The Climate Briefing
The Climate Briefing unpacks the biggest issues shaping international climate politics. Hosted by Anna Åberg and Bhargabi Bharadwaj of Chatham House, the podcast features voices from governments, international organizations, think tanks, academia and the private sector worldwide.
Episodes
What does AI mean for the climate?
Attention is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence as its capabilities and influence permeate nearly every sector. AI's growth raises important questions about its environmental footprint; risks associated with future scale, and how such a globalised industry can be effectively governed. This episode of the Climate Briefing explores: Where are we today in terms of AI capability and
Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (Part 2 of 2)
All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US–Israel conflict with Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of oil and gas. The first part of the series (released on 21 April) delved into the history of the region, addressing ques
Making the global circular economy transition happen
Today's 'take–make–dispose' economy operates in a linear way: resources are extracted, turned into products, used, and then discarded — with severe consequences for the climate and environment. Transitioning to a circular economy means replacing this system with one that keeps materials in circulation through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. But what needs to happen — both internatio
Oil and gas producers in the Gulf: a deep dive (part 1 of 2)
All eyes are currently on the Gulf due to the US-Israel war with Iran and the disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. In this two-part series, the Climate Briefing co-hosts and their guests take a deep dive into the region, which plays a crucial role in the global supply of oil and gas. How did the Gulf countries become such dominant fossil fuel exporters? What has this dominance meant for their
Climate change, energy and geopolitics
As the conflict in the Middle East rattles energy markets, this episode explores the connections between climate change, energy, and geopolitics. It addresses questions such as: What does the war in Iran reveal about the links between fossil fuels, vulnerability, and power? What lessons can be drawn? What does the energy transition mean for global geopolitics, and how should governments manage
What does China's new Five-Year Plan mean for the climate?
China is the world's largest emitter and dominates global production of green technology. A few days ago, the National People's Congress approved the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, China's main economic and policy blueprint for the period 2026–2030. What does the new plan say about China's climate and clean tech ambitions? And what does it reveal about China's broader geopolitical and foreign poli
The Future of Climate Diplomacy 4: Laurence Tubiana
What are the most important changes the Paris Agreement has brought about? How should the COP process evolve? And why does geoengineering need to be approached with caution? The fourth part of the Future of Climate Diplomacy mini-series features a fascinating conversation between Chatham House's Chris Aylett (standing in for Anna and Bhargabi) and Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Fo
The geopolitics of deep-sea mining
The race to secure critical raw materials is turning attention towards an unlikely place: the ocean floor. In this episode, Anna speaks with Dr Isaac Kardon (Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace) and Meredith Schwartz (Associate Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies) about the geopolitics of deep-sea mining.
What does the EU's CBAM mean for countries in the Global South?
The EU has introduced a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to prevent carbon leakage – when companies move production to countries with weaker climate rules, or when EU products are replaced by more carbon-intensive imports. But the measure has sparked controversy and concern, especially among countries in the Global South, as seen during COP30 in Belém. This episode of the Climate Briefing
What has the first year of Trump 2.0 meant for the climate?
Exactly one year has passed since President Trump returned to the White House. How has the first year of Trump 2.0 impacted global efforts to address climate change, and what might happen going forward? To discuss this, Anna and Bhargabi are joined by Gina McCarthy (former US National Climate Advisor, former EPA Administrator and Chair of the America Is All In Coalition).
Positive and negative tipping points
In the final episode of the year, Anna speaks to Professor Tim Lenton (Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter) about climate tipping points – the thresholds where a tiny change could lead to large and often irreversible transformations in the Earth system, with potentially disastrous consequences. Examples of such 'negative' tipping points include the dieback
What happened at COP30?
COP30 in Belém is over. What happened at the conference? What were the main outcomes? And what needs to happen next? To find out, Anna speaks to Jennifer Morgan (Senior Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University; Fellow at the Hertie School of Governance; and former State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the German Federal Foreign Office
COP30: Key issues to watch
COP30 is about to begin. Where do we stand ahead of the conference? What are the key issues to watch, and how might the complex geopolitical context influence the discussions in Belém? To find out, Anna is joined by three Chatham House colleagues: Ana Yang (Director of the Environment and Society Centre), Bernice Lee (Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor) and Nick Bridge (Associate Fellow at Ch
What is Brazil's vision for the 'Action Agenda'?
