Decarbonated (Best Coast Media)

Is this thing on? Welcome to Decarbonated, the climate change podcast with a sense of optimism.

In this intriguing episode of Decarbonated, we dive into the often overlooked intersection of insurance and climate change with Rob O'Brien, the Director of Regulatory Initiatives at BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). With his unique blend of expertise and humour, Rob makes the seemingly dry topic of insurance a compelling listen, revealing the pivotal role it plays in our response to climate change.

We cover:

• The Real Cost of Climate Change on Insurance: Understand the specifics of how climate change is not just a theoretical risk but a current issue affecting insurance policies and prices.
• ⁠Consumer Awareness and Adaptation: Discover practical advice from Rob on what homeowners can do to mitigate their risks and better protect their properties against the backdrop of a changing climate.
• ⁠Emerging Risks and Insurance: Learn how the BCFSA is navigating the complex challenges of natural catastrophes and climate change, ensuring the stability and confidence in British Columbia's financial sector while protecting consumers.

With a storied career spanning over 15 years in various governmental roles and armed with a master's degree in public policy from Simon Fraser University, Rob offers unique insights into how insurance is evolving in response to our changing world.

Links from this episode:

• News Release: BCFSA Endorses CCIR Position Paper on Climate Change, Natural Catastrophes and Consumer Awareness
• Advisory: BCFSA Launches Consultation on Natural Catastrophe and ClimateRelated Risks
• Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators (CCIR) Position Paper on Climate Change, Natural Catastrophes and Consumer Awareness
• Intact Center on Climate Adaptation

In this episode we talk to Michelle Li, Founder of Clever Carbon to learn:

• How she’s using carbon footprint and Clever Carbon’s easy carbon footprint calculator to help people understand their impact on the environment
• How she uses the analogy of a crochet blanket to help folks understand the impact of CO2 on the atmosphere
• Who has the biggest carbon footprint? Is it Jo or Carl?
• How Michelle feels about Big Oil originating the term carbon footprint
• How education can drive change
• What keeps Michelle, Jo and Carl hopeful

What’s your carbon footprint? Is it above or below your country’s average? Find out at https://clevercarbon.io/quiz/

Michelle is the founder of Clever Carbon. She launched her career in Silicon Valley where she worked for some of the biggest names in tech including Salesforce and DocuSign. A proponent for making sustainability the new norm, Michelle founded Clever Carbon to help teach people about carbon footprint in a hip, fun, and relatable way because what gets measured gets changed. She is a TEDx, SXSW, Bloomberg, and COP27 speaker on the topic of carbon literacy and is a United Nations content contributor. Michelle believes that a carbon literate society will accelerate solutions and actions at the speed and scale required for a thriving planet.

Michelle is also the founder of Women and Climate, a non-profit organization that inspires climate action by creating a joyful and safe space for more women to learn and talk about climate.

While Caroline is not literally in your back yard, in this episode we hear about what's happening in our big back yard of North Vancouver. Caroline is the Director, Climate Action, Natural Systems and Biodiversity at the District of North Vancouver where her team works in partnership with departments across the organization to advance the District’s response to the climate and ecological emergency. Join Jo and Carl as we hear about what's happening locally to adapt to a changing climate. Is there a plan? Are governments working together? Sometimes climate change can feel like a distant problem, but in this episode you'll hear about what's happening right here in the Lower Mainland of BC.

In this episode of Decarbonated, we sit down with Cass Osborne, founder and president of Hernest Project, a brand transforming sleepwear and loungewear with a commitment to comfort, style, and sustainability. Cass shares her inspiring journey from a background in finance to creating a brand that challenges conventional norms in the apparel industry.

We dive into:

• The motivation behind Hernest Project and the leap from finance to founding a sustainable fashion brand.
• Cass's vision for Hernest, her sustainability roadmap to 2030 and how it guides Hernest’s business practices day to day.
• Cass’s lifelong learner mindset and how that allows her to continually evolve the business.

And we discuss:

• Fast fashion and Carl’s lightbulb moment here related to climate justice
• Innovative approaches to reducing fashion waste and the potential future of the clothing industry in a fully sustainable world
• And just how do you deal with kids going through the knees of everything!

Tune in to learn how Cass Osborne is not just creating beautiful sleepwear but also driving a movement towards a more sustainable and socially responsible fashion industry.

Spend some time getting to know your hosts, Jo and Carl, as we share why we're launching Decarbonated, what we hope you'll get out of it, and where we're at individually with climate change.