Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast

Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of the Wellcome Trust, dives into the urgent health implications of the climate crisis. She emphasizes the need to shift the dialogue from mere temperature increases to the real lives and health outcomes at stake. The discussion highlights alarming health risks, such as excess deaths and mental health challenges exacerbated by climate change. Gillard advocates for integrating health into climate strategies, inspiring a movement towards faster action and collaborative solutions in public health and policy.

Discover the quiet revolution in climate tech that’s reshaping our future with innovative materials and solutions. From bio-based foams to AI water management, explore how these breakthroughs tackle the climate crisis. Learn about the importance of community-driven initiatives and sustainable practices, especially in fashion and food waste. Dive into cutting-edge strategies like RFID technology that reduce e-waste and the potential of algae-based coatings for carbon capture. Join the movement for a livable, low-carbon world!

Sylvia Earle, a pioneering marine biologist and former chief scientist of NOAA, joins the discussion on global ocean conservation. As leaders gather for the UN Ocean Conference, she reflects on the urgency of the High Seas Treaty to protect deep-sea biodiversity. Earle shares captivating stories from her explorations, highlighting the perilous state of our oceans due to pollution and overfishing. Her passionate call for international collaboration underscores the need to safeguard the oceans, the planet's essential life support system.

Ana Toni, CEO of COP30, discusses Brazil's pivotal role as the host of this crucial climate summit. She shares insights on the country's preparations and ambitions for ambitious climate action amid political complexities. The concept of 'mutirão' emphasizes collective efforts and solidarity in tackling climate challenges. With a focus on phasing out fossil fuels and protecting nature, the conversation explores whether COP30 can indeed become a breakthrough moment or risk falling into old patterns of division and distraction.

Join Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu's Minister, and Christopher Bartlett, a climate policy strategist, as they navigate the pressing climate crisis facing Vanuatu. Regenvanu shares powerful insights on self-determination and land ownership, rooted in the nation's colonial history. Bartlett highlights Vanuatu's leadership in climate advocacy, including their pioneering ICJ case aimed at addressing 'loss and damage.' Together, they discuss the vital importance of cultural resilience and the role of small island nations in the global climate fight.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of the Climate Group, leads efforts in promoting climate action globally. In this conversation, she addresses the challenges businesses face amid shifting political landscapes in the US, particularly regarding climate commitments. Clarkson discusses the significance of Climate Week NYC and how it can serve as a beacon for action during these turbulent times. The hosts also tackle a groundbreaking climate liability case that could reshape accountability for major emitters, highlighting the critical role of non-state actors in driving progress.

Kingsmill Bond, an energy strategist at Ember, and José Manuel Entrecanales, CEO of Acciona, dive into the significant blackout that recently swept across Spain and Portugal. They explore whether renewable energy is to blame or if deeper issues lie within outdated infrastructures. The conversation addresses misconceptions about renewables' reliability and highlights the urgent need for grid modernization. They also discuss how modernized grids are crucial for a successful energy transition and the encouraging prospects for renewable energy's future.

The discussion tackles Tony Blair's controversial views on achieving net zero through technology rather than cutting consumption. It debates the viability of carbon capture and removal as alternatives to rapid fossil fuel phaseout. The hosts urge reframing climate narratives to emphasize systemic solutions over individual sacrifices and highlight the need for engaging the public positively. They also emphasize the importance of technological innovations and effective communication in driving meaningful climate action.

Australia heads to the polls this weekend - with climate firmly on the ballot. Is the country ready to lose its reputation as the battleground of the climate wars? And are we about to see a lasting shift in a nation that has for years been torn between its sunlight and its coal?As a pivotal election looms, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson examine what’s at stake for one of the world’s highest per-capita emitters. After months of polling ahead, the opposition Coalition now faces a late surge from the governing Labor Party, with the Greens, Teals and independents all likely to play a crucial role. The result could reinforce, roll-back or reshape domestic climate policy, and determine whether Australia emerges as a global climate leader at a time when others are stepping away from the stage.To understand what’s going on, the team calls up friend of the show Dean Bialek, Founder and Managing Director of The Pacific Project. Together, they explore the opportunities for Australia in the energy transition, the narratives and dynamics driving this election, and the country’s potential role as a regional leader as it hopes to host 2026’s COP31 with other Pacific nations.So, does Australia have a role to play in reigniting regional and global climate momentum? And how will this election shape the climate fight - both within and beyond its borders.Learn more🌿 Philip Levin’s opinion piece in the New York Times, ‘Trump Tried to Derail Our Work. We Banded Together and Moved Forward.’🦅 The Economist’s US cover this week, reported by Yahoo🔬 Hungry Beast’s ‘I’m A Climate Scientist’ video⚡ ABC News Australia’s graphic, illustrating the shift in Australia’s energy mixFollow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos:Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimismOr get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-HincksVideo Producer: Caitlin HanrahanExec Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we witnessing the beginning of the end for fossil fuels?This Earth Day, Outrage + Optimism explores a seismic shift in global energy: the possibility that major oil and gas companies are entering a self-managed decline. Have fossil fuel companies been overvalued for decades? And are they now quietly winding themselves down? For years, analysts and campaigners have questioned why these companies are valued as if they'll pump oil forever. With rising climate risks, tightening regulation, and growing investor scrutiny, the foundations of their business model have looked increasingly shaky.Now, something remarkable is happening. From Exxon to Shell, oil majors are cutting back on capital investment, failing to replace their reserves, and instead handing profits back to shareholders. Could this be the beginning of an industry in managed decline?In this Earth Day special, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson sit down with Mark Campanale, founder of Carbon Tracker and the originator of the ‘stranded assets’ concept that helped launch the global divestment movement.Is this truly the start of fossil fuel’s final chapter? Or is it a strategic pivot - away from fuels and toward petrochemicals, plastics, and a long tail of influence?Learn more 🏛️ Adam Serwer’s article, ‘The Constitutional Crisis is Here’ in The Atlantic🖍️ Reporting on the White House deportation cartoon 🚨 Ezra Klein’s video on illegal deportation, ‘The Emergency is Here’🏳️ Harry Benham’s Substack piece, ‘Leaving the battlefield: oil companies are quitting renewables, yes, but also quitting energy’🌍 Carbon Tracker’s Paris MalignedFollow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos:Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimismOr get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-HincksVideo Producer: Caitlin HanrahanExec Producer: Dino SofosCommissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.