1 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: Welcome to Zero. 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm Oscar Boyd and I'm Christine Driscol. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: We're the producers on zero and we are joined as 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: always by our eminent host at Sha Rati. Actually, welcome 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: back to London. You've been in Singapore, Australia and India 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: visiting and interviewing all sorts of interesting people working in climate. 7 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: How were your travels? 8 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:24,319 Speaker 3: Oh, really good, energizing, exhausting, surprising, all the things that 9 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 3: good travel is supposed to be. 10 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: What was the best thing you saw? 11 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 3: I mean, that's an easy one, because I went to 12 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 3: the Great Barrier Reef. It's very hard to beat a 13 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 3: world wonder, which I'd been looking forward to see. The 14 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 3: other wonder is Singapore. It's a man made wonder and 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 3: that was crazy fun too. I mean, it's the most 16 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 3: densely populated country in the world, one hundred percent urban, 17 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 3: and yet it's also a really good place to visit. 18 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 3: Everything works, cooling is on all the time. We went 19 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 3: down and saw some cooling projects, including a district cauling 20 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 3: project which was very interesting. Workers in the basement that 21 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 3: had huge vats of ice cool using renewable electricity when 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 3: it's available. But yeah, do wonders of the world. 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: That's great. So a couple of months ago we introduced 24 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: a new format on Zero, which is our numbers based 25 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: climate guessing game. Because of its wild popularity last time, 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 2: today the game is getting a second outing, and so 27 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,839 Speaker 2: just to quickly recap if this is your first time 28 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: or you've been wowed by Singapore and everything's left your mind. 29 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 2: There are a lot of climate numbers out there and 30 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: they don't make it onto a full episode of Zero, 31 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 2: but they do paint a good picture of where we're going, 32 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: and it is a shame to ignore them. So the 33 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 2: purpose of this game is to highlight our. 34 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: Favorites exactly and to recap. The rules as well. They're 35 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: very simple. Each one of us will present a number 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: and then the other two have to figure out what 37 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: that number represents. Each person can ask three questions, You 38 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 1: can ask for clues if you get stuck, and then 39 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: you have to guess. 40 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: Akshat Do you remember how to play? 41 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: Yeah? It's easy enough. 42 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 3: As always, I play games only if I have a 43 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 3: chance to win a prize, and I was a little 44 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 3: disappointed last time around because you guys gave me a 45 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 3: carbon credit. Not interested in one of those So what's 46 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: the prize this time? 47 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: Hey, what's wrong with the carbon credit? 48 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, you should go back and listen to the episode 49 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 3: of Mark Trexler to understand why carbon credits don't work. 50 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: But yes, cool, So this time the prize is much 51 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: more special, much more real in many ways, and the 52 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,240 Speaker 1: prize you'll be delighted to know, actually is a copy 53 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 1: of a new book being published on October the twelfth, 54 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: called Climate Capitalism. Actually, would you like to explain the 55 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: price of it? 56 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: Well, I would like to lose it, so one if 57 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 3: you get who wins it, then the pressure's on. 58 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: So I mean i'll give a brief into but actually 59 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: you should use this opportunity to promote your new book 60 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: as well. It's called Climate Capitalism. It's out October twelve. 61 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: I've read most of the first few chapters. I haven't 62 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: finished it yet, but it's great. It's brilliant. It's a 63 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: really really fun read, and I would recommend anyone who 64 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: is listening to go out and pre order the book. Actually, 65 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: do you want to give it a brief plug as well? 66 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 3: Yes, it's a book about climate solutions, So anybody listening 67 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 3: to Zero the podcast about climate solutions will not be 68 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 3: surprised by it, but I would hope the surprising stories 69 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 3: in it will interest you. Some of them, or at 70 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: least some of the people behind those stories have featured 71 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: on this podcast, But there is a lot more in there. 