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!

79. Everything Is Possible with Sanda Ojiambo

Face the climate crisis head on, but understand that we have the power to solve this. From former UN Chief Christiana Figueres and the team who brought you the Paris Agreement, this podcast about issues and politics will inform you, inspire you and help you realize that this is the most exciting time in history to be alive.

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To mark Earth Day, Christiana shares her conversation with the incredible young climate justice activist, indigenous rights advocate and author Xiye Bastida. From the Otomi-Toltec indigenous community in Central Mexico, Xiye’s life and work demonstrate how indigenous wisdom and principles unearth solutions to the climate crisis. She is driven to create a climate movement that is more inclusive and more diverse.   Since 2019, Xiye has been actively involved in organising climate strikes with Fridays For Future, including for their largest youth-led march in New York City.  In her role as Co-founder and Executive Director of Re-Earth Initiative, Xiye supports frontline youth across 27 countries, whilst also studying for an​​ Environmental Studies degree with a concentration in Policy and a Minor in Latin American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.  Recently listed in TIME100 Next as a phenomenon (we agree!), she holds the UN Spirit Award. This episode is the full, unedited version of a conversation recorded for the recent mini series Our Story of Nature - From Rupture to Reconnection, co-hosted by Christiana Figueres and Isabel Cavelier. This is a wonderful and moving insight into Xiye’s story of nature, on how to slow down, and how we might keep past and future generations in our minds - and hearts. We hope you enjoy it!    Background on Earth Day:   The first Earth Day was on April 22nd 1970. Across America, twenty million people took to the streets to protest against environmental destruction. Many people were motivated by the devastating impacts of a recent oil spill in California, others campaigned to reduce air pollution. The spirit, scale and power of the protests were inspired by student anti-Vietnam marches. Denis Hayes, who coordinated the original Earth Day, remembers how the day unified diverset groups:   "By the time it finally came around, it was in virtually every town, every village, in the United States. It took this basket of issues that we now call 'the environment' and elevated them spectacularly in the public consciousness." Earth Day 1970 is described as the dawn of the modern environmental movement. Events that day resulted in political changes: landmark environmental laws were later passed in the United States - the Clean Air and Water Acts - and the Environmental Protection Agency was created. Many other countries subsequently adopted similar laws. In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day to sign the Paris Climate Agreement into force. Earth Day is now the biggest civic event in the world, with billions of people participating in events to highlight the urgent need to protect our planet. Its theme this year is Planet vs. Plastics - calling for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, for an end to single use plastics, and for a robust UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution.   NOTES AND RESOURCES  More on Xiye Bastida, Co-founder and Director of Re-Earth Initiative More on Earth Day Links to Our Story of Nature episodes:   Our Story of Nature - From Rupture to Reconnection - Episode 1 Our Story of Nature - From Rupture to Reconnection - Episode 2   Our Story of Nature - From Rupture to Reconnection - Episode 3 Our Story of Nature Intro Music - Catalina by Tru Genesis Other full, unedited interviews from the mini-series can be found HERE   Learn more about the Paris Agreement.  It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective Please follow us on social media!  Twitter | Instagram |  LinkedIn

242. Xiye Bastida: Her Story of Nature (Earth Day Special)

This week, the hosts discuss the much celebrated ruling last week at the European Court of Human Rights when over 2000 women aged 64 and up, took the Swiss Government to court for failing to protect them from the growing effects of climate change which proved detrimental to their health. The court in Strasbourg ruled in favour of the women, opening up a pathway for other similar cases to now be heard. The hosts briefly discuss the ruling as well as the backlash experienced among some MPs in the UK and Switzerland and why their accusations of infringement upon country sovereignty is false. We are then joined by the incredible Paul Goodenough, an award-winning, purpose-driven storyteller and entrepreneur, working in the environmental, charity, peace-building and entertainment sectors. In 2019, Paul co-founded Rewriting Earth (formerly Rewriting Extinction), a global collaboration of 300+ of the most influential storytellers creating non-political, non-judgemental content to reach mainstream audiences not typically engaged with environmental issues. It was a brilliant, fun and inspiring interview - make sure to listen to hear how Paul G describes how he hopes the stories he helps bring to life ‘throw an arm around people’ and welcome them into the climate space. The more the merrier we say!      NOTES AND RESOURCES   GUEST Paul Goodenough, an award-winning, purpose-driven storyteller and entrepreneur, working in the environmental, charity, peace-building and entertainment sectors Website | LinkedIn | Twitter (X) | Instagram Rewriting Earth Website | Facebook | Twitter (X) | Instagram   Rewriting Earth’s book, The Most Important Comic Book on Earth: Stories to Save the World, launched in the UK in 2021 and is available at  Bookshop.org. The book is launching in Germany next week and is available at  Panini Shop.   To listen to our recent mini-series, Our Story of Nature: From Rupture to Reconnection visit the dedicated Website page, which includes unedited versions of interviews with our wonderful guests.   Learn more about the Paris Agreement.   It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective   Please follow us on social media!  Twitter | Instagram |  LinkedIn

241. 40 Seconds to Save The World! with Paul Goodenough

The How To Academy Podcast is the biweekly show from London’s home of big thinking. Each episode they take a deep dive into the life and ideas of one of the most significant thinkers, artists, or leaders of our time – from Gordon Brown and Bill Clinton to Mary Beard and Marina Abramovic. This episode features a live, on-stage conversation between Christiana Figueres and the former CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman, on the fight to keep the planet within 1.5 degrees of warming. Visit howtoacademy.com for more podcasts, live events, and livestreams with the world’s leading thinkers. --- To listen to our recent mini-series, Our Story of Nature: From Rupture to Reconnection visit the dedicated Website page, which includes unedited versions of interviews with our wonderful guests.   Learn more about the Paris Agreement.   It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective   Please follow us on social media!  Twitter | Instagram |  LinkedIn

Presenting: ‘How To Academy Podcast with Christiana Figueres - Facing the Climate Crisis Live In Conversation with Paul Polman’

In this week’s episode, Tom files an exclusive report live from London, where he's on the ground covering Simon Stiell's highly anticipated Chatham House speech, "Two Years to Save the World". Not stopping there, Tom also snags a quick interview with Simon right after the event.  Back in the studio, Christiana, Paul, and Tom dive headfirst into the heart of Simon's speech. They navigate through the maze of mixed public reactions it sparked, delving into the underlying tensions it brought to light.    NOTES AND RESOURCES   GUEST Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) LinkedIn | Facebook |  Twitter   Here are two links to excellent initiatives seeking to help investors evaluate government performance on policy: ASCOR: https://www.ascorproject.org/  Climatescope: https://www.global-climatescope.org/   Check out Greg Cochrane’s  LinkedIn Post on Billie Eilish’s Vinyl Release Extended Listening - Be sure to listen + subscribe to both Sounds Like A Plan + Midnight Chats Listen + Subscribe to The Way Out Is In!   To listen to our recent mini-series, Our Story of Nature: From Rupture to Reconnection visit the dedicated Website page, which includes unedited versions of interviews with our wonderful guests.   Learn more about the Paris Agreement.   It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective   Please follow us on social media!  Twitter | Instagram |  LinkedIn

240. Two Years to Save The World? With Simon Stiell

In this week's special episode, while our team takes a well-deserved break, we're excited to present an exclusive, unedited conversation between Christiana Figueres, Isabel Cavelier Adarve, and the award-winning Krista Tippett, host of "On Being." Join us as we delve into "Our Story of Nature: From Rupture to Reconnection." Take a moment to relax and immerse yourself in this expansive and inspiring dialogue. Krista opens up about her personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences with nature, offering a fresh perspective that's sure to leave a lasting impact. Get ready to see the natural world in a whole new light after tuning in! Krista Tippett is a Peabody Award-winning broadcaster, New York Times bestselling author, and host of the acclaimed podcast "On Being." Renowned for her insightful interviews exploring the intersection of spirituality, ethics, and humanity, Tippett's work fosters meaningful dialogue and reflection. With her distinctive blend of curiosity and empathy, she invites listeners to engage in conversations that inspire deeper understanding and connection in today's complex world.   NOTES AND RESOURCES   GUEST Krista Tippett, award-winning journalist, author and host of On Being podcast Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook   For more unedited versions of our wonderful guest conversations from our recent mini-series Our Story of Nature: From Rupture to Reconnection please visit the dedicated  Website page Learn more about the Paris Agreement.   It’s official, we’re a TED Audio Collective Podcast - Proof! Check out more podcasts from The TED Audio Collective   Please follow us on social media!  Twitter | Instagram |  LinkedIn

79. Everything Is Possible with Sanda Ojiambo

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