ClimateGenn hosted by Nick Breeze

In this Climategenn episode we hear two committed voices non different sides of the climate engineering debate, make their cases as to why we should or should not research geoengineering with the intention of deployment to cool the Earth. Dr Heidi Sevestre is an internationally renowned polar scientist making the case against climate engineering (also known as geoengineering) and Herb Simmens is the founder of an international group called the Healthy Planet Action Coalition (HPAC). Both interviews were recorded at COP29 and reflect entrenched positions on both sides of the debate. There are many more voices and we urgently need to hear them - not least from the vulnerable communities who maybe severely impacted by such cooling schemes. The last word goes to Professor Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Vice Chair of the IPCC, where she comments on how climate engineering is moving into the main literature advising the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Thanks for listening. Subscribers can preview the episode recorded during week 2 with Professor Kevin Anderson ahead of its as yet unknown publishing date. If you have been following the UN Climate Summit and want to go inside the talks, accompanied by countless expert insights, then order my book COPOUT from all online outlets worldwide, in paperback and audio formats.

In this interview with the Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Professor Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, gives her perspective on a range of critical issues - in part presenting a glass-half-full perspective, despite so many mounting challenges. This was recorded on Saturday 16th Nov at the midway point through COP29. Since the COP has ended, countries have finalised a $300 billion dollar pledge to vulnerable nations set against a required $1.3 trillion by 2035. Trust between so-called developed and developing or vulnerable nations remains stubbornly low. But meeting the $1.3 trillion required funding is not a charity gift, but rather a collaborative investment in all our futures. Until we collectively realise the only way forward is with all hands seen as equal, the fate for us all remains entirely bleak. More COP29 interviews are on the way as well as an interview this week with the author of a new study on the state of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) that risks up-ending all our climate rhetoric to date.  If you want a fast paced journey through the last eight COPs from Paris to the UAE then order my book COPOUT online, in paperback or audio, from all main retailers. This was my 9th COPOUT experience and I’ll be writing a supplementary chapter in the coming weeks that will include astonishing in-person admissions from delegates of fossil fuel producing nations as well as forays into the north of Azerbaijan through decimated landscapes and threadbare ecosystems.  Thanks to all subscribers! Summary:

COP29 Baku series of interviews - also consider buying Nick's book, COPOUT - How governments have failed the people on climate. Available online worldwide in paperback ebook and audio formats. Key Points from Ina-Maria Shikongo: Reason for Attending COP29: Advocates for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and opposes Namibia’s plans for offshore oil drilling amidst the climate crisis. Climate Impacts in Namibia: Namibia faces severe drought, hunger affecting over 50% of the population, and controversial plans to cull wildlife to feed communities. Oil and Gas Exploration: Major players like Shell, Total Energies, and BW Energy are involved in Namibia. Concerns over corruption, lack of benefits for locals, and unethical practices in oil projects. Human Rights Violations: Oil extraction often results in displacement, environmental damage, and lack of compensation for affected communities. Censorship and Risks: Activism in Namibia faces censorship, intimidation, and legal challenges. Shikongo is included in misleading corporate reports without her consent. Global Climate Inequities: Criticizes the prioritization of profits over environmental and human rights, highlighting inadequate climate finance and infrastructure in Europe and Africa. Concerns about COP30: Hopes for greater freedom of expression in Brazil but fears ongoing prioritization of oil interests, risking indigenous rights and environmental protections.

In this ClimateGenn episode, Professor of Climate Risk at University of Newcastle, Hayley Fowler, and Professor Paul Davies, Chief Meteorologist at the UK Met Office, explain how the mega storm events we are now seeing so frequently, are generated and why they are going to get more intense and more widespread. This was recorded just after the incredible central European flooding in the 1st half of September. Since then the media has been filled with images of Hurricane Milton and now we see the area around Valencia in Spain is lying in ruins.  With the UN Climate Summit only days away, we are witnessing a decisive US election where one of the nominees denies we have an existential climate problem in favour of taking money from the fossil fuel industry and enacting policies that amplify the impact. Will COP29 be another washout like COP22 in Morocco in 2016? Only time will tell. I will be reporting from the COP publishing a range of interviews across key topics. <-- DOWNLOAD Nick's book 'COPOUT - How governments have failed the people on climate' a tour of the UN Climate Summits (or COPs) from Paris to the UAE. --> The collaboration between senior climate scientist Hayley Fowler and chief meteorologist Paul Davies is increasing our understanding of extremes, so that we can be better prepared in the face of these life threatening storms. A link to their recent research paper on this topic is here. As both scientists warn, new technology, such as warning systems, can help us save lives but it will not cure the problem. We urgently need global emissions reductions at rates of around 43% by 2030 to avoid the very worst of a wide range of impacts. It is obviously too late to avert a new era of climate disasters, including large-scale damage to infrastructure, accelerating tipping points and huge loss of life. Our food systems and supply chains are also at risk. Despite the threats we must strive to create the changes at every level of society and within our communities. Thanks for supporting this channel. I am in the midst of finishing a large project which has caused a delay in publishing interviews. This should soon be remedied. Thank you.

