The Climate Briefing

More than five years have passed since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, and there are only nine months to go until COP26. To kick off its second season the Climate Briefing podcast focuses on how climate change politics have shifted since COP21 in Paris, and explores the roles of the three largest emitters – China, the United States and the EU – in global climate action. The episode also provides a timely recap of the main aims of COP26.

To discuss these themes, Anna and Ben are joined by Camilla Born (Deputy Director of Strategy for COP26 in the UK Cabinet Office) and Antony Froggatt (Deputy Director of the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House).

Credits:

Speakers: Camilla Born, Antony Froggatt

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton

Editor: Jamie Reed

Original Music: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced by Chatham House

In the latest episode of the Climate Briefing the team explore the concept of carbon pricing, a set of mechanisms which incentivise businesses and consumers to reduce their carbon emissions, and consider the dynamics of the hotly contested Article 6 negotiations.

Ben speaks to Stuart Evans from Vivid Economics about how carbon pricing works, how it can help reduce emissions and how these mechanisms could have contrasting effects in developed and developing countries.

In the second interview, Anna and Aglaja Espelage from the Perspectives Climate Group take a deep dive into the negotiations on Article 6 with the aim of disentangling what parties are negotiating, why the negotiations are important and why it has been so difficult to reach an agreement.

Credits:

Speakers: Stuart Evans, Aglaja Espelage

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton

Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced by 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 Amy Harder, 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 Jennifer Morgan, 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.

Professor Robert Falkner 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 Professor Kathryn Hochstetler from the London School of Economics.

Read the International Affairs article:

The Paris Agreement and the new logic of climate politics

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 Dr Daniel Quiggin from Chatham House, and Simon Sharpe 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:

Green Industries Can Accelerate a True Jobs-Focused Recovery

Credits:

Speakers: Daniel Quiggin, Simon Sharpe

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton

Sound Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Industry accounts for approximately 24% of global energy-related 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 Professor Steve Evans 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

Finance plays a key role in enabling climate change mitigation and adaptation. It is also a contested issue in the UN climate negotiations. The UK Government has made climate finance one of its top thematic priorities for COP26 and 2020 constitutes the deadline for developed countries to mobilise USD 100 billion per year to support climate action in developing countries.

This week the Climate Briefing team speak to three experts to find out more. Mattias Frumerie, from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explains the key debates surrounding climate financing. Tenzin Wangmo, Lead Negotiator for the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group outlines how developing countries view these financial concerns. Finally, Rachel Ward from the IIGCC provides an insight into how investors are approaching the issue.

Read the meeting summary:

Climate Finance and the COP

Credits:

Speakers: Matias Frumerie, Tenzin Wangmo, Rachel Ward

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton, Johanna Tilkanen

Sound Editor: Jamie Reed

Producer: Ben Horton

Recorded and produced by Chatham House

In this bonus episode Tim Benton, Director of the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House, speaks to Anna about the environmental implications of COVID-19.

How might manmade pressures on the environment have contributed to the emergence of the virus? What are the environmental impacts of the virus-driven economic slowdown? And how can we rebuild society in a more sustainable way in the wake of this crisis?

Read the BBC article:

Coronavirus: Why are we catching more diseases from animals?

Read the Expert Comment:

Emerging Lessons from COVID-19

Credits:

Speaker: Tim Benton

Host: Anna Aberg

Producer: Ben Horton

Sound Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Extreme weather, rising sea levels and a melting Arctic - the effects of climate change are posing an increasingly large threat to national security worldwide. In this episode the team explore the implications of climate change for national security, and how the defence establishment is incorporating environmental concerns into its military planning.

Anna speaks to Neil Morisetti about the threats posed by climate change, before Ben asks Patricia Lewis how militaries and international organisations are adapting to these threats.

Follow us on Twitter:

@CH_Environment

Credits:

Speakers: Neil Morisetti, Patricia Lewis

Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton

Sound Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

The Climate Briefing returns with interviews on European approaches to climate action, and the role that business can play in achieving the Paris Agreement goals.

Johanna and Ben are joined in the studio by two guests; Imke Lubbeke, Head of EU Climate and Energy Policy at the WWF, and Jen Austin, Policy Director of the We Mean Business coalition.

Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the postponement of COP26 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Read the Meeting Summary:

Climate Ambition in Europe and its Potential Global Impact

Follow us on Twitter:

@CH_Environment

Credits:

Speakers: Imke Lubbeke, Jen Austin

Hosts: Johanna Tilkanen, Ben Horton

Sound Editor: Jamie Reed

Recorded and produced at Chatham House.