Episode 1: What Does Climate Change Mean for Defence? An Introduction

In the first episode of Greening Defence, hosts Dr Sarah Ashbridge (RUSI) and Doug Weir (CEOBS) discuss the range of ways in which climate change is affecting defence, and how the Ministry of Defence and UK Armed Forces have been working to respond to the challenges.

Guests
James Clare (Director for Climate Change and Sustainability, MoD)
Dr Stuart Parkinson (Scientists for Global Responsibility)

Episode 2: A Sustainable Defence?

In this episode, hosts Major Alistair Beard (RUSI/British Army) and Linsey Cottrell (CEOBS) discuss with guests what sustainability means within the defence sector, as well as the learning curve that the UK armed forces have embarked upon.

Guests
Lieutenant General Richard Wardlaw (Chief of Defence Logistics and Support, UK MoD)
Howard Lungley (Sustainability Lead at the Frazer-Nash consultancy)

Episode 3: The Importance of a Greener Culture

Organisations often look to technology to provide a solution to the problems posed by climate change, but is the importance of organisational culture underestimated? Hosts Major Alistair Beard (RUSI/British Army) and Linsey Cottrell (CEOBS) and guests explore what this might mean for the UK Armed Forces, an organisation with a predominantly traditional ethos and structure.

Guests
Lt General Richard Nugee, CB, CVO, CBE (Non-Exec Director for Climate Change for Defence)
Dr Duncan Depledge (Lecturer in Geopolitics and Security, Loughborough University)

Episode 4: A Bet on Technology?

Future technology is often viewed as a panacea for military sustainability. Bets are being placed on technology, rather than reducing demand, but how realistic are they? Hosts Dr Sarah Ashbridge (RUSI) and Doug Weir (CEOBS) and guests explore the role of technology in climate change mitigation and its suitability for the military.

Guests

Steve Murray, VP, Strategy and Marketing UK at Thales.
Finlay Asher, Co-Founder, Safe Landing and Founder, Green Sky Thinking.

Episode 5: The British Army’s Race Against Climate Change

At the request of the Ministry of Defence this and the following two episodes were recorded without CEOBS’ involvement. In this episode, hosts RUSI’s Dr Sarah Ashbridge and Lieutenant Colonel Alistair Beard explore what steps the British Army is taking to address the climate crisis.

Guest

Major General Richard Clements, Director Army Basing and Infrastructure.

Episode 6: Readying the Royal Navy for Climate Change-Affected Seas

At the request of the Ministry of Defence this and the preceding and following episodes were recorded without CEOBS’ involvement. In this episode, hosts RUSI’s Dr Sarah Ashbridge and Lieutenant Colonel Alistair Beard explore what steps the Royal Navy is taking to address the climate crisis.

Guest

Rear Admiral Paul Beattie, Director Naval Staff within the Royal Navy

Episode 7: Navigating the RAF’s Flightplan to Net Zero 2040

At the request of the Ministry of Defence this and the preceding two episodes were recorded without CEOBS’ involvement. In this episode, hosts RUSI’s Dr Sarah Ashbridge and Lieutenant Colonel Alistair Beard explore the UK Royal Air Force’s approach to the climate crisis and its ambitious goal of being Net Zero by 2040.

Guest

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff.

Episode 8: Inconvenience or Opportunity? Summarising Greening Defence

As the Greening Defence podcast concludes, the hosts come together to reflect on how the conversation about climate change has evolved within the UK military, where there is more work to be done, and what defence might need to do to make sure it is resilient for a climate changed future.

In this final episode, hosts Lieutenant Colonel Alistair Beard and Dr Sarah Ashbridge of RUSI, and CEOBS’ Doug Weir and Linsey Cottrell reflect on the conversations held and provide their own assessment of the UK Ministry of Defence’s progress and future potential.