In 2018, the Veolia Institute initiated a new format of meetings for Veolia managers to explore the environmental, societal and geopolitical changes underway through dialogue with high-level experts. Short video interviews are used to relay the key messages of these meetings to a wider audience.
Talk with Heidi SEVESTRE
> Glaciers and the Consequences of Climate Change
June 2025
On June 16, 2025, the Veolia Institute had the honor of welcoming Heïdi Sevestre, an internationally renowned glaciologist and a leading voice in climate advocacy and awareness.
A specialist in glacier dynamics and in solutions to preserve the cryosphere, Heïdi Sevestre has received prestigious awards such as the Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions and the French Prix du Rayonnement. She also plays a key role within the Arctic Council. Regularly leading scientific expeditions in both polar and equatorial regions, she brings unparalleled field expertise to these critical issues.
Freshly returned from the UNOC 3 (United Nations Ocean Conference) in Nice, Heïdi Sevestre delivered a compelling presentation on the role of glaciers in the water cycle, the threats posed by climate change to these ice giants, climate regulators and vital sources of freshwater for millions of people and, above all, the solutions: how can we preserve glaciers and sea ice, so essential to our survival and yet disappearing before our eyes ?
Discouver our interview with Heïdi Sevestre
Talk with Philippe CHALMIN
> Geopolitics of Raw Materials in the Age of Trump
May 2025
During this talk, Philippe Chalmin, President of the French Observatory on Food Price Formation and Margins, revisited the geopolitics of raw materials in the Trump era, in a discussion with Dinah Louda, President of the Veolia Institute.
At the heart of what he describes as a “decade of major disruption,” he shed light on the combined impacts of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the return of Donald Trump, and rising Sino-American tensions on global trade. He also addressed the shifting energy balances and the challenges of the ecological transition, particularly those linked to fossil fuels and rare metals.
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Our exclusive interview with Philippe Chalmin
Talk with Sebastien JEAN
> Economic Resilience in the Era of Trade and Military Conflicts
April 2025
In April 2025, the Institute had the honor of welcoming Sébastien Jean, on the topic of economic resilience.
Sébastien Jean is a professor at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, holder of the Jean-Baptiste Say chair of industrial economics, and associate director at the Ifri, where he coordinates the 'Geoeconomics and Geofinance' initiative. He is a member of the Conseil d'analyse économique and the Conseil National de la Productivité, and is also associated with the GEP of the University of Nottingham and a fellow of the CESifo Research Network in Munich. He directed the CEPII from 2012 to 2021 and was a research director at INRAE, after a career at the OECD and the CEPII. His work focuses on international economics, particularly global trade, and he teaches regularly in various institutions. An engineer from the École Centrale de Paris, he holds a PhD in economics from the University of Paris 1.
In a time of profound political and geopolitical upheaval, Sébastien Jean presented the concept of economic resilience, what it means for Europe, and the prospects for Europe to become more economically resilient. As conflicts multiply around the world, and the concept of globalization is challenged by the imposition of tariffs, the European Union will increasingly need to develop its economic and industrial complex.
Sébastien Jean, with Dinah Louda, Chair of the Veolia Institute, and Séverine Dinghem, Director Business Support & Performance at Veolia
Talk with Bruno ROUSSEAU
> How to deal with eco-anxiety ?
April 2025
In March 2025, the Veolia Institute had the privilege of welcoming the association En Quête d’Espoirs and Gestalt Therapist Bruno Rousseau for a session dedicated to a growing concern in our societies as the natural environment continues to deteriorate: eco-anxiety.
💬🌱 After a months-long journey across France, during which its members interviewed citizens to explore their fears and hopes for the future, En Quête d’Espoirs shared their experience and the diverse perspectives they encountered along the way.
🧘♀️🌳 Bruno Rousseau offered valuable insights into ways of addressing eco-anxiety: taking action at one’s own level, speaking openly about concerns, practicing self-care, acknowledging personal limits, and reconnecting with the living world.
🙏 We extend our sincere thanks to Bruno Rousseau and En Quête d’Espoirs for their inspiring presentation, as well as to all those who, day after day, contribute to building a more desirable future.