The incoming COP30 host, Brazil, has signalled it wants COP30 to mark the moment the UNFCCC transitions to a 'post-negotiation' phase, and that efforts should focus on action and implementation going forward. As part of its work to make this a reality, Brazil is reforming the UNFCCC's 'Action Agenda', a process bringing together cities, regions, businesses, investors, civil society and governments
How can the AIIB help deliver on the new climate finance goal?
The multilateral development banks (MDBs) play a critical role in addressing climate change and have a key role to play in delivering on the 'New Collective Quantified Goal' on climate finance, agreed at COP29. This Climate Briefing episode focuses on the newest of the MDBs: the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), launched in 2016. What are the similarities and differences between the AII
How can COP30 help tackle deforestation?
Forests play a critical role in the fight against climate change. With COP30 taking place in the Amazon, addressing deforestation is likely to be a topic of high priority at the meeting. But what can actually be achieved? To find out, Anna and Bhargabi speak to Mauricio Voivodic, Executive Director of WWF-Brazil, and Edward Davey, Head of the UK Office of the World Resources Institute. In their in
How is Trump 2.0 affecting the renewable energy industry?
Trump 2.0 poses a huge challenge for the renewable energy industry in the US. Not only has the administration rescinded environmental incentives and regulations with bearing on future projects, it has also in various ways delayed and/or obstructed offshore wind projects already under construction (like the Empire Wind and the Revolution Wind projects). What does all of this mean for the renewable
The Future of Climate Diplomacy 3: Dr Joanna Depledge
In this third instalment of the Future of Climate Diplomacy mini-series, Climate Briefing hosts Anna and Bhargabi explore what lessons that can be drawn from the history of the climate negotiations and how this can inform the future of climate diplomacy. To do this, they are joined by long-time COP researcher Dr Joanna Depledge (Research Fellow at the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Res
How could the ICJ's advisory opinion impact international climate diplomacy and action?
On the 23rd of July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its long-awaited Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states in respect to climate change. The Advisory Opinion makes clear that states have far-reaching obligations under international law to prevent harm to the climate system and that breaching such obligations could result in having to make reparations, among other thin
The Future of Climate Diplomacy 2: Kaveh Guilanpour
Ahead of the landmark COP30 in Belem, Brazil, this November, calls for reform of the UNFCCC and COPs are growing, as are concerns that the only formal global forum for climate negotiation and cooperation is under threat. In a series of conversations, Anna, Ruth and Bhargabi interview thought leaders in the climate world about what the future of climate diplomacy should look like. The second guest
FFD4, solidarity levies and the Baku to Belém Roadmap
What happened at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) and what does it mean for climate action? What are 'solidarity levies' and how might they help close the climate finance gap? What is needed to ensure someone actually reads the 'Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3T' after COP30? To find answers to these and other burning climate finance-related questions, Anna speaks t
What happened at the climate negotiations in Bonn?
The 2025 edition of the June climate meetings in Bonn (formally 'the sixty-second sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation of the UNFCCC', or 'SB62') took place 16 to 26 June. These meetings, which take place every year, constitute the only formal space for negotiations ahead of the COP, and are therefore very important. I
Using the law to advance (or deter?) climate action
Climate litigation is both a strategic tool for climate action and an increasingly common part of the litigation landscape. Recent legal rulings have huge potential implications for the accountability and financial liability of big emitters, including both corporations and national governments. Anna and Ruth talk to Joana Setzer, climate litigation and global environmental governance expert at L
Saving the ocean
From plastic pollution to overfishing and climate change: the ocean is facing many severe threats. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 is focused on conserving and sustainably using the ocean and its resources. But what progress has been made in implementing this goal? Ahead of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference, Anna speaks to Ambassador Peter Thomson (the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the
The Future of Climate Diplomacy 1: Simon Sharpe
Donald Trump's return to the White House poses serious challenges to climate change action and governance, but even before his second term began not nearly enough was being done to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. In a series of conversations, Anna and Ruth interview thought leaders in the climate world about what the future of climate diplomacy should look like. Their first guest in thi
How to transform food systems
Food systems contribute to around a third of global emissions and have a substantial impact on a range of other areas too, including biodiversity and human health. Transforming food systems is critical for meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. But how should this be done in practice? To find out, Anna and Ruth speak to Emma Williams (Head of the Secretariat of the Alliance of Champions for Fo
What's next for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage?