72 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 3: Writing a book is very different from any other kind 73 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,960 Speaker 3: of journalism I've done so far, and it also gave 74 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 3: me an opportunity to sort of lay out a case 75 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 3: for where we are and correct some of the misperceptions 76 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 3: around whether we are doing enough on reducing emissions. So 77 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: I'm really excited for what people think about it. Really 78 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 3: nice reviews are coming through, so I feel less nervous 79 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 3: now because some people have read it and they've said, 80 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 3: it's all. 81 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: Right, great review for our prize. 82 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: It's all right, it's all right. 83 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: Okay. So to sum that up, akshot, you are ready 84 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 2: to compete for your own book? 85 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: Correct? Shall we play? Whose number is it? Anyway? Christine? 86 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: Would you like to go first this time? 87 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: Yes, I am ready. My number is fifty fifty. 88 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 3: That's a small number. 89 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:26,839 Speaker 2: Is it a small number? 90 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 3: Well again, if you're doing it like last time, if 91 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 3: it's going to be a percentage, I guess we need 92 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 3: the unit. 93 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 2: You have a really good memory. It is a percentage, 94 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 2: and I'll throw it in a little extra hint. It's 95 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 2: a percentage reduction. 96 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 3: So it cannot be the twenty thirty target, because that 97 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 3: twenty thirty target is forty three percent reduction over twenty 98 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 3: nineteen levels. 99 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's not it. Now, I haven't said what we're reducing, 100 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: but you are on the correct path. 101 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: Can I try and define the geographic area little bit? 102 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: Is it a reduction that's happened in the USA? 103 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: Yes, it is. 104 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: Does it have anything to do with electricity generation? No? 105 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 2: Not directly. 106 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: Actually, you look like you're bubbling with questions slash deep 107 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: in thought. 108 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 3: I'm actually confused because I don't know what it is. 109 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 3: If it's not electricity, The closest we come to it 110 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 3: is the US goal, which Joe Edden said for a 111 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 3: fifty percent reduction in emissions by. 112 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: I've got an idea. Is it something that is to 113 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: do with land use change? No? Okay, that's my idea. 114 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: Gone, Okay, I have another hint. I want you to 115 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 2: fill in the blank. If I say Microsoft, what's the 116 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: first word that comes to mind? 117 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 1: Windows XP dang. 118 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: I was going to say office because it's about working 119 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 2: in an office and the effect that that has on 120 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 2: your emissions. 121 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: Oh okay, I think I know roughly what this is. 122 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: It's how much your emissions reduced by or how much 123 00:05:56,920 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: emissions have been reduced by people working from home. 124 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,160 Speaker 2: Yes, I think I'm going to I want to give 125 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 2: this point to Oscar. 126 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,119 Speaker 1: I'm one step closer to finishing at chat sport. 127 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: So basically, there's a big headline recently about a study 128 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: of office workers and remote workers, and the ultimate finding 129 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: was if you work from home, the emissions savings could 130 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: be as much as fifty percent. And that's like the 131 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: big headline because everyone's like, who, let's keep working from home. 132 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 2: I looked at the study. There's a lot of really 133 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: great details in it. I encourage other people to look 134 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: at the study. But there are a lot of neat 135 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 2: things that are not in the headline, and I want 136 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 2: to talk about that. So this was a study of 137 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: Microsoft office workers in the US. I could not get 138 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 2: the researcher to tell me exactly how many people that was, 139 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: but it's at least twenty thousand. So Microsoft has one 140 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 2: hundred and twenty thousand people working in the US. Anyway, 141 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 2: This professor of energy systems engineering at Cornell doctor Fon 142 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 2: Sheiu and other colleagues did the study tracking Microsoft workers 143 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 2: in the US, and the thing that's not in the 144 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 2: headline that I think is so interesting is that you 145 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,520 Speaker 2: have to be working from home more than one day 146 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: a week in order to get this benefit. If you 147 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,880 Speaker 2: just work from home one day a week, it doesn't 148 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 2: really do very much. 149 