Language & Power Podcast

Food, Agriculture & Water was the theme of COP 28 on 10th December 2023. We discuss a new document published at COP28: ‘Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold: A Global Roadmap - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ - in particular, the topic of sustainable fisheries.

COP26 Alok Sharma Opening Speech

COP27 Sameh Shoukry Opening Speech

COP 28 Al Jaber Opening Speech

FAO Document: Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold: A Global Roadmap

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Just transition is a theme at COP 28. We discuss the definitions of ‘just transition’ found in documents related to a ‘high level ministerial roundtable on just transitions’ held at COP28:

UN Article: Ensuring No One is Left Behind: First High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on Just Transition

UN Agenda: First Annual High-level Ministerial round table on just transition

UN Powerpoint Slides: First Annual High-level Ministerial round table on just transition

ILO: Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all

US Vice President Harris speech at COP28

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Dr Sultan Al Jaber opened COP 28, with some media controversy, on 30th November 2023; UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, flew to the UAE and gave a press conference. We discuss the two speeches in terms of argumentation strategies - both appeal to pragmatic and moral arguments.

Rishi Sunak press conference speech transcript

Sultan Al Jaber COP 28 opening address transcript

Rishi Sunak press conference video

Sultan Al Jaber COP 28 opening address video

See the podcast on YouTube or join us on Patreon to access discussion boards for every episode; take part in polls on podcast content; see exclusive posts on upcoming episodes; get transcripts of the main episodes.

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In this second episode of our mini-series that responds to themes around COP27, we discuss ‘greenwashing’ in relation to COP 27, which was recently was held in Egypt. This topic is inspired by an article that we found in The Guardian authored by the well-known writer, Naomi Klein: “Greenwashing a police state: the truth behind Egypt's COP 27 masquerade”. With us on the podcast is special guest. Dr Michael Kranert from the University of Southhampton.

Greenwashing a police state: the truth behind Egypt’s Cop27 masquerade

Sharm El-Sheikh Mangroves and Sustainability

Three protected areas you need to visit if you’re a nature-lover travelling to Sharm El Sheikh for COP 27 this November

Welcome Message From President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi

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In this first episode of our mini-series that responds to themes around COP27, we discuss sustainable consumption and sustainable production. With our guest, Alex Caveen, we look at four articles from The Guardian newspaper in the UK. Each of them addresses some aspects of consumption, and some raise issues of sustainable production.

Cut meat consumption to two burgers a week to save planet, study suggests

Enormous emissions gap between top 1% and poorest, study highlights

Embrace what may be the most important green technology ever. It could save us all

Lab-grown food is no way to nourish the planet

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In the final episode of series 2, Tom and Michael discuss some of the text of the 2022 reports on climate from the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change. We discuss abstract written style, the apparent absence of people in describing many processes in the reports, and the potential effect of this on presenting human agency in the causes of, and solutions for, climate change.

AR6 Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

AR6 Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change

Communicating Sustainability Conference, Glasgow, September 2022

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In the seventh episode of series 2, Tom and Michael discuss the discourse of public apologies. We look at the example of actor Will Smith apologising for assaulting comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony. Chris Rock had made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife.

The Independent: Read the Best Actor winner’s full apology to Chris Rock over Oscars slap

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In the sixth episode of series 2, Tom and Michael discuss the way football club ownership is represented. We look at a news report on the Glazer brothers - owners of Manchester United and a report on Dublin club, Bohemian FC. Why are the Glazers not referred to as ‘oligarchs’ as Roman Abramovich is? How are fan identities constructed?

The Daily Mirror: Man Utd owners the Glazers set £4bn asking price to sell club amid fan protests

Bohemian FC: The club with Bob Marley on the shirt and working class values at heart

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In the fifth episode of series 2, Tom and Michael discuss the way erstwhile owner of Chelsea football club, Roman Abramovic, is described in news reports following the impositions of sanctions on individuals over the invasion of Ukraine.

The Daily Mirror: Roman Abramovich's private jet lands in Russia as Chelsea owner seen at airport

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