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The Ecologist Podcast

GISA Environmental Committee 28 Folgen Jul 12, 2026

The Ecologist Podcast is a monthly show produced by the Graduate Institute of Geneva's Environmental Committee. It covers environmental and sustainability topics such as circular economies, ecological transformation, policies, global progress, and human rights. Each episode features conversations with experts, activists, and innovators who share insights and real-world experiences. The podcast is hosted by Asmaa Kharchouf, Jacqueline Alemayehu, Isa Walton, and Aecaterini Loizidou.

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S9E3: Voices from the Sidelines - Bringing Global Majority Perspectives into Climate Discussions (feat. Emiliana Rickenmann) Jul 12, 2026 00:33:56 Join hosts Isa Walton and Aecaterini Loizidou for the last episode of the season, as they sit down with Emiliana Rickenmann, a human-rights and climate activist, co-founder of Latinas por el Clima, and a master’s student at the Geneva Graduate Institute. The conversation unpacks how gender, colonialism, and extractivism interact with today’s climate crisis. They reflect the limitations of global c

S9E2: Governance, Finance, and the Future of Global Environmental Action (feat. Mark Halle) Mai 19, 2026 00:35:30 Join hosts Jaqueline Alemayehu and Asmaa Kharchouf as they sit down with Mark Halle, Senior Advisor at NatureFinance, to unpack decades of experience in environmental governance and sustainable finance.Together, they explore the limits of state-centric climate governance, the growing influence of corporations and whether current environmental systems are capable of responding to planetary crises.

S9E1: Not Over - The Battle for a Global Plastics Treaty (feat. Andrés Del Castillo) Apr 3, 2026 00:33:49 Join hosts Jacqueline Alemayehu and Aecaterini Loizidou as they sit down with Andrés Del Castillo, an international lawyer advising governments in the UN Plastics Treaty negotiations.Andrés breaks down the fundamentals of the treaty, the fault lines between producer and consumer countries, and why the talks are far from over. We also unpack the climate governance trilemma.

S8E1: Burst the Bubble - Disruptive Climate Activism, Civil Disobedience and Grassroot Movements (feat. Max Voegtli) Jan 21, 2026 00:45:37 Join hosts Asmaa Kharchouf and Isa Walton as they speak to Max Voegtli, a prominent climate activist in Switzerland.In the episode, Max reflects on his transition from working in the corporate world to making activism his full-time commitment. From civil disobedience to grassroots movements, we follow Max’s journey through various forms of action, all driven by the goal of defending the planet and

S7E3: Demystifying the Green Climate Fund (feat. Lucretia Landmann) Sep 1, 2025 00:29:05 Join podcast hosts Jacqueline Alemayehu and Asmaa Kharchouf in Episode 3 of Season 7 as they sit down with Lucretia Landmann to unpack the inner workings of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).From demystifying key terms like blended finance to exploring how the GCF operates at the intersection of policy, climate, and international negotiations, this episode offers a clear and grounded look into one of t

S7E2: Exploring Food Regimes and Emotional Narratives of Climate Change in International Law (feat. Prof. Anne Saab) Jul 18, 2025 00:42:01 Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Anne Saab (Associate Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute) about hunger narratives, food regimes, and the complex interplay between climate change and emotions. Professor Saab highlights how international law shapes responses to the environmental crisis, with a particular focus on the role of climate-ready seeds

S7E1: Rethinking Sustainability - Humans, Nature, and the Thread of Life (feat. Brindusa Burrows) Mär 9, 2025 00:27:59 Join us for the first episode of our new season, featuring Brindusa Burrows - a sustainable finance expert, entrepreneur, lecturer, and artist. In this episode, we delve into the world of sustainable finance, discussing the pressing need for a fresh perspective within the industry. We’ll also delve into the intersection of art and nature, examining the fascinating dynamics of communication or its

S6E3: Exploring the Intersection of Human Rights and Climate Change (feat. Ben Schachter) Jun 7, 2024 00:42:47 Join us for our final episode of this season, as we talk to Benjamin Schachter, the Coordinator for the Environment and Climate Change team at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. From spearheading pivotal reports and studies to leading dynamic panel discussions, he's been at the heart of it all. And now, as the head of the environment and climate change team, Ben continues to pave the w

S6E02: Taxation and Climate Change (feat. Prof. Alice Pirlot) Mai 3, 2024 00:47:57 Join a thought-provoking conversation with Professor Alice Pirlot (Assistant Professor of International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute) about the interlinkages of taxation and climate change. Sebastian Zünd and new host Kristi explore Professor Pirlot’s fascination with the topic and how taxes affect environmental problems. The discussion covers tax governance, carbon pricing, as well as the

S6E01: Navigating Climate Science (feat. Oksana Tarasova) Apr 7, 2024 00:57:09 The Ecologist Podcast is back for a new season! Join us for a very exciting first episode with our guest Dr. Oksana Tarasova, a Senior Scientific Officer in the Infrastructure Department of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In this discussion, we take stock of the current state of the climate and the key dynamics that are influencing it (both now and in the future). We also discuss the

S5E3: Growth, Wellbeing, and Ecological Collapse (feat. Julia Steinberger) Dez 12, 2023 00:42:52 Join us for a very special final episode of season 5 of the Ecologist Podcast, featuring a live-discussion with the renowned Julia Steinberger, a well renowned economical ecologist, IPCC author, and climate activist! In this discussion we seek to challenge the conventional wisdom of 'green growth,' examining its implications for equity and unraveling the intricate connections between econo

S5E2: How are things progressing with the Sustainable Development Goals? (feat. Davide Fanciulli) Dez 11, 2023 00:29:41 In this episode we are lucky to be joined by Davide Fanciulli, an Assistant Program Management Officer at the UN SDG Lab in Geneva. We ask exactly where we are at with the SDGs, and discuss the outcome of the recent SDG Summit held in New York. We also explore the role of youth voices and perspectives in large international forums, and the opportunities available.

S5E1: The Holistic Nature of Biodiversity Conservation (feat. Valeria Mendez) Nov 20, 2023 00:23:24 Welcome back to Season 5 of The Ecologist! This season we are joined by two new hosts - Raghu and Sebastian, alongside Bo. For our first episode we are joined by Valeria Mendez, a conservation biologist and visiting fellow at the Graduate Institute. We discuss the Global Biodiversity Framework, and Valeria’s insights from her research on the role of Indigenous peoples and other interdisciplinary a

S4E3 - Amplifying Local Knowledge in the Global Fight against Climate Change (feat. Albert Ng, Raghuveer Vyas and Hussein Ghandour) Jun 20, 2023 00:35:15 Join us for a very special occasion for the final episode of season 4 of the Ecologist Podcast. In this episode, we host a live-discussion alongside our friend Moe Shiojiri from The Graduate Press as part of the 2023 Book & Podcast Festival at IHEID. In this discussion, we are joined by three wonderful panelists Albert Ng, Raghuveer Vyas and Hussein Ghandour, to discuss one of the key challeng

S4E2 - Ecological Connectivity through Nature-Based Solutions - A Special EC-CIES Collaboration (feat. Anne-Lise Hadzopoulos, Michael King, and Noelia Villazon) Apr 28, 2023 00:26:03 In our second and very special episode of season 4, The Ecologist Podcast, in collaboration with IHEID’s Centre for International Environmental Studies, host Juan Diego Prado is joined by his former ARP team members Anne-Lise Hadzopoulos, Michael King, and Noelia Villazón to recap their 2022 Capstone project. The group shares with us their insight to the ARP project and how they promoted ecologica

S4E1: COP and Carbon Markets: An Inside Look (feat. Emily Mathias) Apr 20, 2023 00:33:40 In our first episode of season 4, The Ecologist Podcast hosts Juan Diego Prado and Bo Mun are joined by Emily Mathias, the Senior Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Primary Industries in New Zealand, and good friend of Bo! Emily shares with us her insight to the world of COP and the intricacies of carbon markets. She also talks about the role that the youth can and is already playing in the realm o

S3E3: Green Roofs for a Greater Geneva (feat. Diane Henny and Camille Darbo) Jan 10, 2023 00:31:21 In our latest episode, The Ecologist Podcast welcomes our two new co-hosts: Laure Driessen and Bo Mun! Alongside them, brand-new EC President Camille Darbo also joins us for our chat with our latest guest. Diane Henny, the co-founder and director of local NGO Terrases Sans Frontières, shares with us the benefits and challenges of promoting the use of green roofs right here in Geneva. She explains

S3E2: A Zero Waste Model Solution (feat. Abdallah Mikulu) Nov 4, 2022 00:25:55 In this episode, EC President Marta La Placa joins us again in a fascinating episode where we talk to Abdallah Mikulu, a Zero Waste Model expert currently working in his home country of Tanzania. Abdallah sheds light into an amazing project currently making strides in a region that deserves more awareness. He explains the intricacies of repurposing numerous kinds of waste and educating the local p