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: Why is that It has to do with. 150 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: The amount of trips that a person who is working 151 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: from home does on their one day that they're working 152 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 2: from home, So it's like they're driving more essentially, And 153 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: that goes back to like the source of emissions if 154 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 2: you're working in the office is commuting and the energy 155 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 2: use of the building. And I work from home, so 156 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 2: sometimes I feel guilty about it, like, oh, I'm sitting 157 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 2: here with the electricity on and like the computer and 158 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 2: the router, and there's all these empty office buildings that 159 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 2: are just running really great air conditioning and I'm not there. 160 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: And it turns out that because I'm working from home 161 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 2: more than one day a week, I actually am kind 162 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,360 Speaker 2: of in the clear. I'm doing something marginally good. 163 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: Do Microsoft employees are the one study? Are they largely 164 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: driving to work? Because I'd be interested know whether it's 165 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: the same effect in say London, where it's very easy 166 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 1: to cycle or take the bus or take the tube 167 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: or whatever kind of form of public transport you want 168 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 1: to get to work and you're not driving so much. 169 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a lot of driving. And in the study too, 170 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: they make the point that you could further reduce your 171 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 2: emissions as a worker if you drive an EV But 172 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 2: then also only really if you're in the Pacific Northwest, 173 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,960 Speaker 2: where there's a lot more renewable energy. If you're in 174 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 2: the South or of the mid Atlantic there's so much 175 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 2: coal generation that it's negligible. There's not a lot of 176 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 2: great examples of Americans commuting by train or bike, so 177 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 2: it's really a car centric study. 178 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 3: So all the carbon intensive countries really should be working 179 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,959 Speaker 3: from home. You know, if you're living in Saudi Arabia, don't. 180 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 1: Go to Wick. 181 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 2: Yeah. Basically, yeah, work from home two days a week 182 00:08:54,520 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 2: at least. And if you really want your employees to 183 00:08:57,360 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: come back to the office, make sure that you're building 184 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 2: is super energy efficient, and then you'll have a really 185 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 2: strong case that it's better on a lot of levels. 186 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,559 Speaker 2: But everyone who's working from home should not feel guilty 187 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 2: about it. Great, Akshat, you talked about district cooling. I 188 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: do you want to learn more about that because the 189 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 2: cooling is such a big part of people's energy use, 190 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 2: whether you're in the offices or at home. I think 191 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: that you should go next. 192 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:31,520 Speaker 3: Okay. My number is two hundred and one million. 193 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 2: Okay, I think this is the number of electric vehicles 194 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: that have been sold in a certain timescale. 195 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 3: All right, you guys know me it is electric vehicles. 196 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 3: But well, don Christine, timescale is forever. 197 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: It's time scills forever. 198 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 3: As in from the beginning of time till now. 199 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: Oh, okay. Is it something to do with the batteries 200 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: inside the electric vehicles? 201 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 3: I know it is about the vehicles themselves. 202 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,440 Speaker 2: It's not the number of miles that have been traveled. 203 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: No, you've not done something annoying like times dip by 204 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: the number of tires that electric vehicles have. 205 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 2: No, the vehicles themselves. Two hundred and one million. 206 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: Is it global or is it one specific country? For example, China? 207 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 1: One country? Is it China? Yes? Good? 208 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: All right, time to guess I. 209 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: Think Oscars pursing his lips with a question. 210 00:10:24,520 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, is it something to do with the number of 211 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: people who have ridden in an electric vehicle in China 212 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: in all time. 213 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 2: No, Okay, my final guess is I don't think this 214 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,079 Speaker 2: is the right scale for China, but I will guess 215 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 2: it's the number of electric vehicles sold in China to date. 216 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:47,319 Speaker 3: You're closed, but still wrong. It is the number of 217 00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 3: two wheeler electric vehicles. 218 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: That I told it was something I'm annoying to do 219 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: with wheels, I said it, No. 220 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 3: It's not a number of wheels. It's still number of wheels. 