Outrage + Optimism

Latest Episodes:

150. Earth Day Special: The Environmental Music Prize! with Edwina Floch Apr 21, 2022

Show notes

Australia is turning up the volume on environmentalism for the world to hear!

If you turned on your favorite music radio station, would you know we’re in a crisis?

Only 1% of songs in National Australian premier radio station Triple J’s Hottest 100 (2.5M+ votes) over the last 5 years directly referenced environmental issues…and that’s following mass bleaching of The Great Barrier Reef, The devastating Australian Bushfires of 2019-2020, AND a recent study before COP26 that reported 75% of Australians are concerned about climate change.

So why is Australian mainstream music so culturally disconnected from a population overwhelmingly environmentalist? We know artists, bands, and musicians have been and are currently creating environmentally-minded music, so how do we get those songs into the mainstream?

Our guest today, Edwina Floch, recently launched The Environmental Music Prize - A new $AU 20,000 prize that amplifies the voices of artists who inspire action for climate and conservation. The prize launched during the UN Climate Summit, and it's a global first and a call-to-action for artists to create and submit powerful music videos that celebrate nature and encourage us to defend it.

Every movement needs anthems. The search is on!

Enjoy the show and stick around to hear some amazing music from music artists Montaigne, In Hearts Wake, Little Green, Billy Otto, and King Stingray!

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Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

WATCH: All the Music Videos by the finalists for The Environmental Music Prize!

VOTE: Vote for your favorite Environmental Music Prize finalists!

DONATE: Keep The Environmental Music Prize going!

LEARN: Learn more about The Environmental Music Prize!

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Thanks to our guest this week, Edwina Floch!

Edwina Floch

Founder | Environmental Music Prize

Environmental Music Prize

Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Website

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A massive thank you to all our musical guests this week:

Montaigne

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

WATCH: ‘Ready’ Music Video (feat. School Strike For Climate Activist Fergus Clarkson)

In Hearts Wake

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | EMP Profile

Little Green

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | EMP Profile

Billy Otto

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | EMP Profile

King Stingray

Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | EMP Profile

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

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Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

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149. Presenting: ‘The Way Out Is In’ with Christiana Figueres Apr 14, 2022

Show notes

As many around the world turn inward this week, we bring you a special episode featuring Christiana Figueres from ‘The Way Out Is In’ podcast.

Many of us are looking for a way out of the crises we face. Climate, biodiversity, ecological, nature, health, wealth inequality…not to mention the deeply personal, familial, and interpersonal. A quick log in to twitter, checking the news, or reading the latest IPCC report reveals to us that we are on a path towards breakdown. We know there is a pathway out of this ‘atlas of human suffering’ as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recently said, but how do we chart that path?

This week, we suggest that the way out of suffering is in it.

Today we are sharing an episode from ‘The Way Out Is In’ podcast, produced by Plum Village, the Buddhist Monastery founded by the Late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Thich Nhat Hanh and his teachings were a vital support to Christiana in the lead up to the Paris Agreement and beyond.

In this episode, you’ll hear co-hosts Jo Confino and Brother Pháp Hữu invite Christiana on to share deeply about what brought her to Plum Village, both now and years ago during her first encounter with Thich Nhat Hanh; her journey to a spiritual practice that helped her overcome a personal crisis, and the transformative power of practices such as ‘deep listening’ and ‘interbeing’ on the negotiation process of The Paris Agreement.

So get comfortable, settle in, and join us for a special listen to Episode #21 of ‘The Way Out Is In’ - Being the Change We Want to See in the World: A Conversation with Christiana Figueres

[Content warning: This episode includes mentions of suicidal thoughts at 00:25:00 for approximately two minutes – listeners who could find this discussion distressing may wish to skip this section.]

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Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Links from the episode:

Next ‘The Way Out Is In’ Recommended Episodes To Listen To:

War And Peace (Ukraine)

Zen and The Art of Saving The Planet

Wise Leadership w/ Lindsay Levin

WATCH: ‘A Cloud Never Dies’ on YouTube

READ: ‘Zen and The Art of Saving the Planet’ by Thich Nhat Hanh

DOWNLOAD: The Plum Village App

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A special thanks this week to Plum Village!

Brother Phap Huu

Abbot | Upper Hamlet in Plum Village

Co-Host | The Way Out Is In

Instagram

Jo Confino

Co-Host | The Way Out Is In

Instagram

Plum Village

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Plum Village App

Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

Thich Nhat Hanh

Twitter | Foundation

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

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Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

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148. The Future is Intersectional with Leah Thomas Apr 07, 2022

Show notes

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

- MLK (1963)

This week, we reject our flawed, siloed thinking and embrace the oneness of social justice and environmentalism as a singular, inclusive movement.

