The Climate Briefing

In the first of two COP28 takeover episodes, Research Fellow Ruth Townend gathers Chatham House Environment and Society Centre teammates to discuss how the conference might go, and what they will be looking out for when they travel to Dubai. This episode is released a week before the start of the conference. Professor Tim Benton discusses agriculture, food, land use and nature. Antony Froggatt talks about energy transition and how major actors might shape action. Glada Lahn discusses climate finance and the likely wrangle around language on fossil fuels, while Ruth Townend discusses the GGA and the global stocktake.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Ed Mountfield, the Vice President of the World Bank, dives into the pressing challenges of climate finance as COP28 approaches. He highlights the World Bank's evolving role in increasing funding for developing nations facing climate emergencies. The conversation sheds light on the urgent need for reforms, focusing on accountability and inclusivity. Ed also emphasizes the vital connection between climate finance and poverty alleviation, advocating for tailored approaches that foster climate justice and collaboration.

Indigenous peoples make up 5 per cent of the world's population and are responsible for the careful stewardship of land home to much of our planet's biodiversity. International negotiations have recently begun to recognize the important role that indigenous communities have always played for safeguarding the climate and environment. In this episode, we explore how headway has been made on recognizing this role, where there is still work to be done, and importantly, how can this recognition lead to more meaningul engagement and sharing of resources to protect the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

In the race to create a net-zero, sustainable world, activities like mining and farming can clash with the lives of people in forests and rural areas. As the international community ponders over solutions for responsible resource management, Ghana's experiences offer invaluable lessons. In this first episode of a two-part special of the Climate Briefing, Henry Throp takes us through a journey of discovery through the Ghanaian Gold mining industry, and the illegal artisanal gold mining, known in Ghana as the Galamsey. Using recordings of interviews captured during a May 2023 field trip to Ghana, he explores the intricate juggling act between caring for the land, ensuring sustainable livelihoods, and meeting the rising demand for metals and lucrative cash crops. The episode is published in association with our new article, "Net-zero's nature knot: A tug of war with rural realities", which is available on our forest governance website here: https://forestgovernance.chathamhouse.org/publications/net-zeros-nature-knot-a-tug-of-war-with-rural-realities

Climate change poses increasingly severe security challenges. What does this mean for defence forces? To find out, Anna speaks to Tobias Ellwood (Chair of the House of Common's Defence Committee) and Anum Farhan (Chatham House). The episode is published on the same day the Defence Committee is releasing its report 'Defence and Climate Change', which is available here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmdfence/179/report.html The research paper 'Preparing NATO for climate-related security challenges', written by Anum Farhan, Signe Kossman and Armida van Rij (all Chatham House), can be accessed here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/07/preparing-nato-climate-related-security-challenges

The geoeconomics of climate change are shifting. The US and the EU are among those launching major packages to gain a competitive advantage as economies transition. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Antony speaks to Jane Nakano (Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS) and Suzana Carp (Cleantech for Europe) about how the US and the EU are positioning themselves in the new era of green industrial policy.

Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano served as executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between July 2016 and July 2022. In this role, she headed the UN entity tasked with supporting the global response to climate change. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Ambassador Cantellano talks about the major developments in international climate politics during her tenure, and discusses the key issues tackled by the role of executive secretary at the UNFCCC.

A conversation with Vanatu's climate change minister about building a coalition within the United Nations (UN) to request an advisory opinion on climate change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). An advisory opinion could help provide clarity on how existing international laws can be applied to strengthen action on climate change, protect people and the environment, and save the Paris Agreement. To find out more about the ICJ initiative and its potential impact on climate action, Anna speaks to His Excellency Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Management.

In December 2021, governments agreed on a new Global Biodiversity Framework to halt and reverse the alarming rate of biodiversity loss we are currently witnessing. But will the new framework make a difference? To find out, Antony speaks to Professor Andrew Gonzalez of McGill University.

In the first episode of the season, Anna speaks to Laurence Tubiana about the outcomes of the 2022 UN climate conference in Egypt, COP27, and the issues that will shape the international climate agenda in 2023. Tubiana was a key architect of the Paris Agreement in her previous role as France's Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and currently serves as CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a professor at Sciences Po.