In this ClimateGenn episode I am speaking with Extinction Rebellion cofounder, Gail Bradbrook, about the role of activism today and the inner world of those taking action that can and does result in severe imprisonment, and in some countries, even death. ORDER COPOUT BY NICK BREEZE: https://genn.cc/copout-nick-breeze/ GAILS LINKS: https://www.praler.net/ https://buymeacoffee.com/gailbradbrook/the-leadership-able-bring-just-transition Gail identifies her own position on taking risks and how, in her words, to "live an honourable life in these times.” Climate activists in the UK today risk prison sentences that we might expect to be handed out to people convicted of violent crimes, presenting a danger to society. But by silencing dissenting voices, the risk to society is that collective failings can be easily be swept under the carpet. During COP21 in Paris, Naomi Klein pointed out that the pressure of activists between the failed COP in Copenhagen 2009 and COP21 Paris 2015, created the momentum for countries to come together and sign the Paris Agreement. Since then the world has changed dramatically with climate impacts pushing the thresholds of safety for communities all around the world. The failure of countries to honour their Paris commitments is contributing to the severe climatic consequences we are seeing now. In a recent email I received, the case was put that activist calls for revolution are misplaced because we do not have time to restructure our society before large impacts overwhelm our ability to adapt. However, many activist calls - like Gail here - are for expanded democracy, such as the creation of civil assemblies, where citizens are given expert insights, allowing them to better inform policy. In this sense, the role of activism is to maintain momentum towards better policies that increase adaptation and resilience in as fair and equitable way as possible. Next ClimateGenn Episode With carbon emissions stubbornly high, we are seeing the rising trend of destruction. In the next ClimateGenn episode I speak with Climatologist, Professor Hayley Fowler from the University of Newcastle and Chief Meteorologist at the UK Met Office, Paul Davies. We discuss their work bridging the gap between meteorology and climatology to enhance severe storm warning systems in order to save lives. Whether in Europe, North Africa, the US, Philippines, the Himalayas, or beyond, severe life threatening storms are increasing in strength and frequency, in all cases posing an existential threat. Paul and Hayley discuss the intricacies of how these storms form and how they have found new ways to decipher critical signals within the expanse of noisy data. This episode will be available to subscribers very shortly and be public in a weeks time. Thank you to all subscribers and to everyone who has gotten in touch with feedback and episode suggestions. It is greatly appreciated. Remember you can support this channel by subscribing on Patreon or Youtube, as well as by ordering my book ‘COPOUT - How governments have failed the people on climate’ which is available worldwide in paperback and audio. COPOUT is based on my UN COP reporting from Paris 2015 to Dubai 2023. I take the reader behind the scenes to witness first-hand how the failure of successive global climate summits has led us to this era of dangerous consequences. Thanks again for listening.

Intro with clips - Prof. Jason Box (Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland), Prof. Kevin Anderson (Tyndall Centre for Climate Research), Prof. Heidi Sevestre (AMAP, Arctic Council), Joshua Aponsem (Green Africa Youth Organization, Ghana), Anni Pokela (Operatatio Arktis, Finland) Lord Rowan Williams (Fmr. Archbishop of Canterbury). I started recording interviews on geoengineering over ten years ago and the thought back then that in the mid 2020’s nothing would have been achieved in global emissions reduction, would have been too depressing to contemplate. Yet here we are. The Paris Agreement was meant to steer the world towards a cleaner brighter future but it has been ignored. Emissions from forest fires and melting permafrost are way beyond their thresholds and extreme weather impacts are testing infrastructure and ecosystems all over the planet.  Climate activists are even being locked up with cruel prison sentences for trying to act for the collective good. I discuss this in my next episode with XR cofounder, Gail Bradbrook. The UN Climate summit, COP29 will be held in one of the most significant cradles of the fossil fuel industry - Baku in Azerbaijan. There is no expressed intention to reduce emissions but instead the the COP29 President-Designate Mukhtar Babayev has a (quote) a ’vision to enhance ambition and enable action.’ - whilst the widespread extraction of fossil fuels continues unabated. With all this in mind, the conversation of engineering interventions to try and delay the most destructive impacts of extreme climate, is moving along. It is controversial and divisive and yet voices from across the world, including in the Global South are saying that we need to take the research seriously.  In this interview with Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, we discuss the controversy and the viability of schemes. The news broke during our recording that the UK government agency, ARIA, have put out a call for proposals, offering £56.8m in grant funding for geoengineering projects. The largest government funding of it’s kind. The failure of the global negotiations is discussed in my book COPOUT - How governments have failed the people on climate that is available worldwide in paperback and audiobook format. Sadly, the failure of the 3 decades of global climate summits means we are getting much deeper into the era of consequences. Central Europe is experiencing deathly storms and flooding while the smoke from Portugal’s forest fires are spreading a toxic blanket over Spain and beyond. From the Amazon to Asia, ecosystems and infrastructure are being pummelled by natures response to carbon pollution. Next week I will be recording a 3 way interview with Dr Paul Davies from the UK Met Office and Dr Hayley Fowler from Newcastle University about their recent research paper titled 'A new conceptual model for understanding and predicting life-threatening rainfall extremes’ - which is both important and fascinating. Thank you to all subscribers - there is extra content being uploaded for Patreon and Youtube subscribers.