Increasingly severe climate change impacts are wreaking destruction across the world, with disastrous implications for human health, wellbeing, livelihoods, culture and security. How to deal with 'loss and damage' caused by climate change was for long a controversial topic within the UN climate negotiations, but at COP27 in 2022 governments agreed to establish a dedicated fund to assist developing
The geopolitics of critical raw materials
Critical raw materials - like rare earths, cobalt and lithium - play a central role in the energy transition and profoundly influence geopolitical dynamics. Their extraction may also amplify conflict and fragility risks in host countries. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Ruth and Anna speak to Olivia Lazard (Fellow at Carnegie Europe) and Sophia Kalantzakos (Global Distinguished Professor
In conversation with Ana Toni, the CEO of COP30
Brazil is presiding over the next UN climate change conference, COP30. In this episode, Anna and Ruth are joined by the Chief Executive Officer of COP30, Ana Toni, to discuss what the aims of the conference are, what Brazil's COP30 diplomatic strategy looks like, and what the UNFCCC's post-negotiation phase' means.
China's role in international climate diplomacy and action
China is the world's largest emitter and dominates the production of low-carbon technologies worldwide. It thus plays a key role in global efforts to address the climate crisis. How has China obtained its leading position in the production of green technologies? What role does China play in international climate negotiations? How important has the US-China relationship been in global efforts to
The 2025 international climate agenda
Former US Climate Envoy Todd Stern and Director of Chatham House's Environment and Society Centre Ana Yang join hosts Ruth Townend and Anna Aberg to talk about prospects for climate action in 2025. Following Trump's inauguration, what are the likely consequences for climate diplomacy, and how will Brazil balance domestic demands against international obligations as COP30 and BRICS president this y
Episode 47: What happened at COP29? Chaos, climate finance and coughs
Chatham House's Environment and Society Centre reassembles to discuss the outcomes of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, what this means for climate finance and multilateralism, and how Ben's Christmas jumper sums up the interconnected challenges developed countries face in balancing global resilience with domestic obligations. With Chris Aylett, Richard King and Ruth Townend, and special guest host Ben
Episode 46: COP29, Azerbaijan's climate leadership, and prospects for climate action
As COP29 kicks off in Baku, Chatham House's Environment and Society Centre assembles on the airwaves. The team talk Azerbaijan's climate leadership, World Leader vibes, prospects for the conference, and why working on climate change makes you a terrible dinner party guest. Special guest hosted by Climate Briefing Alumnus, Ben Horton.
Episode 45: Climate finance 2 - Private finance, polycrisis and positive shocks
Coming fresh from a discussion of how private finance might close the climate finance gap, Ruth Townend is joined by Dr Nicola Ranger, Director of the Resilient Planet Finance Lab at Oxford University, and Professor Patrick Bolton, professor of finance and economics at Imperial College London. In the run up to COP29, we explore how public international finance might be deployed to most effectivel
Episode 44: Re-humanising migration: From the geopolitical to the personal, and back again
Migration is top of mind and front of rhetoric in many countries, particularly as elections approach and geopolitical trends of increasing polarisation take hold. Ruth Townend is joined by Professor Ian Goldin, author of 'The Shortest History of Migration', and by Shelterbox CEO Sanj Srikanthan to discuss personal histories of migration, global trends, and the future of migration in the face of in
Episode 43: UK elections and climate action: wellspring or washout?
With a UK a general election rapidly approaching, as announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the pouring rain, it seems that the commitment of both main parties to tackling climate change is looking almost as bedraggled as the prime minister himself. Ruth Townend is joined by Rachel Brisley, Ipsos's Head of Energy and Environment and Olivia O'Sullivan, the director of Chatham House's UK in the
Episode 42: Beyond the Energy Transition
Ruth Townend is joined by Antony Froggatt, Deputy Director and Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow, both of the Chatham House Environment and Society Centre to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition in key under-attended-to sectors, including non-energy-uses of fossil fuels. The podcast builds upon a series of four Chatham House roundtables kindly supported by AIG. The se
Episode 41: Climate finance: "show me the innovative sources"
Climate finance is vital to tackling climate change and decarbonising economies. Past pledges, however, have often failed to deliver, especially for developing countries. In the lead-up to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, climate finance will be a major topic. Ruth Townend is joined by Jamie Fergusson, global director for Climate Business for International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Gro
Episode 40: We need to talk about… behaviour change
Coming fresh from the Chatham House Energy Transitions Conference, Ruth Townend is joined in the studio by IPCC lead author on demand, Professor Felix Creutzig, Dr Christina Demski, Deputy Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation, and Toby Park, Principle Advisor and Head of Energy, Environment and Sustainability at the Behavioural Insights Team. Together they discuss
Episode 39: Unicorns vs workhorses
Ruth Townend is joined in the studio by Gwynne Dyer, author of Climate Wars, and Chatham House's own Dr Daniel Quiggin to talk about climate solutions from the magical to the mundane. For his forthcoming book Intervention Earth, Dyer has spoken with more than 50 thinkers, innovators and engineers about how we might cool the planet and avoid catastrophe. Dyer, Quiggin and Townend explore the potent
Episode 38: Climate politics and geopolitics: what happened at COP28?
