

Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast
Persephonica and Global Optimism
Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast is for anyone who is not ready to give up on making the world a better place. For unrivalled conversations with decision makers, visionary thinkers and a community of like-minded climate optimists, join former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres, political strategist Tom Rivett-Carnac and sustainable business consultant Paul Dickinson. Each week they make sense of all the top climate news stories, go behind the scenes at crucial talks and ensure you stay informed and inspired ahead of what is set to be the consequential year for climate action.As we approach the middle of the decisive decade for world emissions, and the 10 year anniversary of the Paris climate agreement, subscribe to Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast And to see video content from the show, follow us on LinkedIn, on Instagram and X.Got a question? Send us a voice message.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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 4, 2020 • 1h 3min
81. Climate Justice and Racial Justice with David Lammy
Around the world In 2020, we saw an unprecedented rise in activism surrounding Black Lives Matter and the call for racial and social justice. But if there’s one enormous takeaway for those marching for the climate, it is that our fight for climate justice is inextricably linked to our fight for racial justice. BIPOC have suffered, are suffering, and will continue to disproportionately suffer the harshest effects of climate change. Unacceptable. So what clear actions can organizations, individuals, and institutions take to rectify this massive injustice? Taking us to the heart of the matter this week is our guest, British MP David Lammy. David Lammy was the first black Briton to study at Harvard Law School and practised as a barrister before entering politics. He has served as the MP for Tottenham since 2000 and as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020. David is one of Parliament’s most prominent and successful campaigners for social justice. His recent TED Talk titled “Climate Justice Can’t Happen Without Racial Justice” has amassed millions of views and has become required viewing for anyone involved in climate action. Stick around to the end for a special musical performance from Blackout Problems! — David Lammy TED Talk | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook — Blackout Problems Music | “Dark Days Episode 3” | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Pre-Order Their Upcoming Album ‘DARK’ - Releasing Jan 15th — Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 27, 2020 • 59min
80. The Future of Fuels
This is our second episode of an Outrage + Optimism investigative series on The Future of Transport. There’s no denying that for over a century, fossil fuels have played a key role in humanity’s progress. But at a cost. They account for two-thirds of global greenhouse-gas emissions, and the pollution from burning them kills more than 4 million people a year. So in a year where cars sat unused, and oil prices crashed...what is the future of fuels? We know that in order to meet the Paris Agreement, we need to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030. Because even though COVID-19 is expected to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 7% this year, we need massive changes in how we move people and things. So will we see the end of the internal combustion engine? How will the world go electric? Can hydrogen scale to meet our energy demands? Our hosts Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson pull out the roadmap to a zero-emission future, hit the road looking for answers to a decarbonized transport sector with experts who are in the driver's seat. Read Tom’s blog to find out more from behind the scenes. Watch David Lammy’s TED Talk before listening next week! — This series is sponsored by NESTE Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram — Guests this week: Ramez Naam, Singularity University Twitter | LinkedIn Monica Araya, Climate Champion Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Ted Talk Mary Nichols, CA Air and Resources Board Twitter | CARB Martin Daum, Daimler Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Alejandro Agag, Formula E Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube Craig Knight, Hyzon Motors Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Craig LinkedIn Sara Forni, CERES Twitter | CERES Robert Llewellyn, Fully Charged Twitter | FC Twitter | Fully Charged YouTube — Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 20, 2020 • 58min
79. Everything Is Possible with Sanda Ojiambo
