LISTEN TO THE FULL SERIES:

G7 at a Crossroads: What’s the future role of the G7 in times of interconnected crises?  

G7 leaders meeting in June 2022 have no shortage of issues to discuss. War in Ukraine, rising energy costs, a looming global food crisis. All during an intensifying climate crisis.

In this first episode, we hear how these crises intersect and how G7 leaders must do a better job of recognizing and acting on that.

Guest: Dr. Martin Frick, Director of the World Food Programme’s Global Office

The Race to Zero: What’s the hold-up?

Renewables currently account for about one-third of the world’s electricity. But experts say we could easily generate enough renewable energy to meet global demand. 

World leaders and industry players are on board with the transition to renewables…or at least they say so. Energy is a huge piece in the puzzle when it comes to climate action, food justice, and protecting biodiversity. So what’s the hold-up? We find out.

Guest: Richard Black, Senior Associate, Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit

Money Meets Equity: Finance as a lever for climate justice

Justice for the countries that are most vulnerable; justice for young people who will have to live with the implications of climate change in the future. This episode looks at how finance can be used as a lever of change to seek justice for both groups.

We learn how public, private, and philanthropic financial streams can be better aligned for more effective and equitable climate action. And we hear where priority should be placed in terms of delivering those resources.

Guest: Sara Jane Ahmed, Founder and Executive Director of the Financial Futures Center and Finance Advisor to the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group.

Climate Narratives: Why slogans and stories matter

Phrases like “Just Transition” and “Race to Zero” shape the political debate as well as policy and practice—in ways good and bad.

Just as negative news stories can leave us deflated, there’s a role for positive narratives in reimagining a better, healthier planet. We dive into the language that’s holding back change and what should be used instead.

Guest: Sven Egenter, Executive Director/Editor Chief at Clean Energy Wire and Thin Lei Win, award-winning journalist.

Unlocking the potential of philanthropic capital

Immediate and deep emission reductions are needed to secure a climate-safe future for us all. Philanthropic foundations are well placed to take the lead. But the sector is lagging behind when it comes to climate action. Funding for climate change mitigation is growing, yet still accounts for less than 2% of total philanthropic giving worldwide. We explore how the philanthropic sector can loosen the purse strings and unleash the power of political persuasion.

Guest: Neera Nundy, Co-founder & Partner Dasra

Food Systems: The true costs of the food we eat

The way we produce, process, eat, and waste food has devastating environmental, social, and health impacts. These costs generally go unaccounted for in the final price of food, in policies, and on budget sheets. 

With the industrial food system accounting for a third of all global greenhouse gas emissions, the food systems transformation agenda is the climate agenda. In this episode, we focus on connecting the two.

Guest: Pavan Sukhdev, Former President of WWF International, Founder & CEO at GIST Impact and Sara Farley, Vice President for The Rockefeller Foundation’s food team

Divest, Invest, Engage: Financial approaches for climate action

The global financial system is a powerful beast that can be steered to support or stymie climate action. So how can responsible investors make sure their money is directed towards progressive investments instead of business-as-usual paradigms? We dig into a range of financial approaches with two guests who understand the nuances of this world and what it takes to navigate it.

Guests: Catherine Howarth, CEO ShareAction and Asad Rehman, Executive Director of War on Want

Global climate commitments with Dr. Saleemul Huq

Global climate commitments. Are they having an impact or are they a load of political greenwashing?

In the countdown to COP27 in Egypt, we check in on progress towards the 2021 COP commitments and ask the tough questions about whether all these international convenings are worth the paper they’re written on.

Guest: Dr. Saleemul Huq, Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

G20 Bali Summit: Putting climate change on the agenda

G20 countries are responsible for more than 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions and must show leadership in combating climate change. But with the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions, will this year’s G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, deliver the action we need on the climate, biodiversity, and energy crises? We dive into what tangible steps global leaders could take, at the G20 Bali summit and beyond.

Guests: Ilham Habibie (F20 Co-Chair and co-founder and Chairman of Board of Trustees of The Habibie Center) and Ulka Kelkar (Director, Climate program, World Resources Institute India)

The Magic Button: A portfolio of solutions

In this final episode, we bring back the voices of all our guests to recall their answers to the question: “If you could press a button and change one thing, what would it be?”

This podcast has demonstrated that no single stakeholder or solution is a silver bullet. With that in mind, these answers from our guests represent a portfolio of actions to take forward.