In the Summer of 2020, our guest, Leah Thomas, coined the term “Intersectional Environmentalism” with a graphic she shared to Instagram that read, “Environmentalists For Black Lives Matter” as a call out to all environmentalists to stand in solidarity with BIPOC communities that face compounding social and environmental injustices daily. The Instagram post went viral, and the pledge she introduced along with it, The IE Pledge, has reached over a million people.

And so now that it’s 2022 and counting, how can we continue to root ourselves in that moment of clarity in 2020 and hold to the truth that you don’t have to separate race or racial justice from environmental advocacy? How can we scale climate solutions while advocating for marginalized communities all the while not making excuses for extractive industries?

We’re also joined this week by special co-host Abigael Kima, a young energy expert and climate activist from Kenya .She is the producer and host of the new Hali-Hewa (Swahili for ‘Climate Change’) podcast, which will profile African activists and climate experts airing through to COP27 on themes including a just energy transition, loss and damage, youth participation in intergovernmental processes and indigenous rights.

And —- Stick around for 3-Time GRAMMY Award Winning Artist Fantastic Negrito performing a live version of his song, “Rolling Through California”!

Enjoy the show!

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

ACT: Take the Intersectional Environmentalist Pledge

LISTEN: IE’s Brand New Podcast ‘The Joy Report’

READ: MAPS (Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary)

WATCH: How Black Lives Matter and Environmental Justice Are Connected

READ: The NAP Ministry

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Thanks to our guest this week, Leah Thomas!

Leah Thomas

Founder | Intersectional Environmentalist

Twitter | Instagram

Intersectional Environmentalist

BUY: The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

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Thank you to our Co-Host this week, Abigael Kima!

Abigael Kima

Host and Producer | Hali Hewa Podcast

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Hali Hewa Podcast

Website

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Our musical guest this week is Fantastic Negrito!

Fantastic Negrito

WATCH: ‘Highest Bidder’

READ: New Film + Album “White Jesus Black Problems” coming June 3rd

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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147. IPCC Report: It's Not Too Late to Mitigate with Ko Barrett Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

The World’s scientists have come together on behalf of the web of life to deliver the most comprehensive review of how we can mitigate the effects of climate change.

So what’s in this latest IPCC report? The latest from Working Group III covers a broad spectrum of topics: from mitigation pathways and in-depth sectoral analysis to finance, international cooperation, net-zero and carbon dioxide removal… Let’s simplify that - Mitigation. This report lays out how we’re going to mitigate the effects of climate change. Because make no mistake, climate change is here and gaining speed. It’s up to us to listen to the scientists and follow their guidance to slow it down.

So, here to guide us through this new report is Ko Barrett, Vice Chair, IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and Senior Advisor for Climate, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Ko is widely recognized as an expert on climate policy, particularly on issues related to climate impacts and strategies to help society adapt to a changing world. Not only was she one of the first women elected to serve as a vice chair of the IPCC in 2015, but she oversaw this latest report, gracefully and skillfully convening the global scientific consensus on this crucial report on Climate Change. An incredible achievement.

This report informs business leaders, policy makers, activists, influencers, artists…everybody. Listen in to hear what makes this report unique, how to avoid doomism on climate, and what it’s going to take to get to a livable future.

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

READ: WG3 AR6 IPCC Report

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Thanks to our guest this week, Ko Barrett!

Ko Barrett

Vice Chair | IPCC

Senior Advisor for Climate | NOAA

Twitter

IPCC

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

NOAA

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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146. Together We Can Change the World with Jane Goodall Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

What do you get when you swap the office for a classroom and our hosts for school pupils? An incredibly special episode, we hope you’ll agree.

Yes, that’s right – this week’s conversation is brought to you from Totnes Progressive School, where the children were joined by an extraordinary guest: Dr Jane Goodall DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and United Nations Messenger of Peace.

With the support of Outrage + Optimism’s Tom Rivett-Carnac and his sister Bee, who together wrote and illustrated a children’s book voiced by Dr Goodall, the pupils take it in turns to ask about their guest’s experiences, work, and thoughts on the future.

From Dr Goodall’s memories of her own childhood to reflections on what children now can do to help in healing our planet, this is a moving lens on a remarkable life spanning nearly nine decades. Dr Goodall shares lessons from her mother about working hard and not giving up on dreams, as well as how together we can – and will – change the world.

We hope you find this conversation as inspirational as we do.

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Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

READ: When We All Stopped
LISTEN: When We All Stopped narrated by Dr Jane Goodall

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Thank you to our amazing guest this week, Dr Jane Goodall DBE!

