Outrage + Optimism

Persephonica and Global Optimism

Outrage + Optimism 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.

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This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

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404 episodes
Updated Thursday

Episodes404

Newest first

Nov 20, 2025 · 38 min
Inside COP: Storms in Belém - Lula’s arrival, the carbon tariff debate, and the COP31 decision
We’re approaching crunch time in Belém, and a long-running COP30 saga may finally have found its landing spot. After days of rumour, diplomacy and thunderous rainforest downpours, the question of who will host COP31 looks close to being resolved - and it all plays out over the course of our day’s recording. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith trace the twists of the Australia-Turkey negotiations in real time, with insight from former UN diplomat Dean Bialek. Plus, we hear from political journalist Thais Bilenky on the domestic pressures shaping Lula’s approach, as the Brazilian president personally steps in to break the deadlock. Across the day, the team also dives into one of the summit’s biggest sticking points: CBAM, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. In a wide-ranging conversation, the EU’s Teresa Ribera lays out why Brussels sees CBAM as essential for true decarbonisation - but why it’s sparking concern among countries who fear they’ll be penalised while still industrialising. Then it’s over to the Action Agenda, with Dan Ioschpe and Jennie Dodson giving a ground-level view of how coalitions, companies and cities are reshaping the COP’s centre of gravity - from regenerative landscapes in Brazil to global momentum across grids, food systems and industry. Finally, as we’re packing up the mics, news of COP31 appears to land. What does this unusual arrangement mean? What happens to the long-promised Pacific Island leadership? And what will it take for next year’s COP to deliver on the ambition so many hoped this decision would unlock? Learn more: 📣 Read the latest reports about the COP31 host and Presidency ⚙️ Dive into the nuts and bolts of the EU’s CBAM 🧩 Explore the 6 pillars and 30 objectives of the COP30 Action Agenda 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 19, 2025 · 44 min
Inside COP: China, India… and the Text on the Table
It’s the middle of week two at COP30, and the negotiations are entering their crunch phase. A draft cover text has finally landed, ministers are on the ground, and the presidency is pushing hard to close before Lula heads to the G20 in Johannesburg. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith look at the issues still holding up progress - from finance and adaptation to trade, the global stocktake, and the long-running debate over fossil fuel language. Plus, Germany’s former climate envoy Jennifer Morgan joins the show with a clear-eyed read of where things stand, what’s moving, what isn’t, and how the presidency is trying to break the deadlock. But beyond the blue zone drama, real shifts are already reshaping the global transition. And nowhere is this more obvious (and more significant) than in the world’s two most populous countries: On China, Professor Wang Yi , senior adviser to the Chinese government on climate change, outlines how rising energy demand is increasingly being met by renewables and new energy sources, why emissions may already have plateaued, and how the world’s largest solar exporter thinks about “steering” the clean economy without dramatic rhetoric. And on India, Dr Arunabha Ghosh describes a “pentathlon” transition, sets out India’s avoided coal build-out, and explains why diversified supply chains will determine whether global deployment accelerates or stalls. Whatever happens in Belém this week, the direction of travel from China, India and other rising economies will be impossible to ignore. But can the text on the page match the momentum gathering pace in the real world? Learn more: 🔍 Read the COP30 Draft Cover Text 📖 Learn more about India's Local Grids to Global Power report, announced by Dr Arunabha Ghosh 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 18, 2025 · 40 min
Inside COP: Coal’s Out, Pressure’s On - a pivotal moment for COP30
It’s getting hot in the COP. Executive Secretary Simon Stiell turned up the pressure in Belém on Monday, sharpening his message as ministers arrived for what is often the most charged phase of the summit. He called for no more tactical delays, and no more dancing around the hardest issues. And Pope Leo XIV weighed in with an appeal to moral responsibility and global solidarity. Fiona McRaith and Paul Dickenson break down what these dual interventions signal for the state of play at COP30, as key sticking points emerge for negotiators. And: a major milestone in the global energy transition. South Korea has joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance and committed to phasing out coal by 2040. Paul speaks with Joojin Kim of Solutions for Our Climate to unpack what pushed a G20 economy to move and why Korean industry now sees clean power as its competitive future. Finally, Christiana sits down with Minister Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister for Indigenous Peoples, for a powerful conversation about Indigenous diplomacy, forest protection, and why this COP marks a historic shift in global recognition of Indigenous leadership. Learn more: ⛏ Mine more information about the Powering Past Coal Alliance 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 17, 2025 · 44 min
Inside COP: The fight for the Amazon
