RAIA(ffairs)

Teresa Ribera is a relevant climate leader because she is in the spotlight in the Europeanfight against climate change as the minister for the Ecological Transition of Spainsince 2018. In this episode of our 2023 Climate Leaders 101, we discuss climate leader Teresa Ribera with IE student Ajinkya. We look at her environmental interest due to her background in academia and her rise in ministerial ranks in Spain. We then compare how this differed from her leadership experience as director of the IDDRI (Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations) and lessons learned to be implemented back into the European policy dimension regarding climate action. By helping us understand Spain’s four environmental challenges, Ajinkya goes into detail regarding her policies, such as Spain’s Hydrogen Roadmap and the National Climate Change Adaptation Plan for 2030. To end the discussion, Ajinkya goes into the obstacles facing Teresa, including bureaucratic, agri-food, and political party blocks. He then agrees that Teresa IS a climate leader, especially due to her consistency, genuine concern for climate change, and determination. The Climate Leaders 101 series is brought to you as a collaboration between RAIA and IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. Ten IE students have researched five climate leaders under RAIA supervision and with RAIA’s methodology ahead of the COP28. This is the second year we have conducted this research program fully financed by our partners from IE University. Check out the report on Teresa written by Ajinkya Deshpande & Valeria Eggers: https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2023. Check out Ajinka ’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajinkya-deshpande-578850203/

MBS’s commitment to renewable energy has been seen by some as a way to secure long-term economic stability and reduce the Saudi reliance on oil revenue. In this episode of our 2023 Climate Leaders 101, we discuss climate leader Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MBS) with IE students, Alisa and Sofia. We begin by the basics, looking at the role of the royal family in Saudi politics and how this has affected MBS’s leadership style. This episode focuses on Saudi Arabia’s oil dependence and the extent to which this dependence both consolidates MBS’s power and funds his attempts at diversifying Saudi economic activity. We comment on the main policy MBS has launched to combat climate change, his Vision 2030, of which includes NEOM City. While the impacts are yet to be measured, Alisa and Sofia discuss whether Mohamed bin Salama Al Saud IS a climate leader given criticism of his ambitious projects and given ulterior economic motives.

The Climate Leaders 101 series is brought to you as a collaboration between RAIA and IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. Ten IE students have researched five climate leaders under RAIA supervision and with RAIA’s methodology ahead of the COP28. This is the second year we have conducted this research program fully financed by our partners from IE University. Check out the report on MBS written by Alisa Lazurenko and Sofia Platonova: (Insert Link). Check out Alisa Lazurenko’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-lazurenko/. Check out Sofia Platonova’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiaplatonova/.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has swiftly risen to prominence as a formidable political force, captivating the nation's attention with her advocacy for combating climate change and rectifying social injustice. Both her policies and ideology have shaped her identity as a climate leader.. In this episode of our 2023 Climate Leaders 101, we discuss climate leader AOC with IE students, Felipa and Maria. We look at her humble working class beginnings and her rise to becoming the youngest Congresswoman in the US. The discussion delves into her progressive ideological policies, particularly her political outlook on the concept of social, education and climate “justice.” This includes her main policy, consisting of a 10-year transition plan for the US economy through renewable energy and green jobs. While this particular Deal has not yet passed in Congress, our guests discuss other bills which AOC has helped pass regarding climate action. At the end of our discussion, Felipa and Maria argue as to why their analysis concludes AOC IS a climate leader and how the public has reacted to her Green New Deal. The Climate Leaders 101 series is brought to you as a collaboration between RAIA and IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. Ten IE students have researched five climate leaders under RAIA supervision and with RAIA’s methodology ahead of the COP28. This is the second year we have conducted this research program fully financed by our partners from IE University. Check out the report on AOC written by Felipa Regine Eichel and Maria Romero: https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2023 Check out Felipa Regine Eichel’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feichel

H.E. Dr William Samoei Ruto is Kenya’s 5th President, whose commitment toclimate change advocacy permeates the political sphere, developing initiativesthat use climate policy as a development tool. In this episode of our 2023 Climate Leaders 101, we discuss climate leader William Ruto with IE students, Ruby and Chiara. We look at his “outsider” political persona and his motivations behind enacting climate policies, closely tied to his goal of incentivizing outside nations to invest in Kenya. Before getting into the details of his policies, such as the African Carbon Markets Initiative, and their respective impact assessment, we also gain some insight into how he positioned himself and other African nations at the COP27, pointing out the unethical actions of European nations. Overall, Ruby and Chiara help us discover why and how William Ruto IS a climate leader. The Climate Leaders 101 series is brought to you as a collaboration between RAIA and IE University’s School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs. Ten IE students have researched five climate leaders under RAIA supervision and with RAIA’s methodology ahead of the COP28. This is the second year we have conducted this research program fully financed by our partners from IE University.Check out the report on William Ruto written by Ruby Gachara and Chiara Cassina: https://raiagroup.org/ie-university-x-raia-research-program-2023Check out Ruby Gachara’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruby-wanjiku-gachara-43911626bCheck out Chiara Cassina’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiara-cassina/

The end of a cease-fire between the Islamist militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Pakistani government has led to a series of security challenges for General Asim Munir. Tune into this episode with RAIA writer Ksenia Kumanina where we discuss Pakistani politics, focusing on the growth of the TTP under the leadership of Noor Wali and the strength of the network within the country’s tribal areas. We further explore how General Asim Munir’s interests will be tackled given the country’s current economic situation and given the lack of resources to fight the TTP. Lastly, we look into how the TTP’s resurgence is connected to the current Taliban-controlled Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troops. Check out the article written by Ksenia: https://raiagroup.org/general-munir-hostile-ttp-mehsud-broken-ceasefire Check out Ksenia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ksenia-kumanina/

The agreement was a decades-long attempt to solve the dispute over the EEZs , and therefore drilling rights, of each country. It has become the official agreement delineating each country’s jurisdiction in the Mediterranean Sea. Tune into this episode with RAIA writer and editor Arielle Combrick to discuss the maritime border dispute between Israel and Lebanon. We explore the leaders of the nation who presided at the time the agreement was signed. Thus, the interests of Lapid and Aoun are explained, and a brief history of the gas resources at the heart of the arrangement is discussed. The domestic interests and international interests are highlighted throughout the podcast. If you want to know the reasons behind why a maritime agreement was made and signed, listen to this episode!Check out the article written by Arielle: https://raiagroup.org/lapid-frenemies-with-aoun-a-maritime-story Check out Arielle’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-combrinck-548272159/