April MiniPod (Smart Meters, Data Centres & Diversity)

In today's episode we’re focusing on water that’s used by businesses, which makes up 30% of all the water that’s supplied in England. Join Sarah McMath, CEO of MOSl as we explore the challenges of needing to deliver an extra 5 billion litres of water each day into supply by 2050 and the opportunities - and challenges - presented by commercial water demand.We explore...Smart metering for business customers and the current lack of data to understand how much water they're using - and when.News that Amazon, Microsoft and Google are planning to build hundreds of data centres across the globe, including in areas of water scarcity.The opportunities to bring more diverse voices into the water sector to help tackle some of the challenges it faces over the next 10 years.Planet Possible is supported by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

25% of all the water that comes into our homes is flushed down the toilet. By 2050, we’re going to need an extra 5 billion litres of water a day - almost a third more - available in 25 years.This increased need for water is driven by a growing population, new homes and a water hungry economy and there's an opportunity to reduce our demand for the highest quality drinking water by using an alternative for things like flushing the toilet and watering the garden. So in todays episode we explore whether harvesting rainwater and using it in our homes could be part of the solution to closing the 5 billion litre shortfall.  You'll hear from George Warren, from Anglian Water, who's driving the 'Enabling Water Smart Communities' project to see how rainwater and water reuse in new housing developments can be scaled up.  Niki's co-host is Tom Chance, the CEO of the Community Land Trust Network,  representing community-led affordable housing projects - who shares the wider landscape around building new homes - and how rainwater harvesting could be included.SponsorsPlanet Possible is grateful to Mackley, Business Modelling Applications & MWH Treatment for their support. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Welcome to our March MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.In this episode we're joined by Dave Slater, Regional Director for Natural England for the South West of England, and we explore...Whether beavers are a force for good after the news that the UK Government has announced its commitment to reintroducing beavers into the wild. The creation of the Western Forest – the first new national forest in 30 years.How  we ensure nature has an enduring impact and changes – like the ones above – aren’t forced on people.Planet Possible is grateful to Atkins Réalis for supporting the podcast.Want to find out more about the topics in the show? Click the links below...https://connectingtheculm.com/https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/our-conservation-work/on-land/penwith-landscape-partnershiphttps://www.wenp.org.uk/priority-programmes/western-foresthttps://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/28/beaver-wild-release-a-milestone-for-nature-recovery-in-england/https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2024/06/PWS-statsnotice-20jun24-FINAL.pdf  Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

A circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. The UK government wants to transition the UK to a circular economy and in  2024 established a circular economy taskforce to consider the policy pathways, interventions and targets make this happen. We explore the circular economy in the UK and internationally and dig into a range of examples from both community action and the water sector. Our main interview is with Rick Lancaster, Global Bioresrouces Director for Atkins Réalis and to help us navigate this topic our Co-Host is Sue Jefferson, Co-founder of Circular Malton and Norton. with a mission to create the first circular economy market town in the UK to see the multiple circular benefits realised and be a showcase for replicating this across the country.Planet Possible is supported by Atkins RéalisFind out more about Circular Malton & Norton here: http://www.circularmaltonnorton.orgChapters and Timings0:01:36 In today's show0:03:14 Circular econ in water sector 0:04:50 UK lagging behind? 0:06:40 What is recoverable? 0:10:27 What else can we recover? 0:16:54 Grit and heat and cellulose 0:17:50 Sustainable Aviation Fuel 0:21:07 Advert 1 0:21:36 What are enablers to do more? 0:26:02 What else needs to happen? 0:29:55 Rick's magic wand 0:30:35 Sue's initial reaction 0:31:11 Sue's circular economy market town project 0:32:14 What are they actually doing? 0:33:29 Food collection and digester 0:34:55 What has reaction been? 0:36:34 How keep community engaged long term? 0:38:44 Where does the value sit? 0:41:02 Sue's magic wand 0:42:22 Thank you Sue0:42:34 Outro   Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Welcome to our February MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.In this episode we're joined by Dr Vera Jones,  Technical Director and Global Technical Authority for Water Quality at AtkinsRéalis, and we explore...How pet owners might be having an unexpectedly negative impact on the health of aquatic life in our rivers and estuaries.New research that makes the link between human driven climate change and the impact on nutrient cycles in our oceans.Innovations that are helping to enhance what we know about UK bathing water quality and keep water users better informed about the health of the water in real-time.Our 2024 Season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Interview guest - Bevis Watts (CEO of Triodos Bank UK, a leader in ethical and sustainable banking)Co-host - Ed Dick (CEO of Great Yellow, a company that sources long-term capital for nature restoration projects)We’re often joined by guests on Planet Possible who identify and look to take action to solve the challenges that we face in our water and environment. But we don’t often talk about how the work gets paid for. We know that water customers' bills can provide funding for environmental improvements or flood schemes, and governments can pay directly for infrastructure improvements. At a level beyond this, though... who benefits when we improve our natural environment and therefore who is willing to fund those improvements and why? Plus, a bigger question... how do we get better at truly valuing nature in a way that global financial structures can understand, work with and amplify?Could green finance be the answer? Can it play a massive part by funding the planet-positive projects, innovations and processes that can start to address the world's urgent environmental challenges?Helping to answer these questions are two expert guests. Our main interview is with Bevis Watts, the CEO of Triodos Bank UK and to help us navigate this topic our co-host is Ed Dick, the CEO of Great Yellow. **********Find out more about the projects that Bevis mentions in the episode...Wyre NFM project: press release and video overview of the finance modelOxygen Conservation: web articleRead how Triodos has pioneered commercial investment in nature-based solutions. This is Nature Impact - find out more here.Find out more about the York and North Yorkshire Local Investment in Natural Capital programme that Ed talks about here...https://yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk/project/local-investment-in-natural-capital/ Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Welcome to our January MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.In this episode we're joined by Julie Foley,  Director of Flood Risk Strategy & National Adaptation at the Environment Agency and we explore...The recently updated flood and coastal erosion risk information for England that means one in four properties in England could be in areas at risk of flooding by the middle of the century.2024 was the 4th warmest year on record in the UK – so why do we talk about weather but find climate such a tricky topic?How to achieve greater inclusivity of multicultural communities in flood projects.Check your long term flood risk... https://www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-riskOur 2024 Season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

As we record this episode at the start of January, wherever you are in the world your news is likely to be filled with images of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, or temperatures well below freezing alongside flooding across much of the UK. And whilst climate and it’s impact on weather might be making the headlines, we know that nature and the biodiversity crises are inexorably linked to this challenge. So in todays episode we explore just how linked climate and nature are – and potentially could be in UK legislation.  Ahead of the Climate and Nature Bill heading to Westminster we're joined by Dr Roz Savage MBE, the MP who is bringing the bill forward.Our Co-host is the former Chair of the UK Governments Climate Change Committee and the longest serving Secretary of State for the Environment for the British Government, The Right Honorable The Lord Deben.Thanks to Atkins Realis for supporting Planet Possible. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

In this episode we explore the recent flooding that has happened across the south of Spain, resulting in the tragic loss of 224 lives, and resulting in Spain mounting it’s biggest peacetime disaster recovery operation.  One of the consequences of a changing climate is more extreme weather and that’s what exactly what the Valencia region experienced in late October.You'll hear  what happened, what the situation is like at the moment in Valencia and what early lessons are beginning to be shared. We're joined by Miguel Cano, a Principal Hydraulic Modeller at Anglian Water who was born and raised in Valencia and is there at the time of this recording and a wonderful cohost to help us navigate the topic, CIWEM’s President and a Regional Delivery Director for Flood, Coast and Maritime at Binnies, Hannah Burgess.  You can view a map of the impacted area that Miguel discusses in this episode here: https://planetpossible.eco/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ValenciaFloodMap.jpgAll of our episodes are available in audio transcription in multiple languages.Thanks to our sponsors Atkins Realis for supporting Planet Possible. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland 

Welcome to our December MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.In this episode we're joined by Will McBain, a Director of Water at Arup and we explore...1. The UK Government review of partnership funding regime for Flood and coastal erosion risk management.2. New figures that reveal that 86% of rivers tested in 2023-24 in England were found to have bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides present whilst the office of environmental protection opens an investigation into Defra's emergency authorisation of the use of the pesticides.3. Will's passion for a multi-generational programme of nature connection. Our 2024 Season of Planet Possible is supported by Atkins Realis. Credits Presented & Produced by Niki RoachExecutive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb LimitedWith thanks to Alastair ChisholmHonorary Executive Producer Jane Boland