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Climate Confident - Practical Climate Solutions That Cut Emissions

Climate Confident is for business leaders, climate professionals and policymakers who need to understand what is actually cutting emissions—and what it takes to make those solutions work at scale.

Each Wednesday, technology and sustainability analyst, keynote speaker and former SAP Global VP Tom Raftery speaks with the executives, engineers, scientists, founders and policymakers turning climate ambition into measurable progress. Together, they examine the technologies, business models, policies and implementation strategies reshaping energy, transport, industry, supply chains, food and finance.

These are not conversations about distant targets, vague pledges or greenwash. They are candid discussions about what is working, what is failing, where the real bottlenecks lie, and how leaders can make better decisions about decarbonisation, resilience, investment and risk.

You will hear:

Proven approaches to reducing emissions
Hard-earned lessons from real-world implementation
Analysis of the markets, technologies and policies driving the transition
Honest examination of costs, trade-offs, setbacks and unintended consequences
Practical ideas for turning climate commitments into action

New episodes are published every Wednesday at 7am CET. Subscribers also receive bonus episodes featuring highlights, analysis and emerging themes from across the series.

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Guest suggestions and feedback are welcome at Tom@tomraftery.com.

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Climate Confident - Practical Climate Solutions That Cut Emissions

The Climate Legacy Question Most Leaders Avoid

June 04, 2025 • Tom Raftery • Season 1 • Episode 223

0:00 | 36:58

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In this episode of the Climate Confident podcast, I sit down with Sangeeta Waldron, a communications professional and author of What Will Your Legacy Be?, to explore how our personal choices and narratives shape the climate fight.

We cover a lot of ground. Sangeeta shares how her time in the Himalayas revealed the harsh realities of climate change and sparked her lifelong commitment. We also dig into how indigenous knowledge can fill crucial gaps in scientific data, and how personal actions and systemic change go hand in hand.

A standout point for me was Sangeeta’s insistence that our climate legacy starts much earlier than we think – as soon as we’re old enough to make informed decisions. She also challenges us to rethink the role of media in the climate debate, exposing the risks of misinformation and greenwashing.

Another highlight? The idea that hope and optimism, not just grief, can drive climate action. I found this especially relevant in a world flooded with doomsday narratives.

We wrap up with a powerful reminder: even small daily actions can add up. As Sangeeta puts it, reconnecting with nature - even briefly - is a simple but potent step.

Tune in to hear how storytelling, personal responsibility and collective will can move the needle on climate. And let me know your thoughts, are you seeing the same challenges and solutions in your corner of the climate conversation?

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