Discover our interview with Bruno Rousseau
Talk with Bruno DAVID
> Biodiversity crisis : diagnosis and solutions
February 2025
As part of the Veolia Institute’s “Talks,” the Institute had the honor of welcoming Bruno David, paleontologist and honorary president of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, on February 11, 2025, at theToits du V.
🔎 “Biodiversity: storm brewing?”
Bruno David delivered a sobering message: biodiversity, a complex and constantly evolving fabric of life, is now in jeopardy. In 2021, of the 134,425 species assessed, 37,480 were listed as threatened, including 41% of amphibians, 14% of birds, and 26% of mammals. Pollution, overuse of natural resources, land conversion, invasive species… these pressures are driving an unprecedented collapse of the living world.
Bruno David, Former Director of the French Natural History Museum, and Dinah Louda, Chair of the Veolia Institute
Talk with Françoise Gaill
>From the surface to the depths, exploring solutions for a sustainable ocean
November 2024
Françoise Gaill, biologist, oceanographer and specialist in deep-sea ecosystems, for a meeting dedicated to the challenges facing the oceans. Her speech highlighted the major challenges linked to the exploitation of seabed resources and the impact of climate change. She also emphasised the importance of deep-sea ecosystems for biodiversity and climate balance.
From the need for international cooperation to actions to translate scientific knowledge into policy, this meeting shed light on solutions to preserve the oceans.
Talk with Kalina Raskin
> Biomimicry, innovation inspired by living organisms
September 2024
Kalina Raskin, an expert in biomimicry and Director of Ceebios, spoke on the subject of ‘Biomimicry, innovation inspired by living organisms’. Her presentation explored the potential of biomimicry as a lever for innovation in support of the ecological transition, in conjunction with biodiversity and the economy.
This presentation highlighted the role of biomimicry in the regeneration of ecosystems and its development in France, through initiatives led by start-ups and educational establishments.
Talk with Philippe Aghion
> The economic and social impact of Artificial Intelligence
April 2024
Philippe Aghion, an economist specialising in the economics of innovation and growth, Professor at the Collège de France, INSEAD and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), shared his expertise. He also co-chairs the Commission on Artificial Intelligence, which recently submitted a report to the French President.
He discussed the economic and social impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in particular its effects on employment, productivity and inequality. This presentation provided a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for our society and our economy. In particular, it is essential to ‘de-demonise AI, without idealising it’.
Talk with Philippe Chalmin
> Preview of the CyclOpe 2024 Report ‘Waiting and hoping’
March 2024
In advance of the publication of the CyclOpe 2024 report ‘Waiting and hoping’, Philippe Chalmin, Chairman of observatory on agricultural and food prices and margins, shared his annual overview of commodity markets. In particular, he highlighted the importance of certain metals that are crucial to the ecological transition. His in-depth knowledge of the sector and his ability to explain complex concepts in a clear and accessible way were much appreciated by the audience.
> CyclOpe 2023 Report "The Horsemen of the Apocalypse
June 2023
Philippe Chalmin is Chairman of observatory on agricultural and food prices and margins. He presented his CyclOpe report, which gives an overview of raw materials: their prices, availability and tensions, followed by a time for discussion and debate. The presentation was highly informative, providing a better understanding of the current dynamics of the raw materials market and underlining the importance of carefully monitoring price fluctuations and taking into account the geopolitical, environmental and economic factors that influence their availability and price.
Discover the series of interviews of Philippe Chalmin
Talk with Franck Aggeri
"L'innovation mais pour quoi faire ?"
March 2023
Franck Aggeri is professor of management at Mines Paris-PSL, a specialist in the circular economy, ecological transition issues and responsible innovation. He is also co-director of the "urban mines" chair dedicated to the circular economy and a columnist for Alternatives Economiques. His latest book, "L'Innovation, mais pour quoi faire?" published by Édition du Seuil, is a critique of the culture of innovation that dominates political and economic thinking.
How to innovate differently and contribute to a more sustainable society? His reflection leads to the following observation:
➡️ Make innovators responsible for the long-term consequences of their projects;
➡️ Find potential for more sober innovations based on the transformation of lifestyles, consumption and production, compatible with planetary limits and the needs of future generations.
