Former home office advisor Claire Pearsall and BBC's West Africa correspondent Mayeni Jones discuss the recently signed asylum treaty between the UK and Rwanda. BBC's climate editor Justin Rowlatt and former political strategist to the UNFCC Tom Rivett-Carnac explain the events at COP28, including the focus on phasing out fossil fuels and the controversy surrounding the president of COP.
The signing of a new treaty between Rwanda and the UK aims to address illegal migration, but concerns remain about its effectiveness and potential costs.
The ongoing COP 28 Climate Change Summit focuses on the language surrounding fossil fuels and the need for balanced outcomes that address emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change.
Deep dives
Rwanda-UK Treaty: Phasing out illegal migration debated
The podcast episode discusses the signing of a new treaty between Rwanda and the UK to address the issue of illegal migration. The treaty is legally binding and aims to provide stronger legal protection for asylum seekers in Rwanda. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of the treaty in addressing the issue, with critics arguing that it could be an expensive experiment without guaranteed results. The podcast also highlights the political challenges and disagreements within the UK government regarding the treaty, with different ministers expressing differing views. The episode explores the reactions from the Rwandan government, which feels unfairly portrayed and emphasizes its commitment to providing a safe and comfortable living environment for asylum seekers. The conclusion of the treaty and its potential impacts are still being debated, and the podcast anticipates further discussions and legal challenges in the future.
COP 28 Summit: A complex diplomatic dance towards ambitious outcomes
The podcast episode provides an update on the ongoing COP 28 Climate Change Summit taking place in the United Arab Emirates. The discussion highlights the role of the COP president, Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, in fostering a shared outcome among the participating countries. The focus of the negotiations is on language related to fossil fuels, specifically the possibility of phasing out or phasing down these fuels. While there is a push for ambitious outcomes, there is also a need for balance in the negotiations to address both emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change. The podcast acknowledges the complexities of the negotiations and the challenges of achieving a historic and unprecedented outcome. The role of the COP president in brokering and pushing for an ambitious outcome is emphasized, along with the need for clarity in communicating the objectives of the summit.
Challenges and nuances in the negotiations at COP 28
The podcast episode delves into the complexities of the COP 28 negotiations. It highlights the role of the COP president, Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, in driving the negotiations towards ambitious outcomes. The episode discusses the need for balanced outcomes that address both emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change. The podcast emphasizes the challenges in achieving consensus among the participating countries, with some countries advocating for phasing out fossil fuels, while others favor a phasedown approach. The importance of clarity in communication and the need for the COP president to use his political capital to push for an outcome he desires is highlighted. The podcast acknowledges that the final outcome of the negotiations and the level of ambition achieved remain uncertain.
The significance of the COP 28 outcomes for fossil fuel phase-down
The podcast episode explores the potential outcomes of COP 28 regarding the phase-down of fossil fuels. While the ambition for a complete phase-out exists, the discussion focuses on the likelihood of a phase-down approach being agreed upon. Over 100 countries are in favor of phasing out fossil fuels, with China and Russia potentially open to a phasedown agreement. However, challenges remain, particularly with the stance of Saudi Arabia. The episode emphasizes that the final negotiated text will determine the extent of the outcome, and whether it will be considered historic and unprecedented. The need for clarity in the president's position and for balanced outcomes encompassing emissions reduction and adaptation is highlighted. The podcast acknowledges ongoing negotiations and the uncertainties surrounding the final outcome.
The home secretary, James Cleverly has signed a new asylum treaty with the Rwandan government in an attempt to address the concerns of the Supreme Court.
Adam is joined by former home office advisor Claire Pearsall and the BBC’s West Africa correspondent Mayeni Jones to unpack what’s in the treaty and why it matters.
And what’s happening at COP28? The BBC’s climate editor Justin Rowlatt and former political strategist to the UNFCC Tom Rivett-Carnac explain what has been going on at the climate conference.
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Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Sam McLaren, Gemma Roper and Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The senior news editors are Jonathan Aspinwall and Sam Bonham.
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