Welcome to a new series of ClimateGenn where we aim to speak with a range of global experts to be better able to understand the changes in the global climate system that are rapidly impacting the world in which we live. Although some like to use the term climate chaos - if we dive into the noise, more often than not, there are signals we can learn from. __________________ COP29 in Azerbaijan is now also on the horizon. The world’s largest climate conference is for another consecutive year being hosted in a country with stated aim of increasing production and sales of fossil fuels - the underlying cause of accelerating climate breakdown. If you want to learn more about the UN’s COP process and why it has failed to deliver the structural changes that could have averted much of the destruction we are currently experiencing, then my book, COPOUT, is available worldwide in paperback and audiobook.  Order 'COPOUT' BY NICK BREEZE I will be attending COP29 to report both on the lack of progress being made in the official negotiations, while also speaking with attendees on a wide range of related climate topics. I recently spent 2 weeks in the summer in S. Portugal’s Alentejo region where temperatures regularly surpass 40ºC (104ºF). The climate stripes chart included here, made especially for the project by Climate Stripes creator Professor Ed Hawkins, shows the rising mean temperatures in Evora, in Alentejo, that have become much more pronounced since the 1980’s and will continue to rise. Slight rises in the mean temperature mean increased rises in the mean temperature and increased frequency of extreme temperatures. A signal of testing times ahead. For the second week of this visit I was joined by world renowned glaciologist and climatologist Professor Jason Box, and Anglo-Chinese author and journalist, Janet Wang. With over 25 interviews recorded, I’ll be releasing a special series titled ‘Into the Heat’ looking at how these communities are adapting to the rising extremes and, as Jason Box says, ‘They are winning in sustainability’. We also discuss the thresholds of viability and why the survival of wine and olive oil producing communities in S Portugal connects to the wellbeing of communities in places like the UK and other parts of N. Europe. Subscribers will get access to additional behind the scenes footage. _____ In this interview with Dr Jennifer Francis from the Woodwell Climate Research Centre in the US, we discuss her teams new research into feedbacks from the melting Arctic Ice cap. We also discuss how destructive climate impacts are starting to influence policymaking, albeit with resistance from misinformation campaigns. Finally, we discuss the rise of research into geoengineering and Jennifer’s insights into whether we should deploy risky temporary-techno fixes to buy time, while we wait for structural action at the policy-level to be implemented.

