Durable Change Only Happens at the Speed of Trust - with Erik Wohlgemuth, Future500
Release Date: 03/05/2024
Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity - with Jeffrey Rissman
AWESome EarthKind
The entire world is transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy sources for our electricity, heating, cooling and transportation. Technologies such as energy efficient light bulbs and appliances, solar and wind powered electricity, air and ground source heat pumps, and electric vehicles are transforming our lives. Communities, schools, and workplaces are adopting zero-carbon technologies that will also reduce costs and improve our health and safety. But did you know that the industrial sector is responsible for one third of global greenhouse gas emissions and that industry is...
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Durable Change Only Happens at the Speed of Trust - with Erik Wohlgemuth, Future500
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: "We build too many walls, and not enough bridges." - Isaac Newton We live in an incredibly polarized world. Every day, we witness the widespread, massive distrust of almost everything and everyone. How can we overcome the escalating anger and mistrust that pervades close to every aspect of our society? Well, in today's episode, we meet Erik Wohlgemuth of Future 500 (www.future500.org) with over two decades of experience in stakeholder engagement and corporate sustainability. Erik is trusted by diverse leaders across industries, sectors, and political...
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Robison’s Evolution - from Fossils to Clean Energy – with Dan Singer
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold...
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University Sustainability with UB Chief Sustainability Officer Ryan McPherson
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: "The peacemaker taught us about the seven generations. He said, when you sit in Council for the welfare of the people, you must not think of yourself or your family, not even of your generation. He said, make your decisions on behalf of the seven generations coming, so that they may enjoy what you have today." - Oren Lyons "It's not the critic who counts; nor the man or woman who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and...
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Saving the Climate with Sustainable & Profitable Ocean Wave Energy - with Jan G. Skjoldhammer, NoviWave
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “Save the climate with profitable wave power.” – Jan G. Skjoldhammer Each and every year, uwe are burning more fossil fuels, ruining our children’s futures and all of our lives. What we’ve been missing is a more cost-effective and climate-saving solution that’s been around since the very beginning of time. Wave power—about three times more stable than wind—has the potential to provide energy equal to all the electric consumption of everyone in the world right now! Jan’s message is that wave power alone could provide most of our...
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Climate-Smart Agriculture: How Eco-Friendly Farming can Protect You & Mother Earth - with Sara Waldner
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “Save our soil in the hopes that the soil might just save us.” - Woody Harrelson We all have to eat - but agriculture is something we often don’t think about And, even when we do, we don’t think much about how it affects our environment. But climate smart grants, carbon credits, and goals to become “net zero” have now made agriculture a hot topic in the mainstream media over recent years. Sustainable agriculture provides a fast and direct path to the eco-friendly changes we want, and climate smart farming can create more resilient crops and healthier...
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Organic Batteries to Power IoT using Electricity from Paper and Enzymes - with BeFC’s Marie Berthuel and Jules Hammond
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” –Jules Hammond “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” –Michael Jordan Batteries may be just shrugged off as something small - but did you know that 15 billion batteries end up in landfill or are incinerated every year? The power of science and technology is now creating a change in how we produce batteries - using only paper and enzymes. Today’s podcast explains this new sustainable energy solution and how it will pave the way for a cleaner and brighter...
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Why Homeowners & HVAC Contractors are Switching to Geothermal - with Emily Ostrander, ClimateMaster
AWESome EarthKind
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are no longer new in the market. Contractors and homeowners are recognizing that cash and tax incentives reduce both upfront investments and monthly operating costs - while creating quiet, sustainable and & more comfortable indoor air environments. Truth be told, some geothermal systems have a price tag that at first appears to be a lot more than a conventional system. But with a 30% federal tax credit, additional local tax credits and utility rebates, that number can make a geothermal HVAC system cost only slightly more than a conventional...
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A Cheaper, Warmer, Cooler, & Cleaner Way to Heat and Cool our Buildings - New York’s Effort to Provide High-Efficiency Clean Heating & Cooling Systems, with Donovan Gordon,NYSERDA
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “Passion and commitment. You got to be passionate about what you do and committed to accomplish what you’re passionate about. That’s how I live my life.” – Donovan Gordon How can we save money and help create a better future by transitioning from heating our buildings with fossil fuels to heating and cooling with clean and renewable resources? When we say that we’re going to heat and cool our buildings from the earth, more often than not, people scratch their heads and question how it’s possible to get 72 degrees from dirt. By running...