As ministers arrive in Belém for the crucial second week of COP30, forests move from the backdrop of the summit to the main stage. Protests began at dawn on Friday and have continued through the weekend - among them, several activists carried a giant Brazilian flag, emblazoned with the words “Amazȏnia Protegida” (“Protected Amazon”). From the streets outside to the plenary halls in the Blue Zone, trees, land and Indigenous stewardship are shaping this summit’s conversation. In this episode, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith dig into this moment of forest urgency and turn their attention to one of the biggest themes of the COP30 Action Agenda: protecting these crucial ecosystems, carbon sinks and centres of cultural and biodiversity. Paul speaks with some of those behind the Race to Belém initiative - a real-world case study in how one Brazilian state, Tocantins, is rewriting the rules of forest protection. We hear Christiana Figueres speak to Mindahi Bastida about what genuine stewardship means and why so many Indigenous communities are the best equipped to care for their native lands. And Fiona reports to us from a project in the Amazon rainforest itself, where she met local producers building a sustainable bio-economy from the forest’s living wealth. The Brazilians have brought the world to the Amazon and put forests at the heart of this COP. What will be the legacy of COP30 for the forests of Brazil and beyond, that so desperately need protecting? Learn more: 🌴 Read about the Tropical Forests Forever Facility 📊 Explore the Forest Declaration Assessment and its 2025 report 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network. With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 15, 2025 · 56 min
Inside COP: Al Gore on Fossil Fuel Lobbying and (In)convenient Truths
It’s the mid-point of COP30 and all four of our hosts have gathered in Belém to take stock. In the Blue Zone, the mood is its usual blend of high-stakes and surreal. The Presidency is calling its consultations a “collective therapy session,” China would prefer “massage and yoga,” and delegates are deep in the weeds of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. To sift the signal from the noise, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith take on the questions listeners keep asking. Why are there so many fossil fuel lobbyists here? Do recent host country venue choices undermine the process? And does the Amazon road story point to a deeper hypocrisy? The team dig into the numbers, assumptions and stories shaping public distrust and legitimate concern. Then: what connects the Protestant Reformation, Agora of Athens and the No Kings Movement? Yes, it’s Vice President Al Gore. In an expansive discussion that charts where we are now and how we got here, the former VP offers a wide angle diagnosis of the forces that have polarised climate politics in his own country - from decades of fossil-fuel-funded disinformation to the shockwave of Citizens United - and explains why linking climate to public health, backed by real-time emissions data, could transform global accountability. Learn more: 🛰️ Explore the Climate TRACE tool, and track emissions worldwide 📰 Read reports mentioned in this episode about the presence of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 14, 2025 · 41 min
Inside COP: The UN’s Top Climate Official on Week One of COP30
Christiana Figueres takes us behind the scenes at the UNFCCC offices to speak to the man who now holds her old job as Executive Secretary. As week one of the negotiations nears its end, Simon Stiell explains the quiet but crucial difference between the COP Presidency, which sets the political direction, and the Secretariat, which guards the Paris process and connects it to the real economy. He also speaks candidly about Hurricane Beryl’s destruction in Carriacou, and how that experience turns what can look like abstract words and commas in negotiation texts into a daily, personal drive for urgency. Inside the media centre in Belém, the story of COP30 is being shaped in real time. Tom stumbles on Ed King, author of the Climate Diplomacy Brief, to talk protests, leaky ceilings, fire ants - and who is sidling up to whom in the negotiation chamber. At the core of the talks, three fault lines keep coming up: finance, fossil fuels and forests. Countries are edging towards stronger language on fossil fuels and implementation, but current national plans still only point to a 12 percent emissions cut by 2035, when science demands more than 50 percent. That gap is especially sharp for vulnerable countries already in heavy debt and struggling to even get full teams to Belém, fuelling talk of “roadmaps” to connect today’s constrained politics with tomorrow’s science-based destination and send credible signals that the transition is still on. Alongside the negotiations, the action agenda continues at pace. As Christiana tracks down Alan Dangour from the Wellcome Trust, who shares news of a new coalition of 35 philanthropic funders and a $300 million commitment at the intersection of climate and health. Learn more: 📖 Read the Climate Diplomacy Brief 📚 Learn more about Climate Adaptation Plan for Health 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Guest Producer: Juanita Silva Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 13, 2025 · 38 min
Inside COP: Protests at COP30 - and the reality of Indigenous representation
At a COP meant to centre the Amazon, some Indigenous voices have found themselves on the outside. On Tuesday night, what began as a vibrant street march ended in a dramatic breach of the Blue Zone, as Indigenous protesters passed through the barriers of the official venue. What does this moment tell us about who gets to shape the ‘Amazon COP’? From finance to flotillas, and from protest to participation, this episode traces how Indigenous leadership is being expressed - and tested - in Belém. Manuella Cantalice, Focal Point for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities at the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), shares how Indigenous and local communities are co-designing a global financial mechanism - reflecting the novel ways in which Indigenous leadership is being built into the architecture of climate finance at COP30. Indigenous communicator Levi Tapuia, who arrived in at the COP after a 31-day flotilla, describes a voyage retracing the routes of colonisation - and contrasts the sense of unity on the river with the divisions he’s witnessed on the ground in Belém. And Helena Gualinga, Indigenous and climate advocate, reflects on the frustration felt by many participants at COP30, and on the ongoing challenge of turning symbolic inclusion into meaningful influence. Where are the tensions between visibility and voice, inclusion and influence - and what it will take for Indigenous leadership to shape not just the storytelling of COP30, but its outcomes? Learn more: 📣 Find out more about the protests at the COP30 venue 🌳 Read all about the Tropical Forest Forever Facility 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Planning Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Guest Producer: Juanita Silva Translations by: Camilo Ramos Edited by: Miles Martignoni Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 12, 2025 · 37 min
Inside COP: Is The US Still In? And Gavin Newsom on ‘invasive species’ Trump
Day three of COP30, and there’s one elephant not in the room. While there are plenty of United States citizens at this COP, for the first time, there are no US delegates. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith consider this notable absence, and ask: can a country that keeps flipping between progress and denial still claim climate leadership? In a conversation recorded live in the Blue Zone for America Is All In, Christiana sits down with California’s Governor Gavin Newsom, who delivers a fiery defence of his state’s climate leadership and a warning about what’s at stake for democracy itself. But with reports swirling that Donald Trump may soon greenlight new drilling off California’s coast, how does he respond? Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the team untangles the latest intrigue over who will host COP31 - with Australia, Turkey and even Germany now in the mix - and a rather surreal rumour involving Turkey’s First Lady. And just after the mics were packed away, protests erupted outside and inside the COP30 venue. Christiana shares her reflections on what this moment means for the summit. Learn more: 📰 Read the latest reports that Trump is planning to allow oil and gas drilling off the California coast 📣 Find out more about the protests at the COP30 venue 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 11, 2025 · 43 min
Inside COP: Brazil's Climate Leadership - the COP30 host takes centre stage
What is Brazil trying to achieve with COP30? It's Day Two in Belém and all eyes are on the host nation. Join Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac as they unpack how the country is shaping the first days of COP30 - and the quiet strategy behind Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago’s leadership. With the release of the Call of Belém for the Climate, they explore what may be a masterstroke of multilateral diplomacy. And friend of the show Thais Bilenky joins us to break down how the early days of the summit are playing out in Brazilian media and on the streets of Belém. With the support of the Arapyaú Institute, this episode also turns the spotlight on Brazil’s own climate progress. How is a nation, standing at the bridge between the Global North and the emerging Global Majority, using this moment of global attention to tell a new story: one defined by solutions, not sacrifice? We hear from Renata Piazzon, Director General of Arapyaú, whose mission is to reframe Brazil’s climate story - showing the opportunity that lies in regeneration, restoration, and a thriving social bioeconomy. And Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, joins Christiana to share her call for an Ethical Global Stocktake - a reminder that sustainability is not only a way of doing, but a way of being. Learn more: 🌴 Explore the work of the Arapyaú Institute ⚖️ Read about the Global Ethical Stocktake 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 10, 2025 · 38 min
Inside COP: The COP30 President Speaks, the Summit Begins
COP30 is here! Day one dawns in the Amazon, and all eyes are on the host nation - and on the man tasked with steering the talks. On the eve of what could be the most consequential COP since Paris, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac sat down with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s COP30 President, for an inside look at his priorities: the tone he hopes to set and the outcomes he hopes to see for this pivotal summit. How does he view the difference between negotiation and implementation? How can leaders sustain confidence in progress when some countries aren’t even in the room? And what will it take to restore faith that this process can still deliver? The science is unsparing: the 1.5°C limit is no longer a distant prospect but a fast-approaching threshold. Meanwhile, the geopolitical framework on which multilateral cooperation depends is under strain. Against this backdrop, Ambassador Corrêa do Lago faces an unenviable task: to steer a divided world toward unity, and to turn ambition into action on the banks of the Amazon. Can he do it? Learn more: Listen to our episode, Inside COP: How to Build a COP 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 9, 2025 · 35 min