221 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 3: So it's the number of electric two wheelers that are 222 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 3: in the fleet in China as of twenty to twenty two. 223 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 2: So it's four hundred and twenty million wheels. 224 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:11,600 Speaker 1: Four hundred and two million wheels. 225 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 2: Sorry fortune, two million wheels. 226 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, electric two wheelers include bicycles, motorbikes. It's still a 227 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:19,200 Speaker 1: motorbike if. 228 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: It's I guess it is, yes, And most of it 229 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 3: is actually more peds rather than electric bikes. And it's 230 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 3: a number that was just super shocking to me. You know, 231 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,720 Speaker 3: I went to China in twenty seventeen and twenty eighteen, 232 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 3: and I just saw electric two wheelers everywhere. But you know, 233 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 3: the scale of China is so huge that even when 234 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 3: you see them everywhere, You're still not like sure how 235 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: many they might be. And so when I first came 236 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 3: across the number, I was shocked, and it is shocking, 237 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 3: especially when you compare it to other countries. So the 238 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 3: next country in the rank that has electric two wheelers 239 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 3: is India, no surprises, but another guess how much lower 240 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 3: is that number? I'm going to say tenth, so twenty million? 241 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: Wait, but I want to know does India manufacture? Yes, 242 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 2: it does, is electric? Okay, I'm going to stick with 243 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 2: my theme of today and just do its fifty percent lower. 244 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 3: The number of electric two wheelers in India were one 245 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: point five million last year in twenty twenty two. The 246 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,200 Speaker 3: entire fleet, it's one one hundred, one one hundred, So 247 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 3: China is like way ahead on this game. 248 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: Has that actually displaced the need for fossil fuel set? 249 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 3: So that's the other surprising thing because of the sheer 250 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 3: number of electric two wheelers. It's electric two wheelers and 251 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 3: three wheelers combined that displace four times as much oil 252 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 3: demand as all electric passenger cars sold globally. Wow, so 253 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:53,440 Speaker 3: your two and three wheeler electric vehicles are displacing about 254 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 3: a million barrels of oil demand per day, whereas passenger 255 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,480 Speaker 3: cars in total are just placing about quarter of a 256 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 3: million barrels of oil demand per day, and for contacts, 257 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 3: we consume about one hundred million barrels of oil every day. 258 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:13,439 Speaker 1: Wow, So electric two and three wheelers have displaced one 259 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: percent of global oil demand. 260 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 2: Indeed, that's that's pretty good for two wheels. Yeah. 261 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: Is that just because they're mostly being used in highly dense, 262 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: highly urban settings and getting rid of that last short 263 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,280 Speaker 1: distance travel that people would maybe use cars for. 264 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: Maybe, But it's also that countries like India and China 265 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 3: and Southeast Asia, two wheelers are the way to get 266 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 3: around because they're cheaper to buy. They are much more 267 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:41,440 Speaker 3: efficient than a passenger car because you don't have to 268 00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 3: carry all that weight along just to sit in it, 269 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: and so they make for the mode of transport of 270 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 3: choice because it's cheap and you can get around it 271 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 3: and you know, to be fair to India, yes, it's 272 00:13:52,320 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 3: one hundred right now, but the rate of growth in 273 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 3: India that bloomergeni f predicts is massive. So it's one 274 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 3: point five million last year, it'll be two point five 275 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 3: million this year, it'll be three point five million next year. 276 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:08,359 Speaker 3: And that way it just goes up because the economic 277 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:11,559 Speaker 3: case for electric two wheelers also has set in in India, 278 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 3: and on my trip this time around, I saw so 279 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 3: many of them. 280 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: The thing that I think would also be really interesting 281 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: with that is how much it changes air pollution. Yeah, 282 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: you do notice it when you're going around Delhi, the 283 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: fact there are so many polluting vehicles on the streets, 284 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: and if you can change them all for evs, which 285 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: have very little pollution, then that's going to have a 286 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: huge effectually. 