Episode breaking down solar panels. Specifically, exploring the current state of Photovoltaics (PVs) and Perovskite materials.

Break down:

• How they work

• Current state of commercial solar panels

• Potential of perovskites and major challenges around this novel material

• Quantum and AI applications in PVs

• Recycling of solar panels

A discussion with the UAE’s ex-Chief Climate Change Negotiator at COPs 27, 28 and 29 - Hana Al Hashimi. She assesses the ongoing transition towards renewable energy, and away from fossil fuels, along with various other topics aided by her background in sustainable development.

Topics covered include:

• Hosting Conference of Parties, navigating large multinational, multi-party conferences

• Controversy around UAE’s oil-dependency

• How to accelerate and incentivize the transition away from fossil fuels

• The role of the Global South

• Bridging the gap between advancing science and stagnant regulatory systems

• Nature-Related Financial Disclosures (TNFDs)

References:

https://villarsinstitute.org/

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build a plastic-free future — starting in schools.

From the origins and global growth of Plastic Free Campus to the realities of stakeholder resistance, we unpack the practical steps, systemic barriers, and student-led breakthroughs behind meaningful change. Why does progress on plastic feel so slow? Is reducing use enough, or do we need to fundamentally reinvent how plastic is produced and valued?

We dive into microplastics and what current research suggests about their impact on human health and ecosystems. We examine the rise of “compostable” alternatives — are they genuine solutions or simply transitional tools? And we broaden the conversation to biodegradable materials, reuse systems, and the promise (and limits) of a circular economy.

Along the way, we uncover concrete ways of reducing plastic exposure, discuss cutting-edge innovations reshaping the materials industry, and ask an essential question: what gives us hope in a time of environmental and geopolitical uncertainty?

References:

https://goumbook.com/

https://plasticfreecampus.org/

https://www.ted.com/talks/melati_and_isabel_wijsen_our_campaign_to_ban_plastic_bags_in_bali

https://www.shannaswan.com/countdown