After 4 intolerable years of you-know-who in the US, this week there seems to be a brief moment of calm. But while many of us are catching our breath, the world is transforming how it will conduct business as usual by pressing the proverbial ‘reset’ button on what appears to be “everything we do and how we do it.” - to quote Lindsay Levin. And this is the perfect moment to reset everything, right? We’ve seen economic inequality grow exponentially, we’ve seen the gender gap resist closing, and we’ve watched the climate crisis reveal itself not just on television, but in our own backyards. And, not to mention, COVID. But in 2020, there’s one person who believes everything is possible. Sanda Ojiambo is Executive Director and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, the first African citizen to be appointed to the post, and second woman! We meet her on this episode in week 5 of her life in New York City after relocating from Nairobi for the job. Sanda brings her brilliant mind and stubborn optimism to leading the business world on accomplishing the SDGs in this historic and unprecedented time. Stick around to the end to hear an intimate live performance with Gaeya! --- Click Here to Vote for ‘The Future We Choose’ Goodreads Choice Awards! --- Gaeya Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | ‘Contact’ Live Music Video --- Sanda Ojiambo Twitter | Read About Sanda | UN Global Compact --- Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook MyGridGB on Twitter — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 13, 2020 • 60min
78. Adrenaline, Stamina and Joy with Xiye Bastida
With young voter turnout in the US election the highest it has been in 40 years, President-Elect Joe Biden is heading to the White House with a mandate to address the climate crisis head on, following on his promises he made during his campaign. So along with the shock of having a President that acknowledges the climate crisis poses some absolutely crucial questions: What do we do with someone in power who is listening to climate activists? What do we focus on achieving first? How do we work with someone who will inevitably not go as far as we want them to go on climate? Who wins, and in what order in a multi-polar political world? Our special guest this week has an incredible perspective on the intersectionality of climate and social justice, and is mobilizing and energizing tens of thousands of people to raise their voices and bring about a world where things like food sovereignty is law, and we don’t see trees and oceans as natural resources but sacred elements. Xiye Bastida is a Mexican-Chilean climate activist and member of the indigenous Mexican Otomi-Toltec nation. She is one of the major organizers of Fridays for Future New York City and has been a leading voice for indigenous and immigrant visibility in climate activism. She is on the administration committee of the People's Climate Movement and a member of Sunrise Movement and Extinction Rebellion. She is co-founder of Re-Earth Initiative, an international not for profit organization that is inclusive and intersectional “just as the climate movement should be.” Stick around for a live performance from musical artist, Millie Turner! --- Millie Turner Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | ‘Underwater’ Music Video --- Xiye Bastida TED Talk | TED Countdown Session 3 | Re-Earth Initiative --- Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2020 • 1h 3min
77. U.S. Election Special: A New Optimism with Ben Rhodes and Todd Stern
The US election winner has all but been formally declared, with Joe Biden on the cusp of electoral victory. But after all the votes are counted, we see that there was record turnout for both Democrats and Republicans. What mandate does a Biden administration have to lead again globally on climate action? This week we talk with two experts with first hand experience in US climate policy. Ben Rhodes, former Deputy National Security Advisor for President Obama, and Todd Stern, who was the United States Special Envoy for Climate Change leading up to the Paris Agreement. Stick around to the end for a special music performance by MF Tomlinson! --- MF Tomlinson Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Sum of Nothing Music Video Check out FEAT, the world-first initiative for artists to take ownership over accelerating our clean energy future at a critical time in human history. --- Ben Rhodes Twitter | Missing America --- Todd Stern Twitter --- Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 30, 2020 • 1h 11min
76. Decision Time 2020 with John Podesta
Election Day is next Tuesday, November 3rd. It cannot be ignored - How the US will vote next week will have global consequences. What does the outcome look like as we see it just before Election Day, and how on Earth did we get here to this one single decision that will shape what feels like everything for generations to come? In our search for understanding (and peace of mind) we pose all of our concerns, worries, and questions to one of the leading experts in US politics and US climate policy, John Podesta. John Podesta served as White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, served as an advisor to President Barack Obama, and was Chair of Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. With 52 years in presidential politics, and with the experience of running a campaign against Republican candidate Donald Trump, we sit down for an insightful view on what chances Democratic candidate Joe Biden has of winning the presidency this time around, as well as a forecast of what we should expect next week on Election Day. Stick around after the conversation to hear a musical performance from the band OK Go! --- Climate Power 2020 Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube --- OK Go YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook --- Check out OK Go's music video for "All Together Now" Here. There's a really powerful story behind the song. Read Damian's letter to learn more behind the meaning of the song. All proceeds from the song go to Partners In Health, an incredible social justice and global health organization. --- Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 22, 2020 • 1h
