UCL Generation One: The Climate Podcast

What do vultures in India and beavers in West London have to do with protecting our ecosystems? What’s the link between biodiversity loss and human-driven climate change? Why does Simon love beavers so much? And what exactly is “COP16”?

This episode explores some of the key issues at play – focusing on global ecosystems and local conservation efforts, and coincides with the Sixteenth Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Columbia.

Hosts Mark and Simon are joined in the studio by Elliot Newton of The Ealing Beaver Project: a collaboration between the Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, The Friends of Horsenden & Ealing Council. And UCL expert Dr Alex Pigot, whose work on evolutionary biodiversity helps predict how ecosystems are responding to climate change.

While at the conference in Cali, Simon also catches up with freshwater systems expert: UCL’s Dr Izzy Bishop, to discuss the work she took to COP16.

Citizen Zoo www.citizenzoo.org/
The Ealing Beaver Project theealingbeaverproject.com/
UCL Faculty of Life Sciences biodiversity campaign www.ucl.ac.uk/lifesciences-facul…rsity-ucl-priority
Find out more about UCL at COP16 www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/ucl-cop/ucl-and-cop16
Access the transcript www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: Friday 18th October 2024
Duration: 45 mins
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Elliot Newton, Head of Conservation at Citizen Zoo and Creative Director at A Focus On Nature
Dr Alex Pigot, Professorial Research Fellow in the UCL Division of Biosciences
Dr Izzy Bishop, Lecturer in Ecology, UCL’s People and Nature Lab
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin
Jane Yelloly

This is Generation One, the climate podcast from University College London – turning climate science and ideas into action.

Hosted by Dr Simon Chin-Yee from the School of Public Policy, and Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth Systems Science at UCL.

We’re going to be tackling climate action in all its forms, from innovative business and tech solutions, to inspiring stories from the frontlines of collective activism. With fantastic guests and top UCL experts.

Look out for Series 5, coming soon on your favourite podcast platform.

Learn more about UCL’s Generation One campaign and access the transcripts here www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast. Or find us on X using #UCLGenerationOne.

Presenters: Prof. Mark Maslin and Dr. Simon Chin-Yee
Producers: Adam Batstone, Caitlin Mullin, Jane Yelloly

Welcome to Series 5! In this first episode, following the recent Labour party conference, our hosts Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee discuss the UK government’s plan to create ‘Great British energy’.

The (not so?) ambitious programme aims to make Britain a clean energy superpower to bolster energy security and achieve its net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. But how impactful actually are these policies?

With UCL’s Professor of Energy Policy Jim Watson, Emma Fletcher from Octopus Energy, and Dave Powell from Climate Outreach, we assess whether this is a genuine step towards green energy or just political rhetoric. Our experts also look more broadly at green initiatives, and whether they really can lower your bills.

Date of episode recording: Monday 16th and 17th September 2024
Duration: 49.55 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Emma Fletcher (Low Carbon Homes Director of Octopus Energy)
Dave Powell (Senior Advocacy Manager at Climate Outreach)
Jim Watson (Professor of Energy Policy and Director of UCL Institute of Sustainable Resources within the Faculty of the Built Environment)
Producers: 
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin
Jane Yelloly

In this special episode, we look back at the year through some of our favourite moments from Series 4.

Our hosts Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee explored climate action in a multitude of forms: from groundbreaking climate science and AI, to innovative policy solutions and inspiring stories of individual activism. With fantastic guests spanning multiple disciplines and industries.

Reflect with us on what’s been done, and what there is still to do, with our Series 4 highlights.

Transcript link: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 28th May 2024
Duration: 27.16 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Ian Townsend, ONS
Pierre Cannet, Client Earth
Sims Witherspoon, Google Deep Mind
Buffy Price, Carbon Re
Louise Harris, Just Stop Oil
Annabel Rice, Green Alliance
Versha Jones, The Climate Reality Project
Kris de Meyer, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL
Shirley Rodrigues, previous Deputy Mayor, Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority
Mark Watts, C40 Cities
Producers: 
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin
Jane Yelloly

In the final episode of this series of Generation One, we take a look at cities and climate action. With many elections happening around the world, what are cities actually doing to adapt to climate change, mitigate climate impact on populations, and reduce emissions?  

Our hosts discuss urban adaptation and transformation with UCL Professor Lauren Andres (Director of Research at the Bartlett School of Planning) and Mark Watts, the Executive Director of C40 Cities, a global network of mayors taking urgent climate action.  