In the second of two COP28 takeover episodes, Research Fellow Ruth Townend gathers Chatham House teammates to discuss how the conference went, with a particular focus on the politics and geopolitics that shaped the conference outcome. Ruth reflects on the global stocktake and loss and damage, while Antony Froggatt and Bernice Lee reflect on how different actors shaped the outcomes, as well as the
Episode 37: What to watch at COP28
In the first of two COP28 takeover episodes, Research Fellow Ruth Townend gathers Chatham House Environment and Society Centre teammates to discuss how the conference might go, and what they will be looking out for when they travel to Dubai. This episode is released a week before the start of the conference. Professor Tim Benton discusses agriculture, food, land use and nature. Antony Froggatt tal
Episode 36: The reform of the World Bank and climate finance
Antony Froggatt is joined in the studio by Ed Mountfield who is Vice President of the World Bank in charge of Operational Policy and Country Service. Finance remains one of the most important and contentious issues in the international climate change negotiations. As COP28 approaches, Antony discusses with Ed the World Bank's ongoing reform initiatives and delves into the degree to which climate c
Episode 35: Indigenous Peoples, Rights and Representation in Climate Action
Indigenous peoples make up 5 per cent of the world's population and are responsible for the careful stewardship of land home to much of our planet's biodiversity. International negotiations have recently begun to recognize the important role that indigenous communities have always played for safeguarding the climate and environment. In this episode, we explore how headway has been made on recogniz
Episode 34: Mining, livelihoods and the environment
In the race to create a net-zero, sustainable world, activities like mining and farming can clash with the lives of people in forests and rural areas. As the international community ponders over solutions for responsible resource management, Ghana's experiences offer invaluable lessons. In this first episode of a two-part special of the Climate Briefing, Henry Throp takes us through a journey of d
Episode 33: Climate Change and Defence Forces
Climate change poses increasingly severe security challenges. What does this mean for defence forces? To find out, Anna speaks to Tobias Ellwood (Chair of the House of Common's Defence Committee) and Anum Farhan (Chatham House). The episode is published on the same day the Defence Committee is releasing its report 'Defence and Climate Change', which is available here: https://publications.parliam
Episode 32: US and EU green industrial policy
The geoeconomics of climate change are shifting. The US and the EU are among those launching major packages to gain a competitive advantage as economies transition. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Antony speaks to Jane Nakano (Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS) and Suzana Carp (Cleantech for Europe) about how the US and the EU are positioning themselves in the new era
Episode 31: Climate politics in a post-Paris era
Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano served as executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between July 2016 and July 2022. In this role, she headed the UN entity tasked with supporting the global response to climate change. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Ambassador Cantellano talks about the major developments in international climate politics durin
Episode 30: How could an advisory opinion from the ICJ accelerate climate action?
A conversation with Vanatu's climate change minister about building a coalition within the United Nations (UN) to request an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). An advisory opinion could help provide clarity on how existing international laws can be applied to strengthen action on climate change, protect people and the environment, and save the Paris A
Episode 29: Will the new Global Biodiversity Framework make a difference?
In December 2021, governments agreed on a new Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse the alarming rate of biodiversity loss we are currently witnessing. But will the new framework make a difference? To find out, Antony speaks to Professor Andrew Gonzalez of McGill University.
