LSE’s Sustainability Research Podcast

LSE’s Sustainability Research Podcast Interview with Felix Koninx, LSE Masters student and host of an exciting new sustainability podcast. Hi Felix! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Hi! I am a Masters student at LSE, studying Environmental Policy and Regulation. I’m Dutch and Australian, but have lived around the world. Sustainability interests me because it is so far reaching and cross-cutting. Understanding it means you need to have a grasp of science, humanities, politics, finance, philosophy…so many academic fields have value to contribute. This collaboration between academic silos is what draws me in.

Why podcasts? What was it that drew you to this particular medium for exploring and sharing important ideas? I guess I was seeking a different way to engage with research, and to make public the findings, ideas and discussions happening within sustainability-related fields. We often write essays and policy briefs, but podcasts really provide a lower barrier to entry for people to engage. I also really enjoy Office Hours with Academics. Producing podcasts gives me the opportunity to chat with world leading researchers, and share their insights with a wider audience. Who are some of the researchers you’ve spoken to on the podcast so far? Are there any that have particularly stood out to you? I’ve spoken to a few researchers at the Grantham Research Institute and the Department of Geography and the Environment. Everyone does interesting and important work, but I am especially interested in those who work at the interface between science and policy.

Who would be your dream sustainability podcast guest? That’s an excellent question. I think I would be great to have Ann Pettifor as a podcast guest. The Case For The Green New Deal was convincing when it was published in 2019, but I think in the context of COVID-19 recovery it has become even more salient.

Right now we’re experiencing a period of extreme disruption and uncertainty, as the coronavirus pandemic coincides with the climate crisis. At such a strange time, what are your hopes for the future? I am hopeful that governments will use this window of opportunity to funnel stimulus packages into climate friendly and socially just policies. The form of the recovery will have a strong influence on whether we can meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. We are already seeing decarbonization conditions attached to bailouts, and vital research has already been published on recovery policies that bring benefits economically and for the climate. IPSOS Polls in April showed that the UK public supports green recovery action, I hope this continues as the realities of disruption from the pandemic become more apparent.

Where can people listen to the podcast, and are there other ways to get involved? You can find the podcasts on the LSE communications page, and on Spotify. To get involved in these debates, follow the Grantham Institute on Social Media, and sign up for Green Flash, the biweekly LSE sustainability newsletter.