Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast Paris, 10 Years On - Has it Changed the World?
Dec 11, 2025
A decade after the Paris Agreement, hosts explore its emotional impact and the tensions between hopes and reality. They debate whether it was a diplomatic breakthrough or a reliance on a myth. Personal anecdotes paint a vivid picture of that historic moment. The discussion reveals insights on binding rules versus sovereignty and the challenges of voluntary commitments. Notable outcomes include market shifts and renewable investments. Ultimately, they emphasize the ongoing need for decarbonization amid global challenges.
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Frozen On The Podium
- Christiana Figueres froze on the podium when the gavel dropped, overwhelmed by the moment.
- She later described being emotionally held up by her daughters and wrote an open letter of gratitude.
Paris As A Strategic Plan
- The Paris Agreement is a multilateral plan for all nations to decarbonize toward net zero, with 5-year nationally determined contributions.
- It sets a shared objective to limit warming to 2°C with best efforts to 1.5°C and built-in review mechanisms.
Built From Past Failures
- Paris learned from Kyoto and Copenhagen and shifted structure: universal participation with voluntary commitments rather than top-down targets.
- That change allowed developing countries to be included and shaped a different diplomatic architecture.