Jane Goodall Institute UK: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Roots & Shoots UK: Facebook

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson LinkedIn | Twitter

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Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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145. Africa: A View From The Frontlines of Climate Justice and Gender Equality with Vanessa Nakate Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

For years in the Global North, our dialogue around climate change has been focused on the idea that it is a looming disaster with consequences that would happen in the future if we did not take immediate action. The recent years of extreme weather events where we saw flooding in Germany and London and heat waves and storms across Europe and the United States, brought the reality home that climate change was happening NOW.

But for those living in Africa and the Global South, this ‘looming disaster’ has been a reality for decades. While the devastation, droughts, famines, wars over life-sustaining resources and refugee crises that climate change has caused might not make the headlines in the Global North the way Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has, the impacts of climate change on these frontline communities is nonetheless devastating and requires attention and action NOW.

Which is why this week we invited one of the incredible female voices from the frontline of the climate crisis in Uganda, Vanessa Nakate, an activist and founder of the Rise Up! Movement, onto the O+O podcast so we could share her concerns and action points first hand with our listeners.

In this intimate, in-depth interview with Christiana, Vanessa shares her journey from Ugandan school girl to world renowned climate activist. She tells us about her passion for gender equality and why she believes it is synonymous with bringing the climate crisis to justice, and why Loss and Damage must stay on the agenda for COP27, touted by many as The African COP.

Keep your ears open because Vanessa gives a clear call to action to any listeners who want to help African activists get their voices heard during COP 27. Vanessa asks that businesses, organizations and individuals consider supporting African activists either through providing accreditation for COP27 or through funding. If you can help please reach out via social media to Vanessa directly or via the Rise UP Movement’s website.

And stick around until the end of the episode to hear the soul-stirring Ugandan musical artist Afrie perform her single, “Let Her Know”.

Enjoy the show!

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

DONATE: Vanessa’s Solar and Stove Project

ACT: Fridays For Future’s 4 Digital Strike Actions

WATCH: Vanessa Nakate asks Global North Ministers the “Thumbs Up” Question

READ: A 10-Point Plan to Reduce the European Union’s Reliance on Russian Natural Gas

READ: Christiana pens an alternative ending to ‘Don’t Look Up’ for Netflix

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Thanks to our guest this week, Vanessa Nakate!

Vanessa Nakate

Climate Justice Activist | Founder of Rise Up Movement

Twitter | Instagram

Rise Up Movement

Twitter | Instagram | Website

BUY THE BOOK: A Bigger Picture by Vanessa Nakate

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Our musical guest this week is Afrie!

Afrie

Instagram | YouTube | Website | YouTube

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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144. Conflict Fueling Outrage: It’s Time to Quit Fossil Fuels Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

As the news from Ukraine unfolds quickly, detailing the tragedy Ukrainian citizens are living through, our hosts Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson cut straight to the roots of what is fueling this conflict - Our global addiction to fossil fuels.

What is our response as a global community to this crisis and many other current violent crises when many will argue climate action isn’t affordable and we should ramp up independent oil and gas production? Will we gather ourselves around the moral clarity that we need to end the violence by breaking our addiction once and for all?

Because our addiction is fueling the conflict we are watching our neighbors and our neighbor’s children suffer. It’s time to quit.

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

—

Mentioned links from the episode:

WATCH: Ukraine Video Showing Mock Footage of Paris Air Attacks

READ: China, Russia Agree to 30-Year Gas Deal via New Pipeline

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

143. An Appetite for Adaptation Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to our series on the Future of Food!

In this episode, we’ll explore the significance of adaptive transformation in global food systems. How do farming and consumption play into creating an inclusive, just, and beautiful future?

From empowering women farmers in Africa, to telling the story behind every piece of organic produce, from considering food value over food price, to what to ask at your grocery store, we examine why urgent transformation is needed to protect the people – and land – growing our food against the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change.

You’ll hear from:

Wanjira Mathai | Vice President + Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
Volkert Engelsman | Founder + CEO, Eosta
Jenipher Sambazi | Coffee Farmer + Vice Chair, Mount Elgon Agroforestry Community Cooperative Enterprise
Elen Jones | Co-Founder + Director, Jenipher's Coffi
Ed Davey | Policy + International Engagement Director, Food and Land Use Coalition + Co-Director, WRI UK
Helena Leurent | Director General, Consumers International

So with food being at the heart and centre of the human story, there’s not a minute to waste. Let’s get on with it!

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

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Mentioned links from the episode:

MORE LISTENING: Outrage + Optimism’s previous episodes on The Future of Food

READ: What is Plum Village?

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Thank you to our amazing guests this week, Volkert Engelsman, Wanjira Mathai, Jenipher Sambazi, Elen Jