In this episode of The Ethical Futurists, hosts James Taylor and Alison Burns sit down with Marian Fletcher, a leading expert in sustainability and climate education in the Middle East. Marian shares her journey from management consulting to founding The Climate Club, a social enterprise dedicated to climate literacy and marine conservation. Tune in to learn about the importance of carbon literacy, the challenges and rewards of working with businesses on sustainability initiatives, and how individuals can make a significant impact in their communities. Show Notes: 0:00 - Introduction: James Taylor and Alison Burns introduce the podcast and today's guest, Marian Fletcher. 1:47 - Guest Introduction: Marian Fletcher's background and her roles with various organizations including the UN, ILO, and World Economic Forum. 3:35 - Current Focus: Marian discusses her current projects with The Climate Club and her consulting work in the Middle East. 4:22 - Top Accomplishments: Marian highlights her achievements in building a framework for just transition in the GCC. 5:23 - Marine Conservation Passion: Marian shares her passion for marine conservation and her work with Sea Shepherd and Azraq. 6:39 - UAE's First Carbon Literacy Course: The purpose and target audience for the carbon literacy course Marian developed. 8:09 - Varied Audience: Discussing the diverse audience for climate education, from schools to businesses. 8:49 - The Climate Club: The inspiration behind The Climate Club and its various community events like Climate Coffee Club and Conscious Cocktails. 9:43 - Challenges in Sustainability Consulting: The difficulty of ensuring businesses focus on education and solid ESG strategies before jumping to communication. 11:08 - AI and Data in Sustainability: James and Marian discuss the role of AI and data in achieving sustainability goals. 11:49 - Climate Anxiety and Empowerment: Addressing climate anxiety by empowering individuals to make a difference in their roles. 13:01 - Book Promotion: Promotion for Julie Lewis's book "Uncharted Waters." 13:37 - Aha Moments: Marian shares key moments in her sustainability journey and the growth of The Climate Club. 14:40 - Vision for The Climate Club: Discussing the potential for international chapters and expansion in the GCC. 15:18 - Quick Fire Round: 15:29 - Book Recommendation: "How to Avoid a Climate Disaster" by Bill Gates and "Climate War" by Michael E. Mann. 16:37 - Perspectives on Legal Cases: Discussing the significance of recent legal cases related to climate change. 17:17 - Podcast Recommendation: Steven Bartlett's "The Diary of a CEO" and "My First Million." 18:09 - Vision for an Ethical and Sustainable Future: Marian's vision of an inclusive world where everyone plays a role in sustainability. 18:45 - Connect with Marian: Information on how to connect with Marian and learn more about her work. Timecodes: 0:00 - Introduction by James Taylor and Alison Burns 1:47 - Guest introduction: Marian Fletcher 3:35 - Marian’s current focus: The Climate Club and consulting 4:22 - Top accomplishments in sustainability 5:23 - Passion for marine conservation 6:39 - UAE's first carbon literacy course 8:09 - Audience for climate education 8:49 - The Climate Club's community events 9:43 - Challenges in sustainability consulting 11:08 - AI and data in sustainability 11:49 - Addressing climate anxiety 13:01 - Book promotion: "Uncharted Waters" by Julie Lewis 13:37 - Key aha moments in sustainability journey 14:40 - Vision for The Climate Club's expansion 15:18 - Quick fire round: book and podcast recommendations 18:09 - Vision for an ethical and sustainable future 18:45 - How to connect with Marian Fletcher