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How Sustainable Investing Can Help Solve Climate Change with Zach Stein, Carbon Collective
AWESome EarthKind
Quantum Quote: “You can't climb a mountain if it's smooth." -Andre Iguodala Investing is one of the primary ways to secure a better financial future for you and your family. But, did you know that where we bank and how our investments are managed can greatly impact our carbon footprints? Our finances, including our retirement funds, are not charity. Ensuring that these are properly invested is a must. Carbon Collective provides the opportunity to ensure that our investments not only build a better future for us, but also for our planet. As part of its...
info_outlineQuantum Quote: "We build too many walls, and not enough bridges." - Isaac Newton
We live in an incredibly polarized world. Every day, we witness the widespread, massive distrust of almost everything and everyone.
How can we overcome the escalating anger and mistrust that pervades close to every aspect of our society? Well, in today's episode, we meet Erik Wohlgemuth of Future 500 (www.future500.org) with over two decades of experience in stakeholder engagement and corporate sustainability.
Erik is trusted by diverse leaders across industries, sectors, and political persuasions. Erik is an expert in humanizing opponents through compassionate diplomacy. He is adept at depolarizing relations between businesses, activists, philanthropists, and investment leaders, so that they can find common ground and explore solutions to the social and environmental challenges that threaten our very civilization.
Erik earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management and his Master's in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment. Beyond Future 500, Erik serves as a board member for Pacific Forest Trust, and as a West Coast Advisory Board member for the Yale School of Management.
Erik is also a fellow chapter director for Environmental Entrepreneurs or E2, the national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization of over 10,000 business people who are advocating for policies that are good for the economy and the environment.
Now let's hear Erik tell us how future 500 is depolarizing relations to effect durable change that happens at the speed of trust.
Today's AWESome Earth Kind podcast is sponsored by EarthKind Energy Consulting.
EarthKind Energy brings over 30 years of expertise in creating clean energy projects that reduce energy costs, provide outstanding returns on investment, lower carbon footprints, and leave a proud legacy for our children and all future generations. You can visit EarthKindEnergy.com to discover how EarthKind Energy Consulting partners with developers, builders, communities, government entities, and nonprofit organizations to create new revenue sources, reduce energy and operation costs, and lower carbon footprints with energy efficiency, solar, air and ground source (geothermal) heat pumps, electric vehicles, and EV charging stations.
Challenges:
Erik faced challenges related to building trust between corporations and civil society leaders.
● He struggled with finding the courage to follow a less beaten path in his career.
● Erik works to navigate the polarization in plaguing this country and the world.
● He encountered challenges related to corporate political responsibility and bridging the gap between different perspectives on issues like clean energy.
● Erik also faced difficulties dealing with the slow pace of change and the frustration of idealistic younger generations.
● He experienced setbacks in projects where trust and collaboration were not established effectively.
● Erik is dealing with the complexities of permit reform and regulatory systems hindering progress in various projects and the hard work of operationalizing environmental justice principles within a big oil and gas company.
Lessons: Building trust and collaboration between different stakeholders is essential for effecting positive change. Humanization and finding common ground, even with polarized opposites, can lead to collaboration and progress. Permit reform and operationalizing environmental justice are two key areas for addressing current challenges in the energy and environmental sectors.
Supernova 1: "Humanization leads to trust. Trust leads to collaboration." - Erik Wohlgemuth
Supernova 2: “Humanize, think about people that may be your polarized opposite, and figure out a way to find common ground with them." - Erik Wohlgemuth
Aha Moment:
"A critical moment was walking into a business school admissions office and picking up a flier that changed my life." - Erik Wohlgemuth
Most Energized About:
“One area we're focusing on as a team is permit reform in the United States. You're seeing our regulatory system right now being used by both the right and the left to block all sorts of potential projects to help us decarbonize the energy system. I think at some point we have to figure out a way through this so we can start to get some stuff done." - Erik Wohlgemuth
Parting Advice:
"I encourage everybody when they're out in their day, going to events, going to a corporate meeting or whatever organization they work in to figure out ways to bring in different ideas. Who's not in the room who you should speak up for so you get those ideas out into the ether? And that can change people's minds." - Erik Wohlgemuth
Connect with Our Guest:
● Website: https://www.future500.org/ideas
● X: @future500
● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-500