Discover the series of interviews of Franck Aggeri
> The challenges of ecological accounting
Why does accounting need to evolve to incorporate social and environmental issues? What is the CARE accounting model? How does it translate into a company's operations? Alexandre Rambaud, Senior Lecturer at AgroParisTech - CIRED, Associate Researcher at Paris-Dauphine and Co-Director of the "Ecological Accounting" Chair, answers these questions and presents an innovative financial analysis, so that companies can take into account ecological issues in their accounting.
September, 2022
> Nature-bases solutions and water security
What are nature-based solutions? How do they address the water security challenge? What are the possible financing models for these solutions? These are questions that Sophie Trémolet, Europe Freshwater Director The Nature Conservancy, answered at one of our Veolia Institute Talks.
Nature-based solutions make it possible to preserve, manage or restore ecosystems to meet today's societal challenges by combining benefits for society and biodiversity. Close to the notions of agroecology and ecological engineering, they reserve an essential place for the preservation and conservation of natural processes.
June, 2022
> Sustainable finance: EU strategy and business
Why does finance need to transform? What is the European strategy to carry out this transformation? What are the consequences for companies? Anne-Catherine Husson-Traore, Chief Executive Officer of Novethic, explains that to safeguard planet Earth, respect planetary boundaries, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to fight against global warming, we need to mobilize the entire "planet Finance".
June, 2022
> Food systems are at the heart of many of the environmental issues
Sébastien Treyer, Executive Director of Iddri (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations), explains that they have an impact on both climate and biodiversity, and are affected by climate change and biodiversity loss. This is why they will have to change, while taking into account the economic, environmental and social dimensions of this transformation.
May, 2022
> Water has always been a strategic issue in conflicts
Franck Galland, CEO of the engineering consultancy Environmental Emergency & Security Services - (ES)² discusses water as a strategic issue in a geopolitical context currently marked by the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Essential to human life, water also plays a major role in conflicts. On the one hand because armies must ensure their supply for the troops, on the other hand because the temptation is great, since Antiquity, to conduct a water war.
March, 2022
> Climate and data: geopolitical issues
Thomas Gomart, Director of the French Institute of International Relations, discusses the position of environmental and digital issues in a geopolitical context marked by Sino-American rivalry. The strategic choices of the various actors in terms of climate policy and data control will be increasingly structuring.
May, 2021
> Global warming: from science to action
Hervé le Treut, Climatologist and member of the French Academy of Sciences, reviews the state of global warming and the impact of human activity on the planet. The world is globally impacted by the climate crisis, this observation calls for action. Acting locally can be a response to this challenge.
March, 2021
> Raw materials markets and the Covid-19 crisis
What is the impact of the health crisis on commodity markets? In particular, what has been the impact of the crisis on the oil market? In which market do we see the most promising signs of a recovery? What are the trends in the secondary raw materials markets? Answers from Philippe Chalmin, Professor at the University of Paris Dauphine
November, 2020
> Critical metals and the energy transition
What role do metals play in the energy transition? What are the most critical metals? How could Europe secure its supply of critical metals? Answers from Olivier Vidal (CNRS).
October, 2020
> Overview of geopolitical issues
What are the main geopolitical issues a the moment? Answers from Thomas Gomart, Director of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).
June, 2019
> The main trends in management styles
Mathieu Detchessahar, University Professor (University of Nantes | Institut d'Economie et de Management de Nantes), explains the main trends in management styles. What are freedom-form company and dialogue-based companies? What impact are technological revolutions having on these managerial changes?
May, 2019
> Artificial intelligence and Resource Management
Nicolas Miailhe, Co-founder and President of The Future Society, speaks about the issues arising from artificial intelligence in terms of resource and city management. He also discusses the impacts of this technological evolution for a company such as Veolia.
October, 2018
> Global raw materials and commodities markets
Philippe Chalmin, Professor at Paris-Dauphine University, President and Founder of Cyclope (Europe's leading research institute on raw materials markets), presents the main trends on the global raw materials and commodities markets, on the occasion of the 2018 Cyclope report publication. It also discusses the impact of these changes on Veolia's business, in addition to the risks and the outloook going forward.
June, 2018