Episode 28: Outcomes of COP27 and the 2023 international climate agenda
In the first episode of the season, Anna speaks to Laurence Tubiana about the outcomes of the 2022 UN climate conference in Egypt, COP27, and the issues that will shape the international climate agenda in 2023. Tubiana was a key architect of the Paris Agreement in her previous role as France's Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and currently serves as CEO of the Europe
Episode 27: Building resilient coastal communities in South Asia
South Asia is home to one-quarter of the global population who reside in only 3.5 per cent of the world's land area, making it the most populous and most densely-populated region in the world. It is also one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change: a recent study found that Chittagong in Bangladesh and Ahmedabad in India are two of the fastest-sinking coastal cities, leaving millions of p
Episode 26: The climate crisis in South Asia
Earlier this year, India and Pakistan witnessed a prolonged heatwave, starting in March months before usual hot weather. This was followed by, and was in part the cause of, major flooding in Pakistan, as well as in parts of India. The heatwave severely affected agriculture, while the flooding came with immense cost to property and infrastructure. Millions of people were affected. South Asia has ex
Episode 25: A climate action stocktake
Negotiators left COP26 in Glasgow with a relatively ambitious outcome. What progress has been made on the climate agenda since COP26, and what are some of the key issues to watch at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh? Mere days before COP27, Anna is joined by Bernice Lee (Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House) to discuss these important questions. Read the explainer: What are the key issues at COP2
Episode 24: The nexus of water security and climate policy
The crossover between water security and climate change is hugely important especially given that the next two COPs are taking place in Africa and the Middle East, both with a history of being water stressed. What should policymakers and negotiators from these regions working on water security focus on at COP27? What does it mean to achieve water security? What are the main barriers or challenges?
Episode 23: What is the aim of COP27?
The Climate Briefing podcast returns! The new season kicks off with an episode focusing on the next UN climate change conference (COP27), which takes place 7-18 November 2022 in Egypt. Anna speaks to Tom Evans from E3G about what the conference aims to achieve, what the main challenges are, and what needs to happen in the run-up to the summit to enable a good outcome.
Episode 22: Quamrul Chowdhury on COP26
Quamrul Chowdhury has been involved in the climate negotiations for almost three decades. He currently serves as a lead negotiator for the G77 and the least developed countries group, and is a member of Bangladesh's negotiating team. In this bonus episode of the Climate Briefing, Anna speaks to Mr. Chowdhury about the outcome of COP26. Find out more: COP26: What happened, what does this mean, and
Episode 21: The outcomes of COP26
What was achieved at COP26? And what do different parties make of the outcome? In this episode, Anna speaks to a range of negotiators, advisers and experts about the results of the Glasgow conference. Interviewees include Camilla Born (policy adviser to the COP26 president), Farhana Yamin (deputy-chair of the expert advisory group of the climate vulnerable forum), Jacob Werksman (head of the EU de
Episode 20: Gender and climate policy
Due to gender inequalities, women are disproportionately affected by climate change, and Indigenous women and women in the Global South are on the front lines of these impacts. The UNFCCC has increasingly recognised these gender-differentiated impacts and the need to support the leadership of women and girls in addressing them. In this episode, Nina Jeffs (Schwarzman Academy Fellow in the Environm
Episode 19: COP26 week one round-up
COP26 is finally upon us, and The Climate Briefing team are on the ground in Glasgow to bring you all of the latest updates and developments from the summit. In this episode, Ben introduces a round-up of the first week of the negotiations. Antony Froggatt (Deputy Director, Environment & Society Programme at Chatham House) provides an overview of the key agenda items at COP26, including the update
Episode 18: The UN biodiversity talks
The crises of climate change and biodiversity destruction are closely linked. In this episode, Anna speaks to Sam Geall (CEO of China Dialogue, Associate Fellow at Chatham House, and Associate Faculty at the University of Sussex) about ongoing efforts within the UN to agree a new international biodiversity framework. The interview also zooms in on China's evolving role in international climate and
Episode 17: Cascading climate risks
A series of recent scientific studies have found that the world is on course for global warming far exceeding the 1.5 degree goal enshrined in the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile across the globe communities are grappling with extreme weather events and natural disasters related to the climate crisis. But beyond the obvious impacts of climate change, a whole host of further risks are emerging, exacerba
Episode 16: COP26, the state of play
September 2021 saw a series of significant diplomatic events which could be key to successful climate negotiations at COP26. Now with mere weeks to go before the main event, attention is increasing on the major actors in Glasgow. To find out the state of play, Anna speaks with Bernice Lee, Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow for Sustainability at Chatham House. Read The World Today article: Ideology:
Episode 15: Can the G20 act on climate change?
The G20 - an international gathering of leaders from 19 major states and the European Union - has a significant role to play in coordinating global action on climate change. Accounting for around two-thirds of the world's population and by some estimates 84% of global carbon emissions, agreeing on reforms within this forum could be a game-changer ahead of COP26. In July 2021, G20 ministerial meet
Episode 14: Debt, development and climate action
Ahead of the G7 Summit in June 2021, the Climate Briefing returns to the question of financing climate action. While the economic challenge of dealing with climate change was already well-established before the pandemic, the costs of responding to COVID-19 threaten to limit the fiscal capacity of governments to fund climate action. In this episode, Anna and Ben speak to two experts about the rela
Episode 13: How can the G7 accelerate climate action?
