Fossil Finance: Unpacking the banking system's climate tipping point with Max Falkenberg

SciencesPo Energy Podcast

Banks play a crucial role in the climate story, but not in the way most people think. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Max Falkenberg, climate finance researcher and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow, to talk about how big banks around the world are still pouring trillions into fossil fuels—and why that needs to change fast.

Tune in to learn:

• What makes fossil fuel financing so hard to stop
• Why just a few powerful banks could make a massive difference
• How new rules (and global teamwork) could shift the system
• Whether voluntary climate pledges by banks are actually working
• What happens to oil and gas companies if the money dries up
• And what changes he’d like to see next in the finance world

If you've ever wondered how your money, or your bank, might be connected to the climate crisis, this episode is for you. We recommend you to have a quick look at Dr. Max Falkenberg's paper entitled “The challenge of phasing-out fossil fuel finance in the banking sector” before listening to the podcast.