OnClimate
OnClimate
Podcast Description
For four billion years, our planet has been telling a story. A story of balance beauty and life flourishing against all odds. Then, in just ten thousand years—a mere heartbeat in Earth's history—we’ve written a new chapter. We’ve reshaped continents transformed skies and altered the chemistry of our home.
And now we face a choice. Not in some distant future. Right here. Today.
I’m Khyati Varma. For over two decades in the technology sector, I’ve had a front row seat to how bold ideas can turn the impossible into reality. And now, I’m asking: Can we bring that same human ingenuity to rebuild our relationship with the planet we call home?
When future generations look back at this moment, they'll ask: Did we find the courage to take bold, decisive action? This burning question led me to create OnClimate.
A podcast that strips away complexity. That cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters. The solutions we need already exist, but they’re scattered across silos— In laboratories and boardrooms, In policy chambers and community gardens. OnClimate brings visionaries and pragmatists together to ignite action. Here, we connect the dots. Because real transformation happens when these worlds collide.
This isn’t just about averting a crisis; it’s about seizing an opportunity. And while the headlines focus on what we’re losing This is about hope, about what we’re building. Together. This is OnClimate. Bold ideas. Pragmatic solutions. Real People. Our future begins now.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast tackles various urgent subjects centered on climate change, sustainable business practices, and practical environmental narratives. For instance, the inaugural episode discusses the necessity of urgent climate action through a business lens, highlighting insights from guest Katie McGinty on decarbonization in operations and the importance of radical collaboration across sectors.
For four billion years, our planet has been telling a story. A story of balance beauty and life flourishing against all odds. Then, in just ten thousand years—a mere heartbeat in Earth’s history—we’ve written a new chapter. We’ve reshaped continents transformed skies and altered the chemistry of our home.
And now we face a choice. Not in some distant future. Right here. Today.
I’m Khyati Varma. For over two decades in the technology sector, I’ve had a front row seat to how bold ideas can turn the impossible into reality. And now, I’m asking: Can we bring that same human ingenuity to rebuild our relationship with the planet we call home?
When future generations look back at this moment, they’ll ask: Did we find the courage to take bold, decisive action? This burning question led me to create OnClimate.
A podcast that strips away complexity. That cuts through the noise to focus on what truly matters. The solutions we need already exist, but they’re scattered across silos— In laboratories and boardrooms, In policy chambers and community gardens. OnClimate brings visionaries and pragmatists together to ignite action. Here, we connect the dots. Because real transformation happens when these worlds collide.
This isn’t just about averting a crisis; it’s about seizing an opportunity. And while the headlines focus on what we’re losing This is about hope, about what we’re building. Together. This is OnClimate. Bold ideas. Pragmatic solutions. Real People. Our future begins now.
In this inaugural episode of OnClimate, host Khyati Varma explores why climate action can’t wait with Katie McGinty, a visionary whose remarkable career spans from the White House to Johnson Controls. From her early days as a chemistry student to becoming a pioneering force in environmental policy and corporate governance, Katie dives deep into how hands-on experience shaped her mission to transform climate challenges into practical solutions.
The conversation cuts through the noise around ESG to reveal a stark reality: climate change isn’t a future scenario—it’s already reshaping our world. “If you’re a company and you’re not leaning into decarbonizing your operations, you’re burning cash—and you’re burning the planet,” Katie warns.
Yet, this episode is also about seizing enormous opportunities. Katie’s insight that “ESG is JGB—it’s just good business” highlights how sustainable practices drive profitability through enhanced efficiency, job creation, and market expansion. She explains how radical collaboration across technology, capital, and policy is accelerating the energy transition and paving the way for companies to thrive in a low-carbon future.
Join us for an eye-opening discussion about why climate action isn’t just an environmental imperative—it’s a business necessity that’s reshaping industries and opening new horizons for growth and innovation.
00:00 – The Energy Transition
01:36 – Why Urgency, Clarity, and Collaboration Matter
02:05 – Meet Katie McGinty
02:27 – Lessons from Childhood
04:04 – From Chemistry to Law
05:35 – Working with Al Gore
07:04 – Climate Change Explained
09:11 – Climate Change is Science, Not Politics
10:04 – The Top 3 Solutions to Cut Carbon Emissions
10:59 – How Energy-Efficient Buildings Can Reduce Emissions
12:42 – AI’s Energy Problem
13:49 – Collaboration is Key
18:35 – Lessons from the Ozone Crisis
31:30 – The Inflation Reduction Act & Climate Policy Uncertainty
34:36 – How Business Can Drive Climate Solutions
35:25 – ESG is Just Good Business
36:58 – Johnson Controls’ Strategy for Decarbonization
41:59 – Climate Action in Schools
44:42 – Ensuring Equity in Clean Energy
51:31 – COP29 & the Trillion-Dollar Climate Financing Gap
56:54 – Are We Headed for a Sustainable Future?
To hear more of Katie’s perspective and how Johnson Controls continues to lead the industry in transforming buildings with AI and data driven technologies—empowering industries to create safe, healthy, and sustainable spaces:
Johnson Controls Sustainability Report https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/-/media/project/jci-global/johnson-controls/us-region/united-states-johnson-controls/corporate-sustainability/reporting-and-policies/documents/2024-sustainability-report.pdf
Davos – Katie McGinty on decarbonizing buildings https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/insights/2025/feature-story/katie-mcginty-on-decarbonizing-buildings
Johnson Controls Data Center Insights Guide https://www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/-/media/project/jci-global/johnson-controls/uki-region/united-kingdom/insights/2023/files/ea2310003_data_centre_insight_guide_v7.pdf
🔗 CONNECT WITH KATIE:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-katie-mcginty-a9818560/
#EnergyTransition #Sustainability #ClimateAction
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.