The Climate Resilience Podcast - Tackling the big topics head-on
In the JBA Climate Resilience Podcast, Phil Emonson is joined by inspirational guests from across the environmental sector and beyond for deep-dive conversations into climate resilience. But what motivated us to create the series? Discover more below.
How do we enhance society's resilience to climate change?
That's the big question. The one Phil set out to explore.
The Climate Resilience Podcast hosted by Phil Emonson, JBA's Climate Resilience Transformation Lead, began in September 2024 as part of our Climate Resilience Week event. Each month, Phil is joined by guests from across the environmental sector and beyond, for in-depth discussions on climate resilience. Tackling big topics head-on and getting under the skin of how we raise awareness, adapt, respond and recover more effectively.
A man on a mission
Phil is a Technical Director at JBA with 18 years of experience in flood risk, climate resilience, and emergency planning. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management and a Member of the Emergency Planning Society, Phil is passionate about enhancing whole society resilience to climate change and exploring what challenges exist, who has important roles to play, and what’s needed to deliver it.
With the podcast about to publish its 10th episode in April, read on to hear what inspired Phil to create it, the journey so far and a sneak peek at what's to come.
Q. What's the story behind the podcast and what inspired you to create it?
At JBA, our ambition is to lead in society’s pursuit for resilience to climate change. Delivery of that ambition will require us to be acknowledged as trusted and knowledgeable technical leaders by our clients, partners and those we collaborate with. With the podcast, I wanted to create a space for deep-dive conversations on the topic of climate resilience. A way to bring together JBA thought leaders and industry subject matter experts to explore key issues. I also wanted to engage with cross and multi-sectoral audiences, using the podcast as a platform to create debate and discussion both on and offline.
Q. What do you hope to achieve with the podcast?
The aim of the podcast is quite simple really: we want to help our audience to better understand what resilience to climate change is all about and what it means to them and their organisation. And I hope folk simply enjoy listening too!
Q3. How do you decide on the guests and the topics for discussion in each episode?
It depends. Sometimes, the episodes are a discussion around something that's currently happening in our industry; for example, the release of the National Planning Policy Framework update before Christmas was the inspiration for the fabulous Episode 8, 'Shaping sustainable and resilient communities through planning and development' with planning expert Bart Milburn and JBA's Ian Armstrong. Mostly though, it's just from having great conversations with our colleagues, clients and partners. Collaboration is key to the success of the work we do at JBA.
Q4. We've had some fantastic guests on the podcast. What’s been your favourite episode so far, and why?
Can I say all of them? We've been really lucky to have had some truly inspiring guests so far. Like Harjit Lota from North Highland in Episode 2, 'Embedding resilience through effective change management, ' who helped us explore the process of change with JBA's Neil Wiseman - a crucial topic as we evolve from managing risk to building resilience. Or the great conversation I had with Elizabeth Rapoport, Chair of the London Surface Water Strategic Group, about her experiences in Episode 6.
If pushed though, I’d have to say that Episode 4, ‘Recovery – a deep dive’ with Matt Hogan, Deputy Head of Resilience at the Greater London Authority, and JBA's Evie Whatling, and Episode 7, 'The role of social value in building whole-society resilience to climate change' with JBA's Lucy Formoy, and Cat Cornfield from the EA, were stand-outs for me. I’m an emergency planner by background, and I also have a real interest in the role social value plays in building climate resilience in communities. So, both episodes really resonate with me on a personal level. But above all, both episodes epitomise why we do the podcast – great, inspiring guests who know their stuff, ready to engage in some really fascinating discussions.
Q5. What episodes/topics do we have in the pipeline? Anything you can give away?
We have some great things lined up. We’re hoping to have an episode focusing on STEM and pathways into the climate resilience sector for the next generation. We’re also hoping to have one exploring resilience to climate change on a global scale, considering the humanitarian aspect. Plus, hopefully, a few surprise guests. Stay tuned!
Q6. What's the main thing you'd like listeners to take away?
With our changing climate, we know there will be weather events in the future that bring disruption to society, through increased frequency and severity of floods, storms, drought and extreme heat. The need for climate resilience is an important message for us at JBA and we believe it's crucially important to wider society. We know that resilience to climate change means different things to different people and organisations, but in recent years the term has become ubiquitous. It’s used in everyday language across almost all subjects and constantly in the media. Using it as shorthand without an explanation is unhelpful. I hope the podcast will help listeners to really better understand the challenges and opportunities that exist, as well as providing some clarity on what resilience to climate change is all about.
If you'd like to suggest a guest for the podcast, have a topic you'd like us to cover or for more information about the podcast and its production, click here to get in touch.
