John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram: Speed & Scale’s Reality Check

John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram: Speed & Scale’s Reality Check

Author: Climate One from The Commonwealth Club May 1, 2026 Duration: 58:50
In 2021, legendary investor John Doerr outlined his plan to solve climate change in his bestseller “Speed & Scale.” The plan outlines 10 objectives, each with their own set of key results, to cut emissions to net zero. And in true John Doerr style, the results are to be measurable and trackable.  ​Now, five years later, Doerr and co-author Ryan Panchadsaram unveil their 2026 update, revealing where the world is winning, where it's falling behind, and what it will take to close the gap. Guests: John Doerr, Venture capitalist; Chair, Kleiner Perkins Ryan Panchadsaram, Advisor to the Chairman, Kleiner Perkins Aliya Haq, President, Clean Economy Project (CleanEcon) Robinson Meyer, Founding Executive Editor, Heatmap News ​​Nancy E. Pfund,  Founder and Managing Partner, DBL Partners For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit https://www.climateone.org/podcasts Highlights: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – John Doerr on how his plan differs from others 05:30 – Ryan Panchadsaram: updated plan focuses on what needs to be built, rather than cut 08:30 – Bright spot: deployment of solar and wind 10:00 – Big challenges: methane leaks 15:30 – Keeping accountable with shifting deadlines 19:00 – Where government succeeds and fails in addressing climate 21:30 – Where tech industry/VC succeeds and fails in addressing climate 29:00 – Reframing the climate narrative around the good news 33:20 – Aliya Haq: load growth is an incredible opportunity for us to advance clean 37:00 – Coalition uniting to fix the grid and make policy work for clean energy 39:00 – Robinson Meyer on geopolitical energy shocks and reconsideration of fuel sources 44:15 – Race for clean tech is a “frenemy” competition  48:00 – Nancy Pfund: Clean energy remains a very “investable” area  52:00 – Cost curves for EVs, solar are inexorable – we just need to build policy to support it 54:00 – Climate One More Thing ********** Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today at patreon.com/ClimateOne.  Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation about our changing planet is often reduced to headlines and political noise, but Climate One moves beyond that. Hosted by Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar, this podcast from The Commonwealth Club creates a space for the full, complex dialogue we need. Each episode features candid discussions with scientists, policymakers, activists, and thinkers who are on the front lines. The focus is on drawing connections-between personal action and economic systems, between daunting scientific reports and tangible community solutions. You’ll hear analysis that doesn’t shy away from the severity of our situation while actively exploring pathways for genuine progress, from technology and finance to culture and justice. This isn't about alarmism or easy answers; it's about equipping listeners with a deeper understanding of the intertwined challenges and opportunities. Tuning into this podcast means joining a crucial exploration of how we adapt, mitigate, and fundamentally rethink our relationship with the natural world. The dialogue here is built on the idea that confronting the climate emergency honestly, in all its facets, is the first necessary step toward shaping a livable future.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Climate One
Podcast Episodes
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