Are we really on track for Net Zero? Part 2

Are we really on track for Net Zero? Part 2

Author: ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather April 2, 2026 Duration: 46:44

Join hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan of the Totally Cooked team for part 2, as they explore Australia’s path to net zero emissions with Monash University expert Roger Dargaville. The discussion goes deeper into the technologies and hard choices shaping Australia's energy future. Unpacking why nuclear power doesn't stack up economically or technically for Australia's high-renewables grid, how pumped hydro acts as a giant rechargeable battery, and where hydrogen really fits into the mix—hint: it's not grid storage.

The conversation also covers EV battery degradation and the emerging recycling industry, the challenges of decarbonising aviation with sustainable fuels, and the frustrating reality that fossil fuels can't simply be switched off overnight. Roger shares what cutting-edge research is happening in his lab—from optimal energy system modelling and EV charging infrastructure to building-integrated solar and green steel—before the hosts close with a frank discussion on the political, economic, and intergenerational barriers that have slowed climate action for decades.

Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


Ever feel like the weather forecast is just the opening act for a much bigger, more urgent story? That’s the space where Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast lives. Guided by Professor Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, a climate scientist who studies extreme heat, and Iain Strachan, a journalist who translates complex science, this conversation pulls apart the daily headlines and the long-term trends. They connect the dots between a specific storm, a record-breaking heatwave, and the broader shifts in our global climate system. The discussion isn’t just about melting ice caps far away; it’s about what changing weather patterns mean for health, fitness, and daily life, particularly in the Australian context where the effects are often felt first and hardest. This podcast from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather moves beyond alarmism into grounded, evidence-based exploration. You’ll hear clear explanations of the physical mechanisms driving our weather, frank assessments of risks, and thoughtful conversations about adaptation, all delivered with a relatable dynamic and the occasional necessary dash of dark humour. It’s for anyone who wants to move past the soundbites and understand the real-world implications of a planet that’s, well, totally cooked.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 26

Totally Cooked: The Climate & Weather Podcast
Podcast Episodes
What Is Net Zero, and What Happens When We Get There? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:30
Join hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan as they welcome Associate Professor Andrew King and PhD candidate Aditya Sengupta for a deep dive into the science, politics, and post-zero implications of net zero…
Your chance to win 21st Century Weather merchandise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:29
Help to shape how we share our weather and climate research. At 21st Century Weather, we’re always looking for ways to make our research more accessible, relevant and engaging. We’re inviting you to take part in a short…
How Lesley Hughes and the Climate Council got one over Tony Abbott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:20
In this Totally Cooked episode, Sarah and Iain talk with Professor Lesley Hughes, exploring the concept of biodiversity—what it means, why it matters, and how it connects all life on Earth, from genes to ecosystems. They…
Movie Special Twister (1996) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:08
In this Totally Cooked movie special, hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan are joined by returning guest Dr Tim Raupach of UNSW Sydney to revisit the 1996 tornado blockbuster. Twister features Helen Hunt dri…
Are we really on track for Net Zero? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:20
Join hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan of the Totally Cooked team as they explore Australia’s path to net zero emissions with Monash University expert Roger Dargaville. The discussion breaks down what “ne…
Exploring the stratosphere LIVE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:31
Join hosts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan as the Totally Cooked team for their very first live recording, as they take you up, up, and away into the stratosphere. To explore this mysterious and wonderful pla…
Totally Cooked Season 2 Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14
Sarah and Iain are back for Totally Cooked Season 2! This season our cooked hosts will be taking you behind the scenes of forecasting deadly bushfire weather. They will be asking the big questions like how is climate cha…
Holiday Special with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:42
In this very special episode of Totally Cooked, Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Iain Strachan sit down with one of Australia's most beloved science communicators: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. With his signature mix of curiosity,…
Can humans survive a future of extreme heat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:57
Can the human body survive climate change? That’s the burning question in this episode of Totally Cooked. With the world already experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves, we sit down with Professor Ollie Jay from…
Can we save the Great Barrier Reef? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:01
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most extraordinary natural wonders on Earth, a vast, living ecosystem visible from space and home to thousands of species. But it is also one of the most vulnerable. As ocean temperat…