As the war with Iran drags out and oil prices remain turbulent, it raises the question of whether — and how — prolonged conflict in the Middle East might impact global fossil fuel dependence and the future of renewable energy.

This week on Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Todd Woody and Zero podcast host Akshat Rathi join Sarah Holder to discuss early signs that the high cost of oil is reigniting consumer interest in electronic vehicles and other clean energy technologies, and how companies and countries are beginning to respond. 

Explore more: 
Surging Gas Prices Reignite EV Interest
What a $100-Per-Barrel Oil Spike Does to the Global Economy
Zero Podcast: War with Iran is a nightmare for oil and gas. What does it mean for clean energy?

Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Todd Woody and Akshat Rathi; Edited by Tracey Samuelson. Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura.
Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

As the war with Iran drags out and oil prices remain turbulent, it raises the question of whether &mdash; and how &mdash; prolonged conflict in the Middle East might impact global fossil fuel dependence and the future of renewable energy.
This week on Big Take podcast, Bloomberg reporter Todd Woody and Zero podcast host Akshat Rathi join Sarah Holder to discuss early signs that the high cost of oil is reigniting consumer interest in electronic vehicles and other clean energy technologies, and how companies and countries are beginning to respond.&nbsp;
Explore more: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-14/iran-war-reignites-ev-interest-in-us-markets?srnd=undefined&amp;sref=jjXJRDFv">Surging Gas Prices Reignite EV Interest</a></li>
<li><a href="https://swap.fm/l/Mgn13rogHyma2xLSIq7M">What a $100-Per-Barrel Oil Spike Does to the Global Economy</a></li>
<li>Zero Podcast: <a href="https://swap.fm/l/fbyVpAMyW2vNlnWfvKXa">War with Iran is a nightmare for oil and gas. What does it mean for clean energy?</a></li>
</ul>
Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Todd Woody and Akshat Rathi; Edited by Tracey Samuelson.&nbsp;Fact-checking by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate; Engineering by Alex Sugiura. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver. Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.

Zero is about the tactics and technologies taking us to a world of zero emissions. Each week Bloomberg’s award-winning reporter Akshat Rathi talks to the people tackling climate change – a venture capitalist hunting for the best cleantech investment, scientists starting companies, politicians who have successfully created climate laws, and CEOs who have completely transformed their businesses. The road to zero emissions has many paths and everyone’s got an opinion about the best route. Listen in.

Zero: The Climate Race

Zero

Big Take: The energy crisis is speeding up clean tech adoption worldwide

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/34db950c-6627-4c2c-a324-b41700daae68/transcript

Zack Polanski is challenging the notion that you can’t be Green and a popular politician. Since he became the leader of the UK’s Green Party in September 2025, he has run a campaign that’s pushed his party ahead of the incumbent Labour Party and opposition Conservative Party in some polls. It’s a remarkable rise in a short span of time – how did he pull it off and what will he do if the Green Party gets into power?

Find more:
Watch this interview on YouTube
Zack Polanski Is Making the Once-Fringe Greens a Political Force — Bloomberg


Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. This episode was produced by Oscar Boyd and Jessica Beck. The video version was edited by Meaghan Olsen. Our theme music is composed by Wonderly. Special thanks to the Bloomberg TV team, Isobel Finkel, Olivia Rudgard, Lucy White, Ellen Miligan, Sommer Saadi, Laura Millan and Sharon Chen. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

Zack Polanski is challenging the notion that you can&rsquo;t be Green and a popular politician. Since he became the leader of the UK&rsquo;s Green Party in September 2025, he has run a campaign that&rsquo;s pushed his party ahead of the incumbent Labour Party and opposition Conservative Party in some polls. It&rsquo;s a remarkable rise in a short span of time &ndash; how did he pull it off and what will he do if the Green Party gets into power?
Find more:
<ul>
<li>Watch this interview on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXgaWdfWKs">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-28/zack-polanski-who-is-green-party-s-eco-populist-leader">Zack Polanski Is Making the Once-Fringe Greens a Political Force</a> &mdash; Bloomberg</li>
</ul>
 Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. This episode was produced by Oscar Boyd and Jessica Beck. The video version was edited by Meaghan Olsen. Our theme music is composed by Wonderly. Special thanks to the Bloomberg TV team, Isobel Finkel, Olivia Rudgard, Lucy White, Ellen Miligan, Sommer Saadi, Laura Millan and Sharon Chen. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

Zack Polanski’s plan to tax billionaires and make energy affordable

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/fa88463c-280d-43d6-9a25-b41800b314e5/transcript

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is responsible for collating our shared scientific understanding of how global warming is impacting the planet. But the body now faces a challenge after the US withdrew funding for its scientists to participate. Professor Jim Skea, who chairs the IPCC, joins Akshat Rathi on Zero to talk about the body’s future, whether the organisation can survive the US pullback, and what questions the next set of reports are going to answer. 

Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Olivia Rudgard, Eric Roston, Sommer Saadi, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is responsible for collating our shared scientific understanding of how global warming is impacting the planet. But the body now faces a challenge after the US withdrew funding for its scientists to participate. Professor Jim Skea, who chairs the IPCC, joins Akshat Rathi on Zero to talk about the body&rsquo;s future, whether the organisation can survive the US pullback, and what questions the next set of reports are going to answer.&nbsp;
Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Olivia Rudgard, Eric Roston, Sommer Saadi, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

The future of climate science without US support

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0ffa4fd9-e69f-48e6-be3f-b41100b9bc98/transcript

In the latest episode of Zero’s Imagine series, Akshat Rathi is joined by Abi Daré, winner of the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize. Abi is the bestselling author of And So I Roar, which tells the story of the teenager Adunni as she confronts superstition, lack of education and the impacts of climate change on the rural communities of Nigeria. Abi joins Zero to talk about the role climate change plays in her storytelling, and how she has seen Nigeria adopt climate solutions as it develops rapidly.

Explore further:
Abi Daré’s website: https://abidareauthor.com/
The Climate Fiction Prize: https://climatefictionprize.co.uk/

Past episodes in the Imagine series: 
Julia Wolfe on How Music can Inspire Climate Action
George Saunders on Climate Guilt, AI and Critical Thinking
Kim Stanley Robison on Abundance, Adequacy and Better Climate Futures
Artist Monira Al Qadiri on the End of Oil

Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Sommer Saadi, Mohsis Andam, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

In the latest episode of Zero&rsquo;s Imagine series, Akshat Rathi is joined by Abi Dar&eacute;, winner of the inaugural Climate Fiction Prize. Abi is the bestselling author of And So I Roar, which tells the story of the teenager Adunni as she confronts superstition, lack of education and the impacts of climate change on the rural communities of Nigeria. Abi joins Zero to talk about the role climate change plays in her storytelling, and how she has seen Nigeria adopt climate solutions as it develops rapidly.
Explore further:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Abi Dar&eacute;&rsquo;s website: <a href="https://abidareauthor.com/">https://abidareauthor.com/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">The Climate Fiction Prize: <a href="https://climatefictionprize.co.uk/">https://climatefictionprize.co.uk/</a></li>
</ul>
Past episodes in the Imagine series:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-02-14/julia-wolfe-on-how-music-can-inspire-climate-action">Julia Wolfe on How Music can Inspire Climate Action</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-29/george-saunders-on-climate-guilt-ai-and-critical-thinking">George Saunders on Climate Guilt, AI and Critical Thinking</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-02/abundance-or-adequacy-the-search-for-better-climate-futures">Kim Stanley Robison on Abundance, Adequacy and Better Climate Futures</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-18/bloomberg-zero-podcast-artist-monira-al-qadiri-on-the-end-of-oil">Artist Monira Al Qadiri on the End of Oil</a></li>
</ul>
Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Oscar Boyd. Special thanks to Sommer Saadi, Mohsis Andam, Sharon Chen and Laura Millan. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at zeropod@bloomberg.net. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/green">https://www.bloomberg.com/green</a>.

‘Everywhere I looked, climate change bled’ Abi Daré on writing fiction: Imagine series

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7f966e11-a441-4917-b1cd-b40500d931f2/transcript

Big Take: The energy crisis is speeding up clean tech adoption worldwide

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