287 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, totally. It's not uncommon for petrol power two wheelers 288 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 3: to have this huge amount of smoke coming out. Yes, 289 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 3: they are more fuel efficient relative to a car, but 290 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 3: they do produce higher air pollution just because their engines 291 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 3: are small and they can't put in all the things 292 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 3: that a car can do to be able to put 293 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 3: out fewer particulate matter pollution. 294 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: That's another great number. Does anyone win a point? Oh? 295 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 3: I think Christine gets half a point because she's very 296 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 3: very good. 297 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 2: Half a point. I was so close. 298 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: Hey, I got that thing about the wheels though. 299 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 2: We're going to take a quick break while you ponder 300 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,640 Speaker 2: the existence of two wheeled vehicles. And when we get 301 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 2: back more numbers. Okay, Oscar, it is your turn to 302 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 2: share a number. 303 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: My number is two thousand and twenty four. 304 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 3: Well that sounds like the year. But if it's not 305 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: the year, then I mean it'll be too obvious if it's. 306 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 2: The year, So just a year that would be so 307 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:45,360 Speaker 2: I want. 308 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: To say, I think, am I getting number shaded? It's 309 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: very it's this is the thing we do when I share. 310 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 2: I don't know, choosing a year it feels it's a 311 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 2: little bit punk. I guess it's a little bit. 312 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: I'll take it. It is a year. 313 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 3: Well, a lot of things that happened next year. India 314 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 3: goes to election next year. 315 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: It's not that. 316 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 2: Is this a year that something is going to be achieved? 317 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: Yes? 318 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 2: Oh damn, I should ask that differently. 319 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: Oh well, yeah, something I think they will very likely 320 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: be achieved. 321 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 2: Can I rephrase that? I want to know if something 322 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 2: is starting to be built in twenty twenty four. 323 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: No, nothing is starting to be built. 324 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: Is it to do with protection of a certain thing 325 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 3: like a forest or an ocean or a you know, 326 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 3: like a terrestrial thing or animals? 327 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: Or it is not? 328 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: Is it? The bike lanes from your last episode are 329 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 2: finally being built. 330 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: No, it has nothing to do with bicycles, which is 331 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: one of my big clues. 332 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, geographical proximity. 333 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: Give us a hint. It is global. Oh my god, is. 334 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 3: There a climate gold that may be achieved next year? 335 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 3: A global one. 336 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: I'm really stumped. 337 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: I'm going to give you another hint that it's to 338 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,199 Speaker 1: do with our favorite energy association. 339 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 2: IA predict something will happen in twenty twenty four. 340 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:20,760 Speaker 1: Very good. Now what's the thing? 341 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:21,719 Speaker 2: Oh? 342 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 3: I got it, but I think I'm wrong, But maybe 343 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 3: I'm correct, which is all fossil fuel demand, oil gas, 344 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,880 Speaker 3: and coal will peak in twenty twenty four. 345 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: You're along the right lines, but think less fossil fuel, 346 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:36,959 Speaker 1: more renewable final gases. 347 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:38,840 Speaker 2: Please, yeah, seriously, just bear in. 348 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: Mind, Christine. If you get this, then you get the book. 349 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 2: I know I'm going to guess that this has something 350 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 2: to do with the like, let's just say renewables will 351 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 2: have become present in every country on Earth's electricity generation 352 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 2: of at least two percent. 353 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 1: Nice guess, but no, okay, is it a good No 354 00:18:00,520 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: more hints, no more, henty. It will be a record, 355 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:04,680 Speaker 1: but it's not being framed in terms of records. 356 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 3: Okay, I'm going with the wild guest because I don't 357 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 3: know the answer, which is that renewable electricity, specifically solar, 358 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 3: will be the cheapest form of electricity everywhere in the world. 359 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:19,960 Speaker 1: That might also be true. I'm not going to deny it, 360 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: but it's not the figure I'm talking about. So twenty 361 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: twenty four is the year that the International Energy Agency 362 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,639 Speaker 1: predicts that renewables could overtake coal as the world's largest 363 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: source of electricity. 364 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 2: Whoa is shaking his fist. 365 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 3: I think I knew that, it just didn't hit me. 366 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 2: Hey that's cool. 367 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's cool. And as a follow up from that, 368 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 1: so the figure I just gave is for all renewables, 369 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: which includes hydro which is the currently the largest solar 370 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: wind both on you or not sure, but by twenty 371 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: twenty seven, they think solar alone will be bigger than coal. 372 00:18:56,880 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: Wow. 373 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,199 Speaker 1: And why I really liked this figure is that it 374 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:02,360 Speaker 1: builds upon their own predictions and so all the way 375 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: back in December of twenty twenty two, about nine ten 376 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: months ago, the IA released its Renewabals twenty twenty two report, 377 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 1: which estimated that globally, renewables might overtake coal maybe in 378 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: early twenty twenty five, but the latest report, which came 379 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 1: out in July, says that it could be as early 380 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: as twenty twenty four. It's caveatd with as long as 381 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: weather conditions are favorable, that renewables as a whole should 382 00:19:24,359 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: overtake coal. 383 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 3: And that answers one question, which is this is about 384 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 3: generation of renewable electricity and not just the capacity. I 385 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 3: should also correct myself, which is yes, the IEA did 386 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 3: say something about peaking of oil, coal and gas demand, 387 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 3: but it said all of those will peak before twenty thirty. 388 00:19:44,119 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: I mean that's also huge. What's crazy is when you 389 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: look at these figures. So in twenty fourteen, all renewable 390 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: energy put together made about five thousand terrible hours in 391 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,639 Speaker 1: a year, and at that point so twenty fourteen, coal 392 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:59,120 Speaker 1: was about ten thousand terrible hours globally, and coal has 393 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: remained relatively insistent. It's kind of fluctuated a little bit, 394 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: but renewables in that ten yure period have doubled from 395 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: five thousand terrible hours to almost ten thousand terrible hours. 396 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: And yeah, I mean it's exciting because, as I said, 397 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,679 Speaker 1: it builds upon the IA. It's own forecasts, and basically 398 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 1: they've just taken in all the new data from governments 399 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 1: like China, the EU, the US, India who are just 400 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: pumping more and more money and changing their policies to 401 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: basically make it easier to introduce renewables and make it 402 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,680 Speaker 1: less favorable for new fossil fuels to come into place. 403 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it does feel surprising, even though we just 404 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 3: had Jenny Chase explained to us the solar revolution that 405 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 3: is just mind boggling. But it's it is that mind 406 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 3: boggling that even after you slice andize these numbers different 407 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 3: radio like Wow. 408 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: The other last thing I'd like to mention by the 409 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: IA report is that they've now made this claim that 410 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: fossil fuels are seeing structural decline. Normally, in the past 411 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: when fossil fuels have declined, it's been in the wake 412 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: of big recessions, financial crashes, the OPEC oil crisis in 413 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: the nineteen seventies. They're saying now because of how quickly 414 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: renewables are rising, in particular Solo, that fossil fuels are 415 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: starting to go into a terminal structural decline. That even 416 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 1: though electricity demand is still growing, all that new capacity 417 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: that's needed is being taken up by renewables, and renewables 418 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:18,400 Speaker 1: are now making a real dent into fossil fuel infrastructure 419 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: as well. I don't know who got that, did either 420 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: of you get that? I'm going to give it to 421 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,399 Speaker 1: Christine so she gets the copy of Actual's. 422 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:26,240 Speaker 2: Book sign version in the mail. 423 00:21:26,480 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 3: There will be one. 424 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: I think that wraps up our time. Thank you guys 425 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: for playing Whose number is it? Anyway? This was fun. 426 00:21:32,440 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 2: Great, Thanks so much for listening to Zero. Let us 427 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 2: know what you thought of this format at zero pod 428 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 2: at Bloomberg dot net. 429 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 1: If you enjoyed it, please give us a rating or 430 00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 1: review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Please do say nice 431 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: things only. 432 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 2: Zero's producer is Oscar Boyd and senior producer is me 433 00:21:58,000 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 2: Christine driscoll. 434 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: Our theme music is by Wonderly Special thanks as always 435 00:22:02,320 --> 00:22:08,119 Speaker 1: to Kira Bndrum and we'll be back later this week