and talks about why we need them, and why they aren't enough. Harj - who represented the Solomon Islands in a landmark climate change case before the International C...

We've got some real heavyweights talking about cutting CO2 and methane emissions from heavy industry - Margi Johnson (Australian Aluminium Council), Ben McGarry (Aurecon), and Trent Hawkins (ERM). They're a very talented crew, each with hands-on experience, and each with a deep knowledge of 'big picture' factors that influence business decision-making on cutting emissions that cause climate change...

An update on what to expect from Australian states and territories on the climate change, sustainability, and waste management front in 2026. Which state has an approach to climate change and sustainability that would make great fodder for a standalone true crime podcast? Which one has an approach that would make for a great wellness podcast?  Which state isn't reviewing its framework environment...

Net zero or real zero? This 'open mic' episode features short audio clips from a range of people, giving their views. Then podcast hosts Dr Franziska Curran and Murray Griffin weigh in with their views. Is one concept a misguided fantasy, and the other our best hope? Or are both concepts useful? Tune in to find out!  If you like this episode, don't forget to rate it on your favourite pod platform...

Featuring a chat with Carbon Pulse North America editor Allison Gacad, and Carbon Pulse Asia Pacific editor Mark Tilly. Allison and Mark discuss the highs and lows of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, and chat about what they'd like to see from the Turkiye-Australia-Pacific COP31. Can next year's TAPCOP stare down the fossil fuel interests that managed to keep a fossil phasedown out of the COP30...

The world's newest environmental treaty will protect the high seas - those parts of the ocean that belong to no nation. These marine waters extend over about half the planet. This ambitious treaty recently won the world's most prestigious environmental prize - the Earthshot prize for reviving our oceans. The prize was accepted on behalf of the treaty by the director of the High Seas Alliance - Reb...

The proposed Melanesian Ocean Reserve is an ambitious proposal to protect more than six million square kilometres of incredibly biodiverse ocean, centred on the waters of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. In this episode, we talk to globally renowned politician Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's Climate Change and Environment Minister, who is playing a leading role in brin...

Will the UN COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, be a success? Will it be a COP that explicitly aims for 'Tropical Forests Forever' and tacitly leaves the world in a 'fossil fuels forever' mindset? Or will it be a COP where there is action across the board? And what is likely to happen on the crucial issue of providing finance to developing countries to help them reduce emissions and adapt to cl...

It's important to face up to the destructive nature of the Queensland LNP's so-called energy roadmap, and related LNP moves that make it much harder for renewable energy projects to get assessed, let alone approved.  The LNP has gone rogue on energy, barely maintaining any pretence of treating the renewables sector fairly. And if there is to be an energy transition in Queensland, it will be despit...

Some industry groups have for years succeeded in undermining effective climate policies. And there's no sign of them stopping. In this episode, Christian Downie discusses his impressive work on how these industry associations operate - and his findings on the eye-watering amounts of money they spend. Plus we do a deep dive on some of them - including the Australian Energy Producers, and the Minera...

The most feasible short-term approach to decarbonising commercial shipping is not green ammonia or green methanol - and definitely not LNG - it's wind, says Andrew Dickson. Andrew has worked on big solar, hydrogen and wind projects, and he reckons high-tech wind assisted shipping propulsion is the easiest place to start. That's because scaling green maritime fuels - while it needs to be done - is...

A panel-pod on the scourge of climate disinformation and misinformation - "the firehose of falsehoods" as one panellist poetically puts it! We need to understand which groups are running climate change disinformation and misinformation campaigns -   and who is funding them - if we are to make progress. "We don't need to change the minds of everyone in society to get climate action - we just need t...

Tony Chappel, chief executive of the NSW EPA, talks about the authority's groundbreaking new proposals to help make sure NSW meets its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Tony talks about the steps the NSW EPA will take to ensure large emitters cut carbon pollution, and to make sure these companies tell the public what they emit and what they're doing about it. And he talks about how the N...

A wide-ranging interview with Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta. The President talks about climate change, the country's oil and gas reserves, and the nation's support for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative. And he also talks about inequities in the global financial system, as well as his expectations for this year's UN 'COP30' climate summit, and next year's 'COP31' summit....

In this episode, Productivity Commissioner Barry Sterland chats about the Commission's new, interim clean energy and net zero report - and he touches on the other major new Commission report he has co-authored, on tax and regulatory reform. Tune in to hear what this very productive Productivity Commissioner - who is one of Australia's top climate and economic policy experts - has to say about the...

This episode is a 'road trip' around Australia in the 'Track Changes' classic ute exploring what states and territories are doing (or undoing) on climate change and sustainability! And it includes stopover chats with SA Deputy Premier Susan Close, The Next Economy chief executive Lizzie Webb, and Jarrod Leak, chief executive of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.  Buckle up and find o...

The three talented and insightful climate change activists/energy experts in this panel episode can see right through oil and gas industry spin - and that's because each of them used to work for a fossil fuel company. You'll hear from Lindsey Gulden (formerly of Exxon, now with US-based Leg Up Data), Greg Bourne (ex-BP and now a Climate Council councillor after stints heading environment group WWF...

Around the world, national governments - and sometimes state governments - operate emissions trading schemes that apply to businesses emitting large amounts of dangerous greenhouse gas. Australia's program is called the Safeguard Mechanism, and it covers just over 200 factories, mines, and fossil fuel power stations. Is the Safeguard tough enough? Should it be expanded to cover more sites? What wi...

Where should climate activists focus their attention now, in these difficult and frightening times? How can we make fossil fuel companies stop polluting, when they show no signs of doing so? And what changes are making it easier for activists to gain traction?  In this episode, we hear from Bill McKibben and Kafia Ahmed, who have years of activism experience and are deep thinkers about these issue...

A hybrid episode based on the findings of a survey of 1,800 practitioners by specialist ESG recruitment agency Talent Nation. There's some fascinating insights into trends in the ESG sector in this episode. For example: People are more likely to stay put in their jobs than in the previous year or two, with the exception of early career professionals. Very few early career professionals consider th...