Inside COP: Ed Miliband on Multilateralism, Leadership and the UK’s Climate Dilemma
Why hasn’t the UK contributed to Brazil's flagship Tropical Forests Forever Facility it helped design? With COP30 about to open in Belém, the UK’s absence from this major forest finance deal is raising eyebrows. Meanwhile, Prince William, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband have been in Brazil this week, demonstrating the country’s continued commitment to the COP process. Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac sit down with Ed Miliband for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about credible climate leadership, the defence of multilateralism, and why the right is wrong to claim voters don’t care about the climate. Recorded just after the Leaders’ Summit, 36 hours before COP30 begins, this episode dives into the apparent contradictions in the UK’s actions this week, and asks: how can climate ambition survive amidst political polarisation and harsh economic realities? Learn more: 💡 Read about the Tropical Forests Forever Facility ⚡See the latest from the UK’s Department for Energy Security & Net Zero 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 8, 2025 · 43 min
Inside COP: World Leaders Gather in Belém - with Jacinda Ardern and Selwin Hart
As COP30 opens in Belém, world leaders have gathered for the first major moment of this Amazon-based summit in the shadow of growing doubts about global cooperation. With some major countries absent and others already signalling caution, the urgency of credible action is louder than ever. Brazil has launched it’s flagship Tropical Forests Forever Facility to fund the protection of the world’s tropical forests. But with some major donors holding back, including the UK, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith discuss who’s really stepping up to deliver - and who isn't. Jacinda Ardern, former New Zealand Prime Minister, joins Christiana and Tom to share what it’s like to be on the inside of a leaders’ summit and asks: if this is to be an implementation COP, the question needs to be, “of what?” And we are also joined by Selwin Hart, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Climate, for a wide-ranging conversation on shifting geopolitics and diplomatic tactics, and how the ‘The siloed Ministry of Environment’ is a thing of the past. As we move toward the start of the crucial COP30 talks, this episode brings you into the room where debates are shaped, questions are asked, and agreements are negotiated. Learn more: 📖 Read more about the Belem Leaders Summit 💡 Learn about the Tropical Forests Forever Facility 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 7, 2025 · 36 min
Inside COP: The Power of Cities - from the Local Leaders Forum
Behind the national plans and global headlines, a quieter revolution is already underway. Almost 100 major cities - representing 23% of the world’s economy - are proving what local leadership can do. From clean-air targets and green-job creation to citizen-led adaptation, these C40 cities are already showing that climate action works for the planet and for their people. In this episode, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith take us inside the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro - where mayors, governors, and regional leaders are driving climate progress from the ground up. As part of this, they spend time at the C40 World Mayors Summit, where Tom speaks with Mark Watts, C40 Cities Executive Director C40 Cities, about how mayors are turning ambition into action. And in a timely conversation, Mayor Keith Wilson of Portland shares how his city is cutting emissions and investing in resilience as federal support stalls. Finally, we hear from a panel hosted by Christiana Figueres with Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, youth climate advocate Juliette Oluoch and COP30 Special Envoy for Bioeconomy Marcelo Behar. As the world prepares to meet in Belém, these cities, citizens, and local leaders are demonstrating that climate action doesn’t wait for permission - it starts where people live. Learn more: 📰 Read what was on the agenda and what happened at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum 🌆 Explore the people and places behind C40 Cities 🤝 Find out more about the CHAMP initiative (the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-Level Partnerships) 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Nov 6, 2025 · 43 min
Inside the Earthshot Prize 2025: Royal Vision, Real Change
In a year when climate news can feel relentlessly bleak, the Earthshot Prize offers something vital - proof of progress. And in this year’s fifteen finalists, that proof is taking many forms, across many corners of the globe. This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith bring us behind the scenes of the Earthshot Prize. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro as the world’s attention turned to the 2025 ceremony. As Chair of the Earthshot Prize, Christiana reflects on Prince William’s vision to turn his platform into a catalyst for global good, and how the Prize has evolved into one of the most visible platforms for environmental innovation. Tom and Christiana sit down with Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, who shares how the idea first took shape during a trip to Africa and what it means to inject “a big dent of optimism” into the climate story. Christiana also speaks with Nonette Royo of the Tenure Facility - one of this year’s finalists - about empowering Indigenous communities to protect forests and secure land rights. Later, Fiona takes us inside the Earthshot hub in Rio to speak with more of this year’s finalists. Omoyemi Akerele of Lagos Fashion Week, Runa Khan of Friendship in Bangladesh, and Fred Holt of Key Quarter Tower in Sydney share what this recognition means for their work and the change they hope to spark in their fields. From floating hospitals to circular fashion, from forest protection to upcycled skyscrapers, hear the extraordinary creativity driving climate action around the world - and the energy building as the Earthshot movement looks toward its next chapter. Learn more: ⚡Explore all this year’s Earthshot Prize finalists and winners 📜 Read Christiana in the Economist on the innovation driving climate action 🌍Join the global citizens demanding faster action on climate change 🌊 Listen to our episode Hope for the High Seas on the "blue marble"! 🎤 Leave us your voice notes and questions for upcoming episodes on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Edited by: Miles Martignoni Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford 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.
Oct 30, 2025 · 39 min
Inside COP: Looking for a Plan in Finance - the trillion dollar transition
It’s the trillion-dollar problem: funds are on the table - but the money isn’t always flowing to where it’s needed most. As Hurricane Melissa batters the Caribbean, it leaves behind a stark reminder of what’s at stake when finance fails to reach the most climate-vulnerable places. This week on Inside COP, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith unpack what it will take to fix the world’s climate finance system, and make COP30 a turning point from pledges to real investment. The team are joined by guest host Sue Reid, Climate Finance Advisor at Global Optimism, to demystify the landscape of public and private finance and explain how smarter systems - not just bigger sums - can unlock climate action at scale. And Avinash Persaud of the Inter-American Development Bank, outlines the major finance innovations to watch in Belém, from debt-swap facilities to the ReInvest+ initiative. Plus, the team considers the latest NDC synthesis report, which highlights the gap between where we are and where we need to be. But do these nationally determined contributions reflect the real-world momentum already underway - or just mirror the politics of the moment? Learn more: 🌎 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 💰 Read about the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap to $1.3 Trillion 🌳 Discover the Tropical Forests Forever Facility 📈 Explore the latest NDC Synthesis Report 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Audio Editor: Ned Carter Miles Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Oct 23, 2025 · 45 min
Inside COP: Teaming Up for the Planet - The Global Mutirão
Nearly 9 out of 10 people worldwide want their governments to do more on climate. So why does it feel like progress is so slow? And what happens when countries start bending the rules? This week on Inside COP, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith react to the shock postponement of the IMO’s net-zero shipping deal, derailed by US pressure. What does this setback reveal about power, diplomacy, and the fragile state of cooperation. Meanwhile, the COP Presidency is turning a national idea into a global invitation: the Mutirão - a uniquely Brazilian, Indigenous-rooted concept of coming together to get things done for the common good. Christiana and Paul speak with André Guimarães, the COP Special Envoy for Civil Society, who unpacks the deeper meaning of the Global Mutirão and how it could unite citizens, communities and governments behind climate action that feels both personal and collective. And to bring that spirit alive, Laura Moraes of Earth FC joins to share how the world’s most-loved sport is joining Team Earth - using football’s passion and global reach to rally millions around climate action. From grief to agency, from stadiums to summits, from Outrage to Optimism, this episode asks: what does it take to feel part of something bigger? And how can each of us play our part in the world’s greatest team effort yet? Learn more: 🌎 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 🤝 Learn how COP30 is defining “Global Mutirão” ⚽ Get onside and learn more about Earth FC 🚢 Find out how the US torpedoed the IMO’s shipping emissions levy 📋 Read about the Global Goal on Adaptation on the UN Climate Change site 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Audio Editor: Ned Carter Miles Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Oct 16, 2025 · 37 min
Inside COP: The New World Order - power, politics and the green pie
The global balance of power is shifting. Can climate diplomacy keep up? As China rises, the BRICS expand and the United States retreats, new power blocks formed by competition and conflict will take centre stage in the negotiations in Belem. In this week’s Inside COP, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith ask: what will it take for COP30 to foster genuine cooperation in a changing world? And who will get a slice of the new green economy? They are joined by Bernice Lee of Chatham House, who explores how multipolar geopolitics, resource security, and the race to ‘share the green pie’ are transforming climate diplomacy. And Joanna MacGregor, Senior Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, sets out why progress is still being made despite global headwinds - and what implementation success could look like in Belém. From populism to geopolitics, the team asks: can climate ambition survive an age of competition? And what lessons from past COPs might help Brazil carve out space for collaboration in a fractured world? Learn more: 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements 💡 Dive into Chatham House’s work on subjects including climate policy, energy transitions, and natural resources 🤝 Read ‘Will China and the BRICS fill the ‘leadership gap’ on climate change?’ from Carbon Brief 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Audio Editor: Ned Carter Miles Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford Commissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Oct 9, 2025 · 46 min
