"I'm often asked if I feel hopeful for the future," says former IPCC climate scientist Lesley Hughes. "For me, hope is a strategy, rather than an emotion. Because if we don't have hope and optimism, then we all give up, and if we all give up, then we are truly lost."

In this live bonus episode of Fear & Wonder, recorded on May 1, host Michael Green spoke with Hughes, alongside current IPCC authors Mark Howden and Frank Jotzo to unpack the latest Synthesis Report. All three guests have been at the forefront of climate science in Australia for decades. They trace how climate science went from a relatively peripheral topic to one of central importance to scientists and governments around the world.

They reflect on their respective journeys, the key takeaways from the IPCC's most recent Synthesis Report, and they imminent challenges and opportunities for Australia and the world.

In case you're new here: Fear & Wonder is a new climate podcast, brought to you by The Conversation. It takes you inside the United Nations’ era-defining climate report via the hearts and minds of the scientists who wrote it. The show is sponsored by the Climate Council, an independent, evidence-based organisation working on climate science, impacts and solutions.

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