In this compelling episode of Cutting Through the Clutter, host Cyndee Woolley sits down with Kaj Embrén, CEO of Kaj Embrén Limited and one of Europe’s leading voices on sustainability. Based in London and Stockholm, Kaj brings over three decades of experience helping businesses, cities, and governments turn complex climate challenges into measurable impact.
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Named Europe’s number one social media influencer in energy, climate, sustainability, and food for both 2022 and 2023, Kaj has been at the forefront of environmental leadership—from co-founding the Business Leaders Initiative on Climate Change (BLIC) to introducing greenhouse gas reporting protocols to China. As host of the award-winning podcast “Transformers: The Sustainability Changemakers,” he’s dedicated to sharing stories that inspire action across all levels of society.
This conversation tackles the pressing realities of our climate crisis with refreshing honesty. Kaj explains why we’ve crossed the safe threshold of CO2 in our atmosphere (now at 425 parts per million when the safe level is 350 ppm) and reveals a surprising opportunity: addressing methane leaks from oil wells and coal mines could reduce emissions equivalent to removing 2 million cars from our streets. The business models and technology exist—what’s missing is brave leadership.
Drawing from his pioneering work with Sweden’s “Keep Sweden Tidy” campaign and the Natural Step Foundation, Kaj demonstrates how effective sustainability communication starts with systems thinking and long-term vision. His memorable tree analogy reminds us that while individual leaves may represent competing ideas, lasting change requires nurturing the roots with sound principles.
The conversation explores how to cut through greenwashing, why cities hold more power than national governments in implementing the Paris Agreement, and why the next generation must re-engage with politics.
From Nairobi to Silicon Valley, Kaj’s work spans continents and sectors with one unifying message: we need compelling stories and strategic frameworks to make climate action inevitable. For communications professionals, business leaders, and anyone struggling to translate sustainability complexity into compelling messages that drive results, this episode offers both sobering reality and genuine hope.
Links and Resources
Connect with Kaj Embrén on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kajembren/
Website: https://kajembren.org/
Transformers | The Sustainability Change Makers Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7lICDOqcf4BeqXs9eDqP33
Perfect for: Communications professionals, sustainability leaders, business owners seeking to implement genuine environmental practices, city planners and municipal leaders, educators, political activists, and anyone looking to move beyond greenwashing to create authentic climate impact.
