This week India & Heidi learn about 'the accountability trap' with Prof. Susan Park from the Sydney Environment Institute. What you'll learn:

• What incentives do states have to meet their agreed climate targets? (hint: not a lot)
• What happens if states don't meet these targets (hint: not a lot)
• What is the 'accountability trap'?
• How can we hold states responsible for not meeting these targets?

Also listen in at 17:48 to hear the sweet sweet voice of Sir David Attenborough as he calls out the Aus Gov for their lack of action on climate change.

Susan Park is Professor of Global Governance at the USYD and acting deputy director of the Sydney Environment Institute, where she focuses on how state and non-state actors use formal and informal influence to make the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) greener and more accountable.

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Climate change, climate emergency, the climate crisis - so much talk about climate change but so little talk about other issues... like biodiversity. Why? This week Heidi, Bella and India spoke with Associate Professor Charlotte Epstein about biodiversity and why we need to be talking about it. 
What you'll learn:

• In 1992 leaders from around the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro for 3 major conventions: 
  1. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
  2. Convention on Biological Diversity
  3. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
• Why then do we only hear about climate change? 
• Why should we be talking about biodiversity?
• How can we mobilise action on this?

To read more about Charlotte's work see University of Sydney profile, read about the Carlsberg project she's leading on decolonizing political action or follow her on twitter @Prof_ch_epstein. Thanks again for joining us Charlotte! 

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The final week of Australian Politics month has arrived!!  We are sad it’s over but we look forward to next month which is International Politics. In this Ep, Bella speaks with Australian Federal Liberal MP, Jason Falinski. Jason was elected the Member for Mackellar in the Australian House of Representatives at the 2016 Australian election. We spoke with Jason about:

- What is the philosophy of the Australian Liberal Party? Is this always practiced?
- How and when can Australia reach net zero?
- What is stopping us from achieving net zero in Australia?
- Are electric vehicles and systems the key to net zero?

Thanks so much Jason for joining us! Enjoy the show and let us know what you think by tagging @lifeonplaneta_podcast and #lifeonplanetapodcast on your socials!

We also state that Jasons views and opinions are his own and for any information on health or science - please refer to a professional in that field.

#politics #australianpolitics #liberals #lifeonplaneta #climatechange #climateemergency #climatecrisis #climateaction #australiangov #ausgov #uspolitics #un #globalgoals #carbonemissions #podcast #sustainabilitypodcast #listennow #newepisode

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BONUS episode for week 3 of Australian Politics! This week Heidi and Bella spoke with PhD candidate, Bhiamie Williamson about Native Title and how we can strengthen ties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; ties that have previously been severed by colonisation. What you'll learn:

• What is Native Title? What does it mean? How is it granted?
• What is cultural burning and what does it do for Indigenous communities?
• What unique opportunities does climate change provide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
• How can we re-connect the ties that have previously been severed, and work with these groups?

Bhiamie Williamson is a Euahlayi man currently undertaking his PhD at the Australian National University Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, where his research focuses on Indigenous youth, Indigenous Governance, Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management & Indigenous Men and Masculinities.

If you want to learn more about the Uluru Statement from the Heart visit: https://ulurustatement.org/faqs
https://fromtheheart.com.au/

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For Episode 3 of Australian Politics month, Heidi and Bella spoke with the inspirational Dr Christine J Winter about intergenerational environmental justice theory, and more specifically...

• What is Intergenerational Environmental Justice (IEJ)?
• What is our relationship to nature?
• Time is a spiral of past, present and future in which, we are all connected.
• Why have some people lost their connection to nature? How can we repair this?
• How can we (as individuals and the gov.) work with Australian Indigenous communities to re-connect with nature and embrace IEJ?

Christine is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Sydney Environment Institute where her research focuses at the intersection of intergenerational, indigenous and environmental justice. Thank you again for joining us Christine!

Some of the concepts this week were tricky so we'll be posting helpful socials throughout the week to help, as well as a summary in our monthly resource sheet available on our website: https://www.lifeonplanetapodcast.com/ 

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Week 2 of Australian Politics month has arrived!! On Ep #48 Heidi and Bella talk with Dean Bialek about Australia's role (or lack of) in the COP26 summit and in the global race to net zero carbon emissions. Dean is the Head of the International Politics Unit for the COP26 Climate Champions Team and is leading the development of renewable energy projects across Australia.

We learnt:

• How do Australia's climate goals compare to the rest of the world? 
• The U.S. aims cut 50% of their emissions by 2030, why don't we?
• Why isn’t Australia more ambitious in our targets? 
• What is 'the Race to Zero' and how is it helping companies and governments become net zero as soon as possible?

Thanks so much Dean for joining us! Enjoy the show and let us know what you think by tagging @lifeonplaneta_podcast and #lifeonplanetapodcast on your socials.

Useful links:

• Guardian article: ‘No action on anything’: Australia increasingly isolated as US and others ramp up climate ambition, which Dean is featured in.
• Dean and his work at CWP Global
• Learn more about the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign

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EPISODE 47: Strong Indepdendent Women in Australian Politics with Zali Steggall. This week Heidi and Bella spoke with inspirational sportsperson, speaker and independent member of Australian Parliament, Zali Steggall. We discussed:

- What was Zali's experience as a woman in Australian politics? 

- What is the latest news on her climate action bill? 

- What keeps Zali so motivated to push for climate action despite frequent pushback from the Federal Gov?

Learn more about women in Aussie politics by watching Ms Represented. 
Listen now on your favourite platforms and let us know what you think by tagging @lifeonplaneta_podcast and #lifeonplanetapodcast on your socials. Thanks again for joining us Zali!

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Yes. According to many economists, climate change poses the biggest long-term threat to the global economy.  This week Heidi and Bella strapped on their economist hats to review our month on economy and understand:

• what is economic risk?
• what risk does climate change pose to the economy?
• how do we calculate such risk? (hint: DICE)
• is the Paris climate agreement useful or redundant?
• what can governments do to halt climate change?

This left us thinking, what is the solution? "I dont know any question to which the answer is so simple as what is the most efficient climate policy - it’s harmonised carbon prices around the world." - Professor William Nordhaus.

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Let's talk CRYPTO. This week Heidi and Bella travel into the hyperverse, accompanied by guest and crypto-expert, Prof Barney Tan. Barney is an associate professor at the University of Sydney. 

You'll learn:

• What is blockchain? 
• How do we 'mine' cryptocurrency?
• What effect does this mining have on the planet?

If you want to know more about the cryptocurrency, the energy usage of it  and the future of crypto, then this is the podcast for you!

Thank you Barney Tan for all your work and expertise. Learn more about Barney's work here.

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It's hard to be optimistic about climate change with all that's going on at the moment, but this week's guest is able to do and can give us all the inspiration we need to keep fighting.

This week we interview Tom Quinn, Head of Policy and Research at Beyond Zero Emissions.

You'll learn:

• What is there to be optismitic about? 
• Australia has incredible opportunities for green jobs, particularly as demand for sustainable products and services increases. 
• Beyond Zero Emissions aims to help Australia create more green jobs and a more sustainable planet. As part of this is their 'Million Jobs Plan', which plans to rebuild our economy after the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that secures a cleaner future for all Aussies. 
• In just five years, renewables and low emissions projects can deliver 1.8 million new jobs in the regions and communities where these are needed most. 

Useful links:
Read more about the Million Jobs Plan from Beyond Zero Emissions

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