In 2021 the UK is hosting COP26, but also presiding over the G7. How can it leverage its presidency of the G7 to accelerate climate action in the run-up to COP26? To discuss this, Anna is joined by Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University. They consider the key opportunities and debates that will emerge at the G7 Leaders Summit. Read the Chatham House briefing: Kick-starting
Episode 12: Managing the impacts of climate change
This week the Climate Briefing turns its attention to how societies are can deal with the real-time effects of climate change. While mitigation remains a central focus of the international climate negotiations, vulnerable states and communities are calling for greater cooperation on addressing the fallout from climate-related environmental devastation. To discuss this, Anna is joined by H.E. Saida
Episode 11: The Shifting Politics of Climate Change
More than five years have passed since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, and there are only nine months to go until COP26. To kick off its second season the Climate Briefing podcast focuses on how climate change politics have shifted since COP21 in Paris, and explores the roles of the three largest emitters – China, the United States and the EU – in global climate action. The episode also provi
Episode 10: Carbon Pricing and the Article 6 Negotiations
In the latest episode of the Climate Briefing the team explore the concept of carbon pricing, a set of mechanisms which incentivise businesses and consumers to reduce their carbon emissions, and consider the dynamics of the hotly contested Article 6 negotiations. Ben speaks to Stuart Evans from Vivid Economics about how carbon pricing works, how it can help reduce emissions and how these mechanism
Episode 9: What Does the US Election Mean for Climate Change?
The media cycle in the US and across the world is consumed by the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election, with incumbent Donald Trump hoping to win a second term against the challenge of former Vice-President Joe Biden. Much of the debates around the election have focused on the response to COVID-19, and the candidates' positions on issues related to 'law and order'. But what will the elect
Episode 8: How Did We Get Here? A History of the Climate Negotiations
The Climate Briefing returns from its summer break with a deepdive into the history of the international climate agenda. Professor Robert Falkner of the Grantham Institute speaks to Ben about the origins of the UN-led climate negotiations, and explains why some conferences have been more successful than others. Then Anna discusses the historic role developing countries have played in the climate a
Episode 7: How to Encourage the Energy Transition
The Climate Briefing returns with two new interviews on the transition towards a renewable energy sector. It is widely acknowledged that slowing climate change will be impossible without reducing the global reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy. In this episode, Ben and Anna speak to Dr Daniel Quiggin from Chatham House, and Simon Sharpe from the UK Cabinet Office, to assess the recent
Episode 6: How to Decarbonise Industry
Industry accounts for approximately 24% of global energy-related emissions, and the decarbonisation of the sector is therefore essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. To date, however, the emissions from 'heavy' industries - like cement, steel and chemicals - have been considered particularly difficult to abate. This episode focuses on the strategies that can be deployed to enab
Episode 5: How to Finance Climate Action
Finance plays a key role in enabling climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is also a contested issue in the UN climate negotiations. The UK Government has made climate finance one of its top thematic priorities for COP26 and 2020 constitutes the deadline for developed countries to mobilise USD 100 billion per year to support climate action in developing countries. This week the Climate Bri
Episode 4: Coronavirus and Climate Change
In this bonus episode Tim Benton, Director of the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House, speaks to Anna about the environmental implications of COVID-19. How might manmade pressures on the environment have contributed to the emergence of the virus? What are the environmental impacts of the virus-driven economic slowdown? And how can we rebuild society in a more sustainable w
Episode 3: Climate Change and National Security
Extreme weather, rising sea levels and a melting Arctic - the effects of climate change are posing an increasingly large threat to national security worldwide. In this episode the team explore the implications of climate change for national security, and how the defence establishment is incorporating environmental concerns into its military planning. Anna speaks to Neil Morisetti about the threat
Episode 2: European Climate Ambitions
The Climate Briefing returns with interviews on European approaches to climate action, and the role that business can play in achieving the Paris Agreement goals. Johanna and Ben are joined in the studio by two guests; Imke Lubbeke, Head of EU Climate and Energy Policy at the WWF, and Jen Austin, Policy Director of the We Mean Business coalition. Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the
Episode 1: What Does Success Look Like At COP26?
The Climate Briefing is a monthly podcast from Chatham House, exploring the major issues that shape international debates around climate change. In this first episode, the team focus on what happened – and what didn't happen – at the last UN Climate Change Conference, the COP25 in Madrid, and what it will mean for the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow. Anna and Johanna are joined by two guests; Archie Yo