In this first published ClimateGenn episode for a couple of months, I want to thank subscribers for your patience. I have not been sitting idle but much more trying to digest the appalling consequences of climate heating that we are now experiencing. [Order COPOUT By Nick Breeze here] Everyday on social media, climate graphs and charts are posted with varying degrees of deep red and other markers of urgency. Yet, nothing happens except the posts become more shrill and the problem of climate disaster becomes more irreversible. As someone who engages a lot with climate science and scientists, somehow I had fallen into a space whereby the actual meaning of these charts had become abstract. Codified and filed away in my mind to avoid real exposure to true meaning. Then something happened. I arranged to meet with Guillermo Díaz Agras at the marine biology research station in La Grana in Galicia. The research station is a satellite of Santiago University and the team here conduct extensive research along the coast and in the river valley’s, called rias. What I expected to be an introductory overview of the research station turned into a horrifying cerebral experience; an awakening if you like.  Guillermo showed me a long stream of images of dead dolphins, turtles and otters, saying simply: ‘That was just last week!’. He then explained how much of the indigenous shellfish are dying. The mussels no longer forming in this stretch of coast, the seaweed that bound the mussels to the rocks and the floating platforms, no longer there. The ecosystems that were embedded within them, gone. In 2022, 220 dolphins were found dead along this coast. In 2023 that number rose to 667. In 2024 we are already over 315 as of last week.  He then explained that the Atlantic Ocean heatwave that we see in those charts plastered all over the internet is triggering a massive breakdown of marine ecosystems along this coastline. The heated ocean creates more evaporation which is driving the most incredible downpours of rain. This in turn is desalinating the local waters and making life impossible for many species. The northerly winds that are well known here and blow the warmer surface waters out to sea, have stopped. The acidity of the ocean water from constant burning of fossil fuels is stopping shell formation too.  This is what is meant when scientists speak of a cascade of climate impacts. The Atlantic Ocean heatwave is the main driver of this catastrophic cascade. But this ecosystem is deeply connected to the Galician way off life, their cultural identity and local economies. Last week, with Guillermo, I met with the head of the regional fishing group. The impacts that I have mentioned are now creating a zombie-like industry. Fishermen here used to work the whole year through, everyday. Now they work around 15 days per year and receive subsidies from the government. The lack of life in the oceans due to the ocean heating mean that new species are being shipped in from more exotic parts of the world where they can survive the hotter waters. These species take 3 years to mature and then have to be reordered. Aside from the unknown unknowns regarding dumping foreign species into these waters, the shellfish have to be reordered. However, as this happening along the coast in different communities, demand is outstripping supply. The government are funding the 3 yearly purchase of the new stock but not the ability to breed. Guillermo is nervous that the imported, and essentially invasive species, may have unforeseen deleterious consequences for the wider ecosystem. However, everything is dying anyway. When I asked him what he thinks we should do, he shakes his head and says, “it is too late!” These very words are stating very clearly that it is too late to save nature. We are part of nature and intricately connected to its bounty. Just recently The Guardian newspaper blindly published an article praising Galicia for its super healthy seafood diet. There is no reference in the article to the crashing seafood stocks. The article is as blind in its fantasy of long life and abundant seafood as it is perpetuating cliches and myths about the Earth we are destroying. In a moment I will play the interview I recorded with Guillermo giving the overview of the situation along this coast. I am resuming the podcast series and will be publishing more material on this specific issue. There is also a lot of material I have recorded on geoengineering that I will publish in the subscribers areas for Water level members. It will be edited for use at a later point. This has been an intense period of work and there is much more to do. My book COPOUT is available to order in the US and Canada from 21st May. COPOUT explains how we got into this mess. The thirty years of complete political failure to change humanity’s course. I am now working on a second book that is looking at the consequences of failure and although it may sound harrowing, we have to keep in mind that it is just reality and that life will go on, until it doesn’t. We have a collective duty to do what we can to sustain and where possible restore the damages our species has created. Thank you too all subscribers and supporters. Please do get in touch or leave comments. I do try to respond to as much as possible.

In this episode I am speaking with three young people from the Cayman Islands about the existential climate threat they face. They are taking their case to the British Government to ask for assistance in what could eventually lead to an evacuation plan. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory lying to the south of Cuba and the North East of Honduras. Currently an estimated 85% of the worlds hedge funds are located in these islands.  The irony is that a significant percentage of the funds flowing through the Cayman isles will be invested in or derived from fossil fuels - the very cause of the regional climate destabilisation that is getting much worse. Aleigha, Rickeem and Connor from Sustainable Cayman all have a case to make to the British people that could end up being part of the transformational change we need immediately.  The London meeting at the House of Commons with MPs is in collaboration with OnePlanet in the UK and is the start of a dialogue that aims to encourage the UK to act responsible in the face of existential threats to these islands. Thank you to all subscribers for support. This is a special episode timed for the event I nLondon and more episodes will be forthcoming. Please like and share and continue to subscribe to support this work.  You can also order my book COPOUT from Amazon or any other book store, which highlights the structural failures that are driving the worsening worldwide climate emergency.

This episode with Dana R fisher is the unofficial part 2 of 3 looking at the sociological side of collective action, while we try to slow the sinking of the Titanic, to make homes on the lifeboats. The rub in all this is that Dana’s message is not dissimilar from Roger Hallam’s (unofficial part 1). She agrees that millions will likely die before the so-called Anthroshift kicks in and we get the cascade of structural policies we need to respond en masse to the crisis. The detail in all we discuss is in Dana’s new book, ‘Saving Ourselves - From Climate Shocks To Climate Action’. If you want a close up lens on the structural failures to date, coupled with the determination of those in power to ignore the loud and clear science, then please do consider buying my book COPOUT. I’ve had great feedback from climate luminaries such as Sir David King, Bill McKibben, Alice Hill, Rupert Read, and others. Thank you to all subscribers for your support. It is greatly received as it allows this series to continue. I get so many requests for interviews and it is getting harder to keep up. More supporters means more interviews can bet processed. Thanks again.