Drilled COP Out: What the Heck Happened at COP30?
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Nov 25, 2025 
Katharine Hayhoe, a renowned climate scientist and communicator, joins Amy Westervelt to dissect the recent COP30 outcomes. They delve into the troubling influence of fossil fuel companies at COP, discussing the need for reform in negotiation processes. Hayhoe emphasizes the importance of integrating science with community values to drive climate action. They also explore the potential of regional climate weeks and the momentum behind the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, highlighting a cautious optimism amidst industry pushback.
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From Astrophysics To Community Climate Talks
- Katharine Hayhoe describes becoming the only climate scientist within a 500-mile radius after moving to Texas and getting frequent invites to speak to community groups.
- Those talks taught her to connect head, heart, and hands when communicating climate science.
A Shell Case Study Sparked Investigative Reporting
- Amy Westervelt recounts her first climate-related freelance job writing case studies for an engineering firm that included a Shell project on sea-level rise.
- That led her to investigate fossil fuel companies' internal knowledge and pursue reporting on industry influence and denial.
Run Scenarios That Show Policy-Relevant Differences
- Katharine Hayhoe explains the importance of running high and low emissions scenarios for local impacts rather than only middle-of-the-road ones.
- Her California study quantified how human choices change regional outcomes and influenced policy at the gubernatorial level.