C40 Cities website: https://www.c40.org/ 

The Bartlett School of Planning: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/planning/bartlett-school-planning 

For the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast 

Date of episode recording: 11th April 2024 

Duration: 33.46 minutes 
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  

Professor Lauren Andres, UCL 

Mark Watts, C40 Cities 

Producer: Adam Batstone  

Happy Earth Day! This episode’s focus is on entrepreneurial climate action: what are businesses – particularly the AI sector – doing to combat the climate crisis and help reach net zero?

Helping our hosts Mark and Simon answer these questions are Sims Witherspoon (current UCL student studying for MSC in climate change and Climate and Sustainability Lead at Google DeepMind), Buffy Price (COO and Co-Founder of Carbon Re, an AI startup which aims to accelerate decarbonisation), and Zoe Cokeliss Barsley (Director of Sustainability at Oxford University Press) and UCL alumna (MSc Conservation 2003)

Carbon Re carbonre.com/
Oxford University Press Responsible Publishing report oup.foleon.com/responsible-publi…-2022-23/2022-23/

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/su…s-newsletters

Date of episode recording: 14th February, 23rd February and 1st March 2024
Duration: 32.15 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Sims Witherspoon, Google DeepMind
Buffy Price, Carbon Re
Zoe Cokeliss Barsley, Oxford University Press
Producer: Adam Batstone

What are individuals doing to fight climate change and how important is the role of local activism? This episode will be focusing on individual climate action, with our guests chatting to our hosts about the role of activism in initiating change. Featuring Louise Harris (songwriter and Just Stop Oil activist), Versha Jones, (Climate Reality Project - Volunteer National Coordinator, UK) Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at the Green Alliance) and Kris de Meyer (Senior Research Fellow in Climate Communications University College London, Dept of Earth Sciences).  

‘We Tried’ song by Louise Harris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2XV20G85Tg 

The Climate Reality Project https://www.climaterealityproject.org/ 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters  

Date of episode recording: 14th February and 8th March 
Duration: 39.20 minutes  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  

Louise Harris, Just Stop Oil  

Versha Jones, The Climate Reality Project  

Annabel Rice, Green Alliance 

Kris de Meyer, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL 

Producer: Adam Batstone  

In this episode, we’re moving beyond the UK to explore global climate policy in the wake of COP28. Hosts Mark and Simon are joined by Pierre Cannet, the Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth, to discuss how the law can be used to create change.

More about Client Earth: www.clientearth.org/
For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast
Sign up to our climate newsletter here: r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/su…s-newsletters

Date of episode recording: 16th February 2024
Duration: 27.12 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests: Pierre Cannet, Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth
Producer: Adam Batstone

Introducing episode 3 of season four! Our hosts Mark and Simon continue this series with a discussion on the fallout from COP28 for the UK, and what needs to be done on a national, governmental and local level. 

Joining them are our guests Ian Townsend (ONS Divisional Director of Environment), Robbie Macpherson, (APPG lead at Uplift), Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at Green Alliance) and Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority, Shirley Rodrigues, to talk national feeling and climate policy. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters  

References 

ONS release calendar: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar/ 

Key ONS environmental releases: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts 
Important issues facing the UK (5.1-5.13), http://bit.ly/ONSimpactCOL

Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain Statistical bulletins: 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/publicopinionsandsocialtrendsgreatbritain/previousReleases 

Business insights and impact on the economy bulletins: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/businessinsightsandimpactontheukeconomy/previousReleases 

Date of episode recording: 14th and 23rd February 2024  
Duration: 27 mins, 14 secs  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  

Ian Townsend, ONS, Divisional Director of Environment  

Annabel Rice, Political Adviser at Green Alliance and UCL alum (Environment, Politics and Society 2021)  

Robbie MacPherson, Political and Climate Change APPG Lead, Uplift 

Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor, Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority  

Producer: Adam Batstone

COP28 in Dubai is over and Mark and Simon are back in the studio to debrief. What on earth happened and is it good enough? They discuss the loss and damage fund, the challenges with the COP process and ultimately whether the outcome is enough. Joining them live from COP are Dr Guy Jackson (University of Northumbria), Nada Berrada (Education Development Centre), Mary McHarg (UCL Union Affairs Officer) and Kerrlene Wills (United Nations Foundation). 

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast