Chatham House

The media cycle in the US and across the world is consumed by the final weeks of the 2020 presidential election, with incumbent Donald Trump hoping to win a second term against the challenge of former Vice-President Joe Biden. Much of the debates around the election have focused on the response to COVID-19, and the candidates' positions on issues related to 'law and order'. But what will the election mean for climate policy? And how will the result affect the international negotiations at COP26 and beyond? To find out Anna speaks to , an energy and climate change reporter at Axios, about Trump's first term of climate policy and the campaign pledges of the respective candidates. Then Ben discusses the international implications with , the Executive Director of Greenpeace International.  Credits: Speakers: Amy Harder, Jennifer Morgan Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The Climate Briefing returns from its summer break with a deepdive into the history of the international climate agenda. of the Grantham Institute speaks to Ben about the origins of the UN-led climate negotiations, and explains why some conferences have been more successful than others. Then Anna discusses the historic role developing countries have played in the climate agenda with from the London School of Economics. Read the International Affairs article:

Design in an Age of Crisis is a new mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed. Great design thinking can play a major role in improving our health and wellbeing, by strengthening our resilience to illness, and to major pandemics, like COVID-19. It can also be focused on helping the most marginalized members of the society. In this episode, , and discuss how design can empower marginalised groups within society, and improve health and social care.  Design In An Age Of Crisis is a global open call from the  and . The open call is looking for radical and rapid responses, in any format, to problems facing humanity across four briefs: Health, Environment, Work and Society. Read the briefs and submit your radical design thinking by 31 August 2020. Submit your radical design idea: Credits: Speakers: Professor Dame Sally Davies, Kelly Doran and Charlene Prempeh Host: Ana Yang Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Design In An Age of Crisis is a new mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed. COVID-19 could provide a moment to recast work as a social as well as economic activity, as business models change and people find new ways of organising work and life. At the same time, the pandemic has demonstrated the urgent need for us to radically rethink environments to be sustainable, just and resilient in the face of shocks to come, including the climate and biodiversity crises. In this episode, and discuss the role design could play in making work more meaningful, and in designing better, more sustainable places. Design In An Age Of Crisis is a global open call from the  and . The open call is looking for radical and rapid responses, in any format, to problems facing humanity across four briefs: Health, Environment, Work and Society. Read the briefs and submit your radical design thinking by 31 August 2020. Submit your radical design idea: Credits: Speakers: Bruce Daisley, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg Host: Ana Yang Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Design In An Age of Crisis is a new mini-series on the Undercurrents podcast feed. On 22 July 2020, and launched an inviting radical design solutions from the world’s design community, the public and young people. The open call hopes to harness the creativity that comes from crisis. In this episode, and Rose Abdollahzadeh explain the role design can play in solving the challenges facing our world as a part of the launch of our international call for radical design solutions. Design In An Age Of Crisis is a global open call from Chatham House and London Design Biennale, inviting radical design thinking from the world’s design community, the public and young people. The open call is looking for radical and rapid responses, in any format, to problems facing humanity across four briefs: Health, Environment, Work and Society. Read the briefs and submit your radical design thinking by 31 August 2020. Submit your radical design idea: Credits: Speakers: Rose Abdollahzadeh and Sir John Sorrell Host: Ana Yang Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The Climate Briefing returns with two new interviews on the transition towards a renewable energy sector.  It is widely acknowledged that slowing climate change will be impossible without reducing the global reliance on fossil fuels as a source of energy. In this episode, Ben and Anna speak to from Chatham House, and from the UK Cabinet Office, to assess the recent progress of the 'energy transition' and consider whether the coronavirus pandemic will accelerate or obstruct efforts to introduce cleaner energy sources.  Read the Expert Comment: Credits: Speakers: Daniel Quiggin, Simon Sharpe Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Policy-makers and researchers are daily confronted by violent images that influence how complex political problems are seen and consequently understood. From bodycam footage revealing acts of police brutality, to media coverage of the catastrophic impact of the refugee crisis, depictions of violence and horror spread at startling speed through social media platforms, drawing out powerful emotional responses from public and policymaker alike.  In the last episode of Undercurrents before the summer break, Ben speaks to three academics whose work explores the connections between violent images and politics. explains how images of suffering children are deployed in political debates around interventions. shows how horror movies provide a space for understanding public responses to apocalyptic events such as nuclear war or global pandemics. then discusses how social media platforms accelerate the spread of violent images, and the effects this has on policy responses.  Read the International Affairs article: Read the International Affairs article: Read the International Affairs article: Credits: Speakers: Helen Berents, Constance Duncombe, Stefanie Fishel Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The meeting that called into being the British Institute of International Affairs was held on July 5, 1920 at the Royal Society of Arts on the Strand. The institute, as noted by Arthur Balfour, UK foreign secretary until the previous year, would cultivate ‘mutual comprehension between different nations and between the leaders of thought in different communities’.  100 years later, Chatham House remains a centre for debate and exchange on the major issues shaping international affairs.  Undercurrents is marking the Chatham House centenary with an episode on the history of the institute. You'll hear from librarian Malcolm Madden about the origins of Chatham House, and then a selection of current Chatham House staff tell us about the events and speakers they have most enjoyed during their time at the institute.  Watch the Events: Read the Expert Comment: Credits: Speakers: Malcolm Madden, Zara Berry, Yusuf Hassan, Kamil Hussain, Glada Lahn, Jo Maher, Esther Naylor, James Nixey, Alan Philps Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

The 21st century has been a time of significant change for the global LGBTQ+ movement. While same-sex marriage and gender transition are increasingly celebrated in some parts of the world, laws to criminalise homosexuality and gender non-conformity have been strengthened in others. In this episode, Ben speaks to journalist to find out more. Then Agnes discusses China's global reputation with from the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House. They cover how the coronavirus pandemic may have affected China's soft power, and also how the country is positioning itself in the international debate on climate change.  Find the book: Read the article: Credits: Speakers: Sam Geall, Mark Gevisser Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Industry accounts for approximately 24% of global CO2 emissions, and the decarbonisation of the sector is therefore essential to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. To date, however, the emissions from 'heavy' industries - like cement, steel and chemicals - have been considered particularly difficult to abate.   This episode focuses on the strategies that can be deployed to enable the industrial sectors in both developed and developing countries to reach net-zero emissions. Ben speaks to from the University of Cambridge about the range of policy solutions available to support decarbonisation. Then Johanna discusses how the UK Government is approaching this issue with Catherine Barber from the UK Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.   Credits: Speakers: Catherine Barber, Steve Evans Hosts: Ben Horton, Johanna Tilkanen Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House