Inside COP: A New Economy Rising - from promises to progress
Will COP30 be the COP of ‘implementation’? And what would that actually mean? Beyond the famous negotiating halls, climate action is already happening. Businesses, investors and cities are driving real change, and the new green economy is rising in tandem with diplomacy. So can Belém mark the moment when implementation promises turn into reality? This week, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith explore the COP ‘Action Agenda’ - the broad range of voluntary climate action that mobilises the private sector, regional governments and civil society. Plus, they consider the extraordinary transformation already reshaping global energy systems and the flow of capital worldwide. Paul and Fiona hear from leading voices who explore how the real economy is accelerating climate action - from boardrooms and bond markets to start-ups across Latin America. Contributing are Marina Grossi, COP30 Special Envoy for the Private Sector; Aniket Shah, Global Head of ESG and Sustainable Finance at Jefferies; Sue Reid, Senior Advisor at Global Optimism; and Daniel Gajardo, Chilean entrepreneur and co-founder of Reciprocal. Together, they outline what to look for this November in Brazil, and ask how we can tell when implementation is truly happening - not just promised. Learn more: 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website for background and announcements ⚡ Dive into the details of Ember’s Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025, highlighting the scale of the energy transition 🌳 Discover more about the proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility 📋 Read about the themes and key objectives of the COP30 Action Agenda 🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us. Get in touch with us via this form. Lead Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Audio Editor: Ned Carter Miles Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaid Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford Commissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.
Oct 3, 2025 · 37 min
Remembering Jane Goodall
Following the sad news this week of Jane Goodall’s passing, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac remember her extraordinary work, personality and humility. They are joined by Mary Lewis, Vice President of the Jane Goodall Institute and Jane’s long-time friend, who shares her memories of her remarkable colleague and her reflections on the incredible legacy she leaves behind. Plus, we share an interview from one of our very earliest episodes with Jane herself, originally released in May 2019. Learn more 🌳 Discover more about the work of the Jane Goodall Institute, and its impact across the world 🐝 Read the original 2019 report on nature and biodiversity loss from the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) referenced in the re-released episode with Jane Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism Or get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Producer: Caillin McDaid Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford Commissioning 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.
Oct 2, 2025 · 48 min
Inside COP: How to Build a COP
How do you build a COP? With just a few weeks to go until COP30 in Belém, we take listeners inside the high stakes and the complex mechanics of a climate summit: how they’re structured, who’s running the show, and what makes this one different. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith unpack how high-level climate conferences actually work, and explore the people and processes shaping this first Amazonian COP. And, with multilateralism under pressure, they ask what we should be looking out for in November, and what success in Belém might look like. Joining the hosts is Thais Bilenky, Brazilian political journalist and new friend of the show, to give us the view from inside Brazil: Lula’s positioning on the global stage, domestic tensions between national and regional politics, the tricky symbolism of COP in the state of Pará, and what all this means for international climate negotiations. Learn more: 🌍 Check out the official COP30 website 📊 Find out more about the NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) and see what countries have submitted this year, or dive into this NDC tracker from Climate Watch for some digestible analysis of where they leave us 🎤 Leave us your voice notes and questions for upcoming episodes on SpeakPipe Follow us on social media for behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos: Instagram @outrageoptimism LinkedIn @outrageoptimism And we want to hear from you! What do you want to hear more of in Inside COP? Get in touch with us via this form. Producer: Ben Weaver-Hincks Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaid Assistant Producer: Eve Jones Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford Commissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism. 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.