"So I think this whole idea of cumulative culture is a way to make humans exceptional. But it's clear to me that humans are exceptional, and seeing it through baboon glasses, I can understand in a different way why they're exceptional. But many of the things that we think are uniquely human are actually present in other animals." - Dr. Shirley Strum Dr. Shirley Strum is a groundbreaking anthropologist who has spent over five decades living alongside wild baboons in Kenya. Her work has transformed our understanding of these intelligent, socially complex animals — their relationships, their adaptability, and the intricate societies they create. In her new book, Echoes of Our Origins , Shirley challenges long-held beliefs about evolution, the human-animal divide, and what it truly means to coexist. This conversation is about science — but it’s also about humility, hope, and the messy, beautiful complexity of life on Earth. Links: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53757/echoes-our-origins https://anthropology.ucsd.edu/people/faculty/faculty-profiles/shirley-strum.html…
The latest ideas, debate and insights on UK environmental policy and politics. Brought to you by Green Alliance - the charity and think tank focused on achieving ambitious leadership for the environment.
The latest ideas, debate and insights on UK environmental policy and politics. Brought to you by Green Alliance - the charity and think tank focused on achieving ambitious leadership for the environment.
In this episode, Alice Stafford, communications officer at Green Alliance, speaks to Molly Easton and Layla Mapemba from Youngwilders, a youth-led non profit working to make nature recovery more inclusive. From local rewilding initiatives to influencing national policy, they explore how young people are creatively restoring nature in their communities and why rewilding should be accessible to everyone, wherever they live. With a focus on access, equity and meaningful change, they reflect on the potential of youth-led projects to reshape our relationship with the natural world.…
The UK government banned disposable vapes in June 2025, a major win for health, environment and campaigners across the country. But has the problem really gone away? In this episode, Green Alliance's senior fellow and head of resources Libby Peake speaks to the experts and activists behind the campaign to ban these devices. She’s joined by Scott Butler of Material Focus, climate campaigner Laura Young and Dr Michael McKean of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. They discuss the lasting damage disposable vapes still cause, from toxic waste and discarded lithium to misleading new products and weak enforcement. And with new threats like nicotine pouches on the rise, the pressure on regulators is far from over.…
It’s been a year since Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 UK general election and we’re diving into what that’s meant for climate and nature. From bold moves on clean power and nature friendly farming to economic roadblocks and rising political division on net zero, this episode brings together voices from Green Alliance, Friends of the Earth and the National Trust to unpack Labour’s first 12 months.…
This episode explores the government’s new IT reuse for good charter and the broader Digital Inclusion Action Plan , which aim to get unused devices into the hands of those who need them most. The discussion highlights the scale of the UK’s e-waste problem, the persistent digital divide and the critical role of device redistribution in addressing both challenges. Presented by Emily Carr, policy adviser and author of our recent report Making the connection: ending digital exclusion with reused devices , this episode features Stuart Dossett, senior policy advisor and co-author the report; Sam, an asylum seeker whose life was transformed by receiving a donated laptop through Screen Share ; Megan Barrett chief executive officer of Power to Connect , a charity working to bridge the digital divide in London through device redistribution and digital skills training; and Natasha Early, business development and partnerships manager at Good Things Foundation, a national digital inclusion charity, responsible for the National Device Bank. Their stories and insights underscore both the life changing impact of digital access and the ongoing barriers like limited device supply, data security concerns and funding constraints that must be overcome to achieve true digital inclusion.…
In this episode, Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resource policy, speaks to Patrick Grant, clothing designer and BBC's Sewing Bee judge, discussing Grant's book "Less." They delve into the shift taken over the last century from quality manufacturing that benefited communities to a fast fashion model that generates enormous waste and minimal value. In this conversation, Patrick Grant advocates for a "lower consumption, higher value economy," where people buy fewer but better quality items that last longer, create local repair economies and generate more satisfaction. He highlights how many consumers today lack a frame of reference for quality goods, having grown up with synthetic materials, and emphasises the distinction between enduring "clothing" versus disposable "fashion." The episode concludes with both speakers agreeing that while fashion has cultural value, the current system of AI-designed, oil-based disposable fashion is unsustainable and requires policy intervention to incentivise quality and local production.…
Five years after Brexit, we take a moment to reflect on its impact on environmental protection. This episode of the Green Alliance podcast explores the fate of environmental laws inherited from the EU and the new systems put in place to watch over them. Ruth Chambers, Green Alliance senior fellow, is joined by Professor Maria Lee, an expert in environmental law, and Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection, for a discussion on the challenges and progress of the last five years. Together, they reflect on how our new environmental governance systems provide important checks and balances to bolster environmental protections through short term political cycles. Read our related report here .…
In this episode, you'll hear highlights from our recent "in conversation" event with Guy Shrubsole where he and our head of natural environment, Lydia Collas, discussed his latest book “ The Lie of the Land: Who Really Cares for the Countryside? ”. The book examines some of the most dramatic failures of land stewardship in Britain’s recent history. But also tells the story of the people trying to pick up the pieces, the small scale farmers, community groups and members of the public who seek to be the custodians of land, whether or not they own it. Some other topics covered in the discussion include: Differences between Britain and other countries' land ownership The role and balance of private and public investment in nature restoration The power and resources of National Parks A right to roam/right to responsible access The discussion concludes with an audience Q&A.…
In this week's episode of the Green Alliance podcast, we dive into the UK’s evolving transport policy discussion with Green Alliance's head of climate, Nick Davies. The conversation covers recent developments on the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and the launch of the Integrated National Transport Strategy. Nick chats with experts including Michael Solomon Williams from Campaign for Better Transport, cycling journalist and author Laura Laker, and Green Alliance's Johann Beckford and Rosie Allen. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities in decarbonising transport, from electric vehicles to active travel and the future of public transport. Tune in for expert insights on the policies shaping a cleaner, more sustainable transport system.…
In this episode, Libby Peake, senior fellow and head of resources policy, sits down with Emily Carr, policy adviser, alongside members of Green Alliance’s Circular Economy Task Force, including our chair, Dr Colin Church, CEO of IOM3, Iain Gulland, CEO of Zero Waste Scotland, Harriet Lamb, CEO of WRAP, and Dr Adam Read, Director of External Affairs at SUEZ, to discuss the circular economy and what the new government needs to do to bring about the policies we need to see to reduce resource use. In this conversation, our guests discuss where previous administrations have failed and what the new government must do differently to avoid past mistakes. They explore the benefits of embracing circularity, including its potential to boost economic growth. They highlight the urgent need for policy interventions that will best enable businesses to innovate and embrace circularity. A linear system has no future, and transitioning to a circular economy is the clear path forward- our guests dig down into exactly how the government can lead the charge and make this crucial shift happen.…
In this episode, Ruth Chambers, senior fellow, sits down with crossbench Peer Lord Krebs and Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife & Countryside Link, to discuss the third anniversary of the Environment Act. In this conversation, our guests reflect on the colossal team effort required to get the Act onto the statute book, the standout moments from parliamentary debates and the collaboration between parliamentarians and campaigners required to push for high ambition legislation. We also evaluate whether the Environment Act has lived up to our expectations and discuss what more is needed to drive change in the future.…
In this episode, Rosie Allen, policy adviser at Green Alliance, sits down with Liam Hardy, our senior policy analyst, and Jenniffer Pedraza, a research associate at Stockholm Environment Institute Research, to discuss the need to raise ambition on methane ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29). The conversation offers both domestic and international perspectives on the increased leadership required to tackle methane emissions. From the bold steps needed to develop methane roadmaps in Latin America to the key announcements we hope to see from global leaders in Baku, this episode is a must-listen for anyone engaged in climate policy and discussions surrounding COP29.…
The Green Alliance podcast is back with its fortnightly episodes for a six-episode series. In this episode, Green Alliance's head of politics, Holly Brazier Tope, reflects on the first 100 days of the new Labour government, marking a pivotal shift after over a decade of Conservative leadership. Holly first sits down with Chris Venables, director of politics at Green Alliance, to discuss how things are going from an external viewpoint, examining key moments and opportunities for the environmental sector in recent months. You’ll also hear from Labour MPs Clive Lewis and Olivia Blake, who provide insider perspectives on the climate initiatives unfolding in Westminster right now. Tune in for a comprehensive overview of how this new administration is laying the groundwork for ambitious environmental leadership in the UK.…
In this episode, you’ll hear highlights from our recent “in conversation” event with Tom Heap where he and our executive director Shaun Spiers discussed his latest book “Land Smart: how to give people and nature the space to thrive”. This book examines why we need land and how to give both humanity and nature the space to thrive, and includes conversations with farmers, scientists, conservationists and even warehouse managers who are solving the most pressing challenges facing our countryside and the world. During the discussion, Tom and Shaun touch on topics like: Energy, particularly the attraction of solar, including rooftop solar, and the indefensibility of biofuels Farming. The importance of not offshoring the UK’s environmental footprint. Technophilia and openness to genetic engineering is an interesting challenge to some green thinking Diet change The discussion then concludes with an audience Q&A. LINKS Purchase Tom Heap's Land Smart: How to give people and nature the space to thrive . Follow us on X and LinkedIn to keep up to date with new outputs from Green Alliance. Episode produced by Podcast Pioneers…
The actions taken over the next five years by the incoming Government will be make or break for the UK’s climate and nature targets – the stakes could not be higher. This podcast episode features highlights from the final event in our Election countdown series ' Election debrief – what now for the environment? ' where we we analysed the results of the election and what they mean for the environmental agenda. Executive director Shaun Spiers hosted the panel, with inputs from Holly Brazier Tope, head of politics, Libby Peake, head of resource policy, Liam Hardy, senior policy analyst, and Lydia Collas, head of natural environment. Hear from experts across the Green Alliance team who will discuss how the new Government will likely approach environmental policy and politics, what the results mean for future of UK energy, resources and nature policy, and what the key moments will be over the coming months. LINKS Visit the Political Leadership page on our website to explore all our work on this topic. Follow us on X and LinkedIn to keep up to date with new outputs from Green Alliance. Episode produced by Podcast Pioneers…
Nature underpins our economy, but this is not currently reflected in economic decision making. The Dasgupta Review , commissioned by the UK Treasury and published in 2021, sets out the strong case for changing our economic system to reflect that it does not exist outside of nature, but within it. It shows that, to prevent ongoing environmental destruction in the name of economic progress, we must use a measure of wealth that includes indispensable assets like nature on the balance books. But how do we get there? What should the government, business and the financial sector do to shift the economic system towards to that ideal? In this episode, you will hear from distinguished speakers on what’s necessary to implement the findings of The Dasgupta Review, so that we better value nature and can begin to restore our natural assets and wealth, avoiding counterproductive losses. LINKS Visit the Implementing Dasgupta page on our website to explore all our work on this topic. Follow us on X and LinkedIn to keep up to date with new outputs from Green Alliance. Episode produced by Podcast Pioneers…
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