In this special weekend edition of the podcast, hosts Tom, Christiana, and Paul catch up with The Rt Hon David Lammy, the UK’s new Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Office. In a fascinating conversation, they delve into his decision to place climate change at the heart of his first major speech as Foreign Secretary and discuss why he sees the climate emergency as a national security issue. The Foreign Secretary expresses his outrage at recent trends which have seen climate change used as a political ping pong issue and shares insights into how we might build consensus across parties on the climate and nature agenda.

The hosts also take a moment to congratulate him on the appointment of friend of the podcast, Rachel Kyte, as the UK’s new Climate Envoy.

Tune in to hear the full conversation and discover why the Foreign Secretary’s answers convince the hosts that the UK is once again a global leader in climate action.Make sure to tune in Thursday October 3rd to our brand new five-part series called How To Live a Good Life in a Climate Crisis. Exploring dilemmas around issues like flying, food and parenting, the hosts explore how we might still have meaningful and good lives amidst the overwhelm and turmoil of the climate crisis.

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Rachel Kyte Appointed as the UK’s Special Representative for Climate

The Kew Lecture: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s speech on the climate crisis

David Lammy’s TED Talk: Climate Justice can’t happen without racial justice

The Sophia Point Rainforest Research Centre

GUEST

The Rt Hon David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter (X)

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

This week, The Climate Pledge turns five and Tom and Christiana talk to Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon, to reflect on the journey of this initiative co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism.

At the top of the episode, Tom and Christiana anticipate the frantic and sometimes frustrating weeks ahead in this hectic period for those working in climate, and as wild weather continues to wreak havoc, Christiana and Tom invite us to pause for a moment. How can we listen and better contribute? How can we roll up our sleeves - with hope - and get to work on having a positive impact and building momentum?

In their thoughtful interview with Kara, the hosts reflect on how The Climate Pledge has grown over the last five years to over 500 signatories - companies who share an ambition to innovate, accelerate joint action and collaborate across sectors to get to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, ten years earlier than the Paris Agreement.

Kara, Tom and Christiana discuss the specific challenges companies face and the solutions and strategies they’re adopting to meet targets. Sharing failures has been just as valuable as sharing successes because, as Tom points out, none of us have decarbonised the global economy before. Unafraid to go deep, they question how we would reduce emissions and redesign society if we kept in mind the earth’s atmosphere.

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Outrage + Optimism, Live at Climate Week NYC

Event Title: It’s Time To Unite For Mission 2025

Event Details: Tuesday 24th September, 12:00 - 13:00 ET, Glasshouse (NYC)

Event Description: Mission 2025 is a coalition of courageous leaders - mayors, governors, CEOs, investors, athletes, musicians and citizens - who are inviting governments to ratchet upcoming national climate plans (known as Nationally Determined Contributions) in line with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5C.

Described as ‘Defenders of Paris’, Mission 2025 Partners arrive at Climate Week New York with a major update of new organizations who are ready to embolden governments to set more ambitious plans and accelerate implementation because they know this can unlock trillions in private investment, scale cheap renewable energy, support industries to compete in a low carbon economy, and safeguard living standards equitably for our people.

As a live recorded Outrage + Optimism podcast, this flagship event will demonstrate how these plans can be upgraded by showcasing government and real economy leaders who are driving towards ‘positive tipping points’ across the three themes of energy, nature & food, and finance.

The event is supported by the Mission 2025 Partners and convened by Groundswell – a collaboration between Global Optimism, Bezos Earth Fund and Systems Change Lab – together with the Climate Group.

Registering: Please reach out to groundswell@globaloptimism.com if you are interested in joining this event

The Climate Pledge

The Climate Pledge and C40 Cities Launch Laneshift

GUEST

Kara Hurst, Chief Sustainability Officer at Amazon

LinkedIn | Twitter (X)

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Welcome back to Season 10! With the hosts together again following our break, Tom, Paul and Christiana are bursting with news and analysis.

Up for discussion this week, the hosts try to understand why the Democrats haven’t been talking much about climate change and what drives Kamala Harris’ outrage and optimism. They delve deeper into the UK’s new Labour Government’s plans around energy, nature and climate change.

Plus the hosts scan the horizon for the consequential moments in climate policy, with UNGA, Climate Week NYC and two COPs hurtling towards us.

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Outrage + Optimism, Live at Climate Week NYC

Event Title: It’s Time To Unite For Mission 2025

Event Details: Tuesday 24th September, 12:00 - 13:00 ET, Glasshouse (NYC)

Event Description: Mission 2025 is a coalition of courageous leaders - mayors, governors, CEOs, investors, athletes, musicians and citizens - who are inviting governments to ratchet upcoming national climate plans (known as Nationally Determined Contributions) in line with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global warming to 1.5C.

