In this thought-provoking conversation, Professor David Whyte examines how our legal and economic systems—particularly the structures of corporate capitalism—shape environmental outcomes and impede meaningful climate action. Drawing from his academic work and recent report The Carbon Cash Machine, he argues that tackling climate change requires confronting the underlying architecture that enables corporations to prioritize profit while externalizing harm.

Whyte explores the role of institutional investors, shareholder returns, and regulatory frameworks, revealing how financial incentives continue to drive fossil fuel expansion, arguing that corporate sustainability commitments are ultimately at odds with their core economic logic. He believes that corporate reform within the existing system will fall short, urging a deeper reckoning with the structural forces that entrench shareholder primacy over environmental responsibility. Calling for a fundamental reimagining of ownership, governance, and investment, he considers alternatives such as cooperative enterprises and public control of key industries, envisioning what a truly transformative economic model might look like.

This is a important incisive discussion, from late 2024, that raises urgent questions about accountability, power, and the deeper systemic changes needed to confront the climate crisis.

David Whyte is Professor of Climate Justice in the School of Law, Queen Mary University of London. His most recent book is Ecocide: kill the corporation before it kills us (Manchester University Press, 2020). He is the co-author of Corporate Human Rights Violations: Global Prospects for Legal Action' (Routledge, 2018, with Stefanie Khoury) and editor of The Violence of Austerity (Pluto, 2017, with Vickie Cooper).

In this thought-provoking episode, Christopher Brown—lawyer, novelist, and urban naturalist— takes us on a journey through the landscape around his home in Austin, Texas, the edgelands where the city meets the wild. Drawing from his latest book, A Natural History of Empty Lots, Christopher explores the resilience of urban ecosystems, the unexpected biodiversity thriving in neglected spaces, and the connections between land, politics, and justice in an era of climate disruption.

This is a compelling dialogue about the uneasy balance between human civilization and the natural world—and how rethinking our relationship with wild spaces could reshape the cities of tomorrow. We delve into the intersections of rewilding, environmental justice, and the unfolding polycrisis, unpacking what these abandoned landscapes can teach us about adaptation, resilience, and envisioning a more livable future.

This episode includes readings from A Natural History of Empty Lots, and excerpts of a new sound composition by Cat Byrne, Clapton edgelands (i), gathered in the Lea Valley, Clapton, London, during November 2024.

Christopher Brown is an American author and attorney based in Austin, Texas, renowned for his work in both science fiction and nature-focused nonfiction. His latest book, A Natural History of Empty Lots, published in October 2024, is a blend of nature writing, literary nonfiction, and memoir that explores the intersection of urban environments and wild nature. Brown's debut novel, Tropic of Kansas (2017), was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. He continued to explore speculative themes with Rule of Capture (2019) and its sequel, Failed State (2020), the latter of which was nominated for the 2021 Philip K. Dick Award. In addition to his writing, Brown practices law and authors the urban nature newsletter Field Notes. You can subscribe to Chris' excellent Fieldnotes newsletter here: https://fieldnotes.christopherbrown.com/

Cat Byrne is a DJ, radio host, and forest researcher from East London. She hosts the monthly radio show, Biorhythms w/ Cat, on Balamii Radio, where she explores natural sounds, textured rhythms, and percussive down-tempo, and also a live place-based radio show on RTM, Listening From. Cat is also a keen field recordist, weaving her own field recordings throughout her sets. You can listen to the full sound composition Clapton edgelands (i) at https://catbyrne.bandcamp.com and www.catbyrne.com

In this thought-provoking episode of The Sustainability Agenda, Fergal Byrne speaks with Manda Scott—award-winning novelist, podcaster, and shamanic practitioner—about the profound challenges of our time and the transformative possibilities of conscious evolution. Manda discusses the "polycrisis" of climate breakdown, systemic inequities, and the existential threat of predatory capitalism, offering a deep perspective on the spiritual and systemic changes needed to navigate this pivotal moment.

Manda sees humanity’s crises as rooted in a centuries-old belief in separability, which has fueled destructive systems like capitalism and undermined our connection to the natural world. She emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift toward non-duality and spiritual reconnection, drawing on her shamanic practice to illustrate how this approach can foster a deeper integration with the web of life. For Manda, conscious evolution is not only possible but essential to moving through what she describes as the “pinch point” of our meta-crisis.

A central theme of the interview is the critical role of storytelling in shaping the future. Manda discusses her idea of "thrutopian" narratives—stories that chart a realistic and peaceful path from the crises of today to a thriving, equitable future. These narratives, she argues, can provide a tangible roadmap for systemic transformation, inspiring individuals and communities to imagine and create a world beyond predatory capitalism. She criticizes the limits of corporate greenwashing and geoengineering, calling instead for holistic approaches centered on community, cooperation, and connection.

In this interview, Manda also explores how technology could become a force for ecological and social justice …if freed from the constraints of profit-driven systems. One way or another, she argues that we urgently need to change the stories we tell ourselves about what is possible and to foster collective action rooted in shared values and imagination.

Drawing from her latest ecological thriller, Any Human Power, Manda offers a compelling vision for systemic change, urging listeners to embrace new narratives-- and a renewed sense of interconnectedness. she shows how creativity and spiritual practice can illuminate the pathways to a regenerative and just future.

Manda Scott is a former Scottish veterinary surgeon who is now a blogger, podcaster, columnist, occasional broadcaster and an award winning novelist. Born and educated in Glasgow, Scotland, she trained at the University of Glasgow, School of Veterinary Medicine, and now lives and works in Shropshire. Manda is also the host of the Accidental Gods podcast which “explores ways through to the future we'd be proud to leave behind. Her latest novel is Any Human Power, a visionary ecological thriller that intertwines myth, technology and radical compassion in the pursuit of a just future.