In this episode of the Energy Futures Podcast, we sit down with Richard Black, Director of Policy and Strategy at Ember, to explore the future of energy, the zero-carbon transition, and his career in climate journalism and policy. Richard shares insights from his newly released book, The Future of Energy, offering an optimistic view of the clean energy revolution and the challenges ahead.

Episode Highlights

  • The role of think tanks like Ember in shaping global energy policy
  • The importance of clear communication in the energy transition
  • Reflections on the evolution of climate policy and the rise of global clean energy movements
  • Richard’s journey from BBC science correspondent to energy policy expert
  • Key takeaways from his book The Future of Energy and its vision for a sustainable energy future

Meet Our Guests

Richard Black

Richard is Director of Policy and Strategy at Ember. He spent his early working life in journalism, as a science and environment correspondent for BBC World Service radio and then BBC News. Later he founded the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), a UK-based non-profit, and was its Director for seven years before stepping down and moving to Berlin. He remains a Senior Associate at ECIU and is an Honorary Research Fellow at Imperial College London.

In 2018 he wrote ‘Denied: The Rise and Fall of Climate Contrarianism’, the only book about the UK’s climate contrarian elite, its influence and its retreat. Outside work he likes to make music, play and watch sports and read novels.

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