Smart Society Show – Details, episodes & analysis

New York Climate Week, the closure of the UK's last coal plant, and the evolving landscape of clean energy. This week features interviews with Anton Kotov, Head of Corporate Strategy and M&A at ABB, and Franklin Servan-Schreiber, Co-founder and CEO of Transmutex.

Smart Society Show is a bi-weekly discussion with Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore on climate tech markets and innovation. This week they discuss a rate cut, Microsoft nuclear deal and bright future ahead for carbon markets; interviews with Rachel Kyte (UK Climate Envoy & Co-Chair of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Initiative) and Allister Furey (Co-founder and CEO, Sylvera).

VCMI - Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative - https://vcmintegrity.org/

Sylvera is a carbon data provider that helps organizations ensure they're making the most effective investments toward net zero - https://sylvera.com/

Microsoft nuclear energy deal - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx25v2d7zexo

Welcome to the Smart Society Show - where hosts Brynne Kennedy (Managing Partner, Smart Society Ventures) and Chris Skidmore (former UK Energy Minister) break down what's happening in climate tech - talking to thought leaders, investors and unicorn founders that are helping deliver the path to Net Zero.

Sustainable standards and the latest trends in climate tech; interviews with Lauren Smart (Chief Commercial Officer, S&P Global Sustainable1) and Casper Rasmussen (Co-Founder and CEO, Monta), co-hosted by Smart Society Ventures Managing Partner, Brynne Kennedy and Former UK Energy Minister, Chris Skidmore.

In this special episode of the Smart Society Show, co-hosts Former UK Energy Minister Chris Skidmore and Smart Society Ventures Managing Partner Brynne Kennedy dive into the UK's recent autumn budget, the first Labour budget in 14 years.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore explore the post-election landscape and its implications for Europe’s climate leadership and green innovation. Joined by Rhian-Mari Thomas, CEO of the Green Finance Institute, they discuss pioneering financing solutions to tackle the climate crisis across sectors, from green mortgages to nature-based solutions. Later, Tommy Ricketts, CEO & Co-founder of BeZero, reveals how data and transparency are reshaping the carbon credit market, paving the way for robust, scalable climate solutions.

Get the latest insights from COP 29 as Chris Skidmore shares updates from the ground in Baku with co-host Brynne Kennedy. Dive into how the insurance industry is evolving to tackle climate and cybersecurity risks with Anthony Hobley, Deputy Chair of Climate Risk & Resilience at Howden, and Tanguy Touffut, CEO of Descartes Underwriting. From carbon markets to cutting-edge risk modeling, this episode explores the intersection of climate innovation and insurance.

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore unpack the latest developments in global energy markets, including reflections from COP29, the nomination of the new U.S. energy secretary, and emerging EV trends.

Ann Mettler, Vice President for Europe at Breakthrough Energy, discusses tackling regulatory complexity and scaling clean technologies, while Wolfgang Gründinger, Chief Evangelist of Enpal, shares how Germany’s first GreenTech unicorn is transforming residential solar into a virtual power plant. 

In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore dive into the significant shifts in U.S. energy policies, reflecting on the new administration's impact on climate and energy strategies. They discuss how these changes are poised to affect both national and global sustainability efforts, from corporate actions to economic policies.

This week, we are honored to be joined by Lord Nicholas Stern, an influential voice in climate economics, who explores the critical role of economic strategies in global climate policy advancements. He offers insights into how policy-driven economic changes can foster sustainable growth and investment in green technologies. For our Chasing Unicorns segment, Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A, discusses how corporations can enhance their sustainability practices through innovative technologies and strategic initiatives, emphasizing the importance of integrated approaches to meet environmental challenges.

 In this episode of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Chris Skidmore discuss the unveiling of the UK's comprehensive Clean Power Action Plan, detailing the ambitious steps the UK government is taking to enhance renewable energy production and grid capacity. From offshore wind targets to significant investment needs, they explore how these strategies position the UK as a leader in the energy transition.

Joining the conversation, David Livingston, Chief Strategy Officer at Galvanize, shares insights into the role of cross-border collaboration and innovative technologies in scaling climate solutions globally. Meanwhile, Valentin Gutknecht, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Neustark, dives into Neustark's pioneering methods of carbon removal that are setting new standards for environmental sustainability and discussing the future dynamics of the carbon credit market.