75. Optimism and Earthshots with Prince William
This week on Outrage + Optimism, Prince William is here! With just under 10 years to cut global emissions by 50%, the future of our planet depends on a raising of ambition we have not seen since JFK’s Moonshot. A conservationist at heart and in practice, Prince William is on the hunt to find and finance the solutions that will get us there. Enter The Earthshot Prize - Five, one million-pound prizes awarded each year for the next 10 years, providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030. The categories for the prizes are as follows: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build A Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate – simple yet ambitious goals, underpinned by scientifically agreed targets, which if achieved by 2030 will improve life for us all, for generations to come. Our hosts Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson sit down with The Duke of Cambridge to find out why he is doing this now, and how optimistic he is that we can solve the climate crisis. Plus, stick around for an incredible musical performance from AURORA and Aaron Taylor! --- The Earthshot Prize Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube --- AURORA YouTube | Music | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook --- Aaron Taylor YouTube | Music | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook --- Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 16, 2020 • 44min
74. The Future of Flight
This is the first of an Outrage + Optimism investigative series on The Future of Transport. Today our cars, planes, trains and ships cause nearly 30% of global carbon pollution. We think the pioneering spirit that got these industries and forms of transport underway more than 120 years ago will have to be reinvigorated to get to a transportation sector that is fit for a low carbon future. This first episode tackles The Future of Flight. COVID-19 has dealt the airline industry a devastating blow. Airline revenues have been decimated, passenger numbers are down by 70% and hundreds of thousands of people have already (or are at risk of) losing their jobs. Can this moment of challenge be a springboard toward a sustainable future for airlines? Are there sustainable solutions ready now? And what does the future hold? Tom Rivett-Carnac and co-hosts Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson are on a mission to find out what the new aviation pioneers have in store to accelerate the sustainability of airlines and propel us into The Future of Flight. Read Tom’s blog to find out more from behind the scenes. — This series is sponsored by NESTE Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Tom talked to: Peter Vanacker, CEO of NESTE Twitter | LinkedIn — Val Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia LinkedIn | Twitter — ZeroAvia LinkedIn | Twitter | Website — Robin Riedel, Consultant at McKinsey & Company LinkedIn — Bertrand Piccard Twitter | Facebook | Solar Impulse — Keep up with Christiana Figueres here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook — Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn — Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn — Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 9, 2020 • 51min
73. Prelude to TED Countdown with Chris Anderson and Lindsay Levin
On the eve of TED Countdown, Christiana and Tom sit down for an in-depth conversation with TED's Chris Anderson and Lindsay Levin, CEO of Leaders' Quest, detailing an exclusive sneak-preview of what we can look forward to during the epic virtual climate event scheduled for Saturday, 10.10.20 at 11 AM ET You can find all the details and livestream the event at Countdown.TED.com as well as on TED's YouTube Channel --- Our special musical guest this week is Cosmo Sheldrake! Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram --- Keep up with Christiana here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook --- Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn --- Join @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn --- Dont forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 2, 2020 • 1h 7min
72. No Room for Being Cynical with Ted Danson
Plenty of outrage this week after the first U.S. Presidential Debate and disappointing news about the biodiversity pledge. But a conversation with Ted Danson offers hope and insight from his remarkable life and commitment to the worlds oceans. When Ted met environmental lawyer Bob Sulnick he become involved in a movement to prevent digging for oil wells in Santa Monica. Buoyed up by the victory, Danson accelerated his involvement by helping create the American Oceans Campaign in 1987, which eventually became Oceana in 2001. You can learn more about Oceana by visiting them here Our special musical guest this week is Jelani Blackman Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram --- Keep up with Christiana here: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook --- Tom Rivett-Carnac: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn --- Join @GlobalOptimism on social media! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn --- Dont forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.