Described as ‘Defenders of Paris’, Mission 2025 Partners arrive at Climate Week New York with a major update of new organizations who are ready to embolden governments to set more ambitious plans and accelerate implementation because they know this can unlock trillions in private investment, scale cheap renewable energy, support industries to compete in a low carbon economy, and safeguard living standards equitably for our people.

As a live recorded Outrage+Optimism podcast, this flagship event will demonstrate how these plans can be upgraded by showcasing government and real economy leaders who are driving towards ‘positive tipping points’ across the three themes of energy, nature & food, and finance.

The event is supported by the Mission 2025 Partners and convened by Groundswell – a collaboration between Global Optimism, Bezos Earth Fund and Systems Change Lab – together with the Climate Group.

Registering: Please reach out to groundswell@globaloptimism.com if you are interested in joining this event

Fact check: Sea levels are already rising faster per year than Trump claims they might rise over ‘next 497 years’ CNN, June 2024

Trump’s chat with Musk on X fact-checked BBC, August 2024

Climate Concerns Dip - Monmouth University Poll, May 2024

Labour Government’s In-Tray for Climate Change, Energy and Nature Carbon Brief

Summit of the Future

Watch Sherman Guity win Costa Rica a Gold Medal in the Paralympics 100m

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Newsflash: In an emergency podcast session recorded on Monday, July 22nd, we delve into President Biden’s announcement that he will not seek re-election. Following his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Presidential Nominee, we bring you a comprehensive analysis of this pivotal moment in U.S. politics.

• Kamala Harris’s Strong Record on Climate Action: A deep dive into her achievements and policies aimed at combating climate change.
• President Biden’s Climate Legacy: Reflecting on the significant environmental strides made during his tenure as he enters his final six months in office.
• Election Speculation: Could Harris defeat Trump? Is America ready for its first Black female president? We discuss the potential outcomes and implications of this historic candidacy.
• Optimism for the Future: Assessing the prospects of a Harris victory and what it could mean for climate action and environmental policies.

• Follow us on social media for updates throughout the summer.

• Send in your questions and topics you'd like us to cover next season.

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

In this week's Election Special Roundup, our hosts delve into Labour’s recent victory in the UK, offering detailed analysis tailored for both UK and non-UK listeners. They cover the key events and implications from both before and after the election, providing a comprehensive overview of the political landscape.

Highlights:

• Labour’s Win in the UK: In-depth discussion on Labour's success, including the factors leading to their victory and its potential impact on the UK political scene as well as key figures in Starmer’s cabinet that will play a key role in climate going forward.

• UK and French Elections: Celebration of the defeat of far-right factions in both countries, examining the broader implications for European politics.

• US Politics: A brief look at the challenges facing the Democratic Party, especially in light of President Biden’s underwhelming performance in his recent televised debate with former President Trump.

Season Finale: As we wrap up this season, we want to thank our listeners for their support. Have an amazing summer holiday, and we look forward to returning in September with more discussions on climate action, political debates, and much more.

Stay Connected:

• Follow us on social media for updates over the summer.

• Send in your questions and topics you'd like us to cover next season.

See You in September!

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Listen to the latest The Way Out Is In Episode with Christiana Figueres

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

In our penultimate episode of the season, hosts Christiana, Tom, and Paul delve into a reflection on the year 2024 so far. This episode takes a deep dive into recent events, including London Climate Action Week, the global political landscape, and the clean energy transformation, all viewed through a climate lens.

Christiana shares positive news about upcoming trade agreements involving Costa Rica, Switzerland, Iceland, and New Zealand, which aim to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods.

The hosts speculate on what the latter half of the year might bring for climate action and global policies as we anticipate UNGA, New York Climate Week, COP 16 and COP 29 to name but a few.

We will be back for a short episode early next week, dedicated to understanding the election results in the UK and France.

The hosts and the O+O team wish you a restful summer holiday. Stay connected for announcements and content on our social media channels as we take a brief break from the airwaves.

Thank you for tuning in!

NOTES AND RESOURCES

Dawn of the Solar Age article from the Economist as mentioned by Tom

Details of the trade agreement between Costa Rica, New Zealand, Iceland and Switzerland as mentioned by Christiana

UK Citizen? Learn How To Vote Here

French Citizen? Learn How To Vote Here

Learn more about the Paris Agreement.

It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof!

Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective

Please follow us on social media!

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn