Christiana Figueres - on the past, present and future of the COP-negotiations

In the sixth episode of the podcast, Dan Jørgensen talks with Christiana Figueres, the former United Nations’ Climate Chief about the past, present and future of the international climate negotiations.

Figueres was appointed Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC in July 2010 and five years later she successfully rallied 195 nations around the Paris Agreement.

She recounts the change from COP15 in Copenhagen to COP21 in Paris, resulting from gradually changing the political mindset from one of confrontation to one of collaboration. 

To Figueres, the outcome of the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections will decide the global geopolitical outlook for not only next year’s COP26 in Glasgow, but for many decades. Finally, Figueres shares her views on the transition to a low carbon economy, including on the need to re-train coal workers and bringing other countries on-board.

Even though it has been four years since she left the UN, Figueres remains one of the most important voices in the global environmental debate: In 2017, she co-founded “Global Optimism”, a group focused on social and environmental change. Furthermore she has authored the book “The Future We Choose” and co-hosts the weekly climate podcast “Outrage and Optimism”.

Prior to joining the UN, Figueres worked as a Costa Rican diplomat and served as Director of the Renewable Energy in the Americas (REIA) Initiative, and directed the non-profit Center for Sustainable Development of the Americas (CSDA).