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Today, we pick up a topic recommendation from a listener: a carbon value added tax. This tax aims to encourage environmentally friendly consumer behaviors while generating financial flows for sustainable transitions. We unpack arguments for and against this policy, and explore its potential impact on society and the economy, e.g., recent studies have found significant benefits from a meat VAT for human health, societies’ economies, and the climate. Consumer-facing tax can be uncomfortable projects for politicians, and we ask what role that can play.

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have...

This time it's a full wizard episode. Geoengineering! What is it? What's the latest? And is it a viable alternative to climate mitigation or just science fiction to keep researchers busy? Also, why did a think-tank see the need to define some global catastrophic risks for, in particular, solar radiation management?

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll make it less inconvenient for all of you.

In this episode, we ask whether human rights should have a business case. In a world where competitiveness and security agendas seem to take priority while sustainability regulation is being rolled back, we look at what research says about how protecting human rights can benefit companies’ bottom line. But is it dangerous to frame human rights as a business case, as they should be respected at no matter what cost?

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an...

This week, we talk about arguably the most successful climate regulation in the EU: the emissions trading schemed and how a few political comments managed to drop the price of CO2/ton nearly 10%. We discuss what happened, what the ETS has achieved so far (and why it will still not be enough), and what the planned review later this year promises.

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll make it...

In this episode, we ask ourselves why we personally care about climate and sustainability more broadly. From exploring personal values and what makes “sacrifices” worth it - and why sacrifice is perhaps the wrong word to begin with - we reflect on values and personal connections that make climate-friendly choices more meaningful and thus easier. Understanding and framing the conversation about sustainability in a more personal way could be a way of finding more common ground - maybe?

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that...

This week we discuss small bit of feedback on our IC 17. Then for the main question we look at the battery industry in the EU all with the previously discussed strategic autonomy in mind. We explore the EU's dependency on raw materials and its cost disadvantage and ultimately look at whether the current regulatory framework around batteries can be a blueprint for sustainable strategic autonomy going forward.

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with...

In this episode, Kaisa brings back last week’s discussion about geopolitics taking over from sustainability. We go through several ways how climate action makes sense from a geopolitical perspective, i.e. protecting state interests from external pressure (did anyone say ‘strategic autonomy’?). Green energy fits the bill well, but how do human rights and biodiversity protection fit under the “geopolitical packaging” of sustainability?

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll try...

This week, we take a first stab at probably one of the biggest topics we have discussed so far: geopolitics and how it currently overshadows sustainability. The problem is clear as public perception shapes political urgency, climate action has clearly taken a step back. We look at the World Economic Forum in Davos and take it as an example of where currently the spotlight in the public debate is. Then, we also talk about where sustainability talks where hidden in Davos and what would be a good reframing for the sustainability agenda going forward. All in less than 30 mins....

In this episode, we explore the complexities of balancing personal responsibilities with global issues, particularly in the context of climate change. We discuss cognitive bandwidth, the challenges of staying engaged with climate activism, and the evolving nature of political engagement as we grow older.

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll make it less inconvenient for all of you.

This week we try to take a blind eye to the "in" in "inconvenient" and try to look at a few positives that happened in climate action in 2025, including the integration of climate education in school curricula., significant advancements in renewable energy, and a landmark advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice emphasising climate protection as a human right.

If you want to give feedback you can write to **kaisa@inconvenientchats.com** or **jan@inconvenientchats.com**.

If you have a topic on your mind that you have always wondered about, send us an e-mail with your topic recommendation and we’ll make it...