S3E1 - An Insight into the Environmental Committee (feat. Marta La Placa & Nadia Bucher) Okt 10, 2022 00:27:46 Welcome to the third season of The Ecologist Podcast! For our first episode, EC President Marta La Placa and Vice President Nadia Bucher join us for a detailed conversation about the Environmental Committee and the role that they have played during the past year. We highlight some of the many available initiatives part of the committee and we discuss the importance of continuing the growth of each

S2E3: Tipping Points, Timelines, and Clean Energy Transition (feat. Prof. Tim Flannery) Mai 29, 2022 00:24:59 In this episode, we invite Dr. Tim Flannery, an acclaimed author, scientist, and climate change mitigation advocate, on our podcast. Dr. Flannery gives us his take on the current situation regarding climate change, what climate science is telling us today, and whether we have surpassed crucial tipping points. He also highlights the importance of communicating and connecting with different parts of

S2E2: War, Energy, and Sustainable Consumption (feat. Prof. Giacomo Luciani) Apr 29, 2022 00:35:33 The Ecologist Podcast is out with Episode 2 of Season 2! In this episode, Juan Diego, Mariam, and Tanvee put the spotlight on the energy consequences flowing from the Ukraine War, with Prof. Giacomo Luciani, who is teaching this semester at the Institute and is a well-known expert on the geopolitics and economics of energy. Our good news section brings you some positive news about the environment.

S2E1: From Plastic Cups to Entrepreneur (feat. Arno Ratzinger) Mär 26, 2022 00:31:10 Hello there! The Environmental Committee is back and we are very excited to be hosting season two of The Ecologist Podcast. For this first episode, Mariam, Tanvee, and Juan Diego, your new hosts from the EC, invite our colleague Arno Ratzinger to share with us his experience with co-founding his own company that deals with biomaterials. We also share with you some positive environmental news; prog

S1E6: Social Innovation and Sustainable Development (feat. Lorenzo Niola & Matthieu Guillier) Mär 25, 2022 00:47:52 The sixth and final episode of the first season (2020). For this season finale episode in collaboration with Collaborate for Social Innovation, Olivier interviews Lorenzo Niola, the Head of Ecosystem Development at Hatch CoLab. Hatch CoLab accelerates the development and scaling up of technologies to solve sustainability issues. It helps startups work with international organisations to develop th

S1E5: Sustainable Farming and Resilient Cities (feat. Chris Jones & Jarrod Suda) Mär 25, 2022 00:40:26 The fifth episode of the first season (2020). In this episode, Anna and Olivier interviewed Chris Jones, a landscape architect who is opening urban farms in countries throughout the world. He hopes to place circularity and sustainable food systems at the heart of these areas, while also providing quality produce for all. The student contributor for this episode was Jarrod Suda, a Master’s student

S1E4: The Environmental Impact of Covid-19 (feat. Tatiana Valovaya) Mär 25, 2022 00:21:18 The fourth episode of the first season (2020). Find out how the Covid-19 crisis affected the world of environmentalism and sustainability! To commemorate the release of 170 Actions to combat climate change brochure produced by the Perception Change Project in partnership with the EC, Anna and Olivier interviewed Tatiana Valovaya, the Director General of the UNOG, about the foreseen environmental i

S1E3: Lithium et Économie Verte (feat. Marc Hufty) Mär 25, 2022 00:43:17 The third episode of the first season (2020). This time, the hosts are joined by IHEID professor Marc Hufty as they discuss the complex relationship between Lithium and a green economy. This episode is also our first episode in French! Dans ce nouvel épisode, Anna et Olivier discutent avec leurs invités de l’économie verte et de ses limites comme alternative pour protéger notre environnement. On e

S1E2: Sustainable Tourism (feat. Ben Gill) Mär 25, 2022 01:00:36 The second episode of the first season (2020). In this episode, Anna and Olivier discuss the impacts of tourism and how sustainable tourism can be a less impactful way to travel. To explore the subject, we host Ben Gill, who has been working on sustainable tourism projects for more than 15 years with a charity named Bioregional. Pablo, a Graduate Institute’s student from Indonesia, talks about the

S1E1: Circular Economy and Sustainability Week Mär 25, 2022 00:38:08 The first episode of the first season (2020). This episode explores the broad theme of sustainability by addressing a transformative idea: the circular economy. Later on, Anna and Olivier discuss with two students from the Université de Genève about the upcoming Sustainability Week in Geneva.