The Polycrisis

07 | Demand Destruction | Techno-optimism?

In this final bonus season episode, Kate and Tim reflect on the morality of focusing on the "co-benefits" of war, and whether they are techno-optimists or techno-pessimists. Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.comLinks:Prisoners of the Wrong Dilemma: Why Distributive Conflict, Not Collective Action, Characterizes the Politics of Climate Change  - (Global Environmental Politics, Nov 2020 edition)Chartbook - Adam Tooze on Substack. Tooze has a new book coming out soon, Carbon, which Tim refers to in this episode. Tooze holds the Shelby Cullom Davis chair of History at Columbia University and serves as Director of the European Institute. 

07 | Brazil: The next green industrial superpower?

The Polycrisis is sharing some episodes from other podcasts around the world while we develop our next season.This episode is from the Brazilian ClimaInfo podcast . It's about how Brazil has become a focal point in the global race for green industrialisation, and what that means for the future of the second largest economy in the Americas. We hear from Tulio Cariello of the Brazil-China Business Council and The Polycrisis' Tim Sahay.Brazil's new green developmental strategy requires delicate negotiations with China. It also means contending with the US – which wants to impose carbon dominance across the entire American hemisphere, rewarding countries that support its vision and punishing those that don’t. The Polycrisis is hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

06 | The conjuncture of geopolitics, energy and climate

The Polycrisis team’s taking a short break, we’ll be back next week. In the meantime we’re sharing an episode from NuVoices where they interview Kate Mackenzie. NuVoices host Solarina Ho asks Kate whether the topic of climate change has been weaponised amid the US-China trade war. Also how the global rush to electric vehicles served global needs, both strategically and environmentally. Kate shares her insights into the latest trend of climate collaboration, renewable energy development, and how we could save our planet at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.NuVoices is an international editorial collective. It celebrates and supports the diverse creative work of women and other underrepresented communities working on the subject of China (broadly defined).The Polycrisis is hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.com

05 | Canada gets its China-made EVs

The Polycrisis team’s having a short break, so we’re sharing a couple of episodes from other podcasts that are very relevant to our themes. Chinese EVs are just beginning to arrive in Canada this week; but – as we wrote back in January – the more significant element was Carney’s government making a promise to Canada’s own auto manufacturers: that they could attract new investment and tech from Chinese car companies. And that would lessen their deep reliance upon the US car industry and market – which is doubling down on highly polluting  internal combustion engines, while most of the rest of the world moves rapidly towards electric vehicles.   This episode is from our friends at The Wire China. It was recorded in April before Trump visited Beijing. Contact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.comLinks:Canada's new non-alignmentSome of The Polycrisis thoughts on Canada’s strategy to do the seemingly impossible task of decoupling from the US. Yes, it’s going to be painful, and building a coalition to endure that pain is part of Mark Carney’s plan, as demonstrated in his Davos speech.China’s Connected Vehicles Widen the U.S.-Canada DisconnectA Chinese EV maker that is expanding in Canada has ties to a U.S.-sanctioned surveillance company, illustrating the data and security risks connected vehicles pose.Mercantilism and stabilizationSmelling the roses in the weaponized world economy - more from The PolycrisisAutomakers back Trump plan to roll back fuel economy rules, but seek changesAlliance for Automotive Innovation backs reduction in stringency proposed by NHTSA. Alliance asks NHTSA to not eliminate credit trading to meet regulatory requirements.

04 | Demand Destruction | Smelling the roses in Beijing

US-China relations have evolved because of the Middle East war. Trump recently made the first presidential visit to China in nine years. So what are the implications for energy and international development? And why it's not so much a  “China shock” but a “China Squeeze”.Hosted by energy and climate finance expert Kate Mackenzie, and Tim Sahay from the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They co-author The Polycrisis newsletter, which explores connections between energy, geopolitics, climate change, finance and industry. Produced by Sarah AllelyOriginal music by Russell StapletonMixed by Bethany StewartContact us at: polycrisispodcast@gmail.comLinks:Several episodes in our first season featured China-US experts:EP 1 The quiet revolution included Kyle Chan from Brookings.EP 4 Manufacturing Chimerica with Jessica Chen-Weiss and Jake Werner. Jessica Chen-Weiss also wrote an op-ed for the Financial Times this week A Cold Peace between the US and China is good enough and featured on CNN discussing where the US China relationship is headed Jake Werner's piece referred to is here A New Opening for US-China relations (Quincy)Relevant Polycrisis essays: Conscious Uncoupling , Mercantilist Deals of the Great Powers - three views on technology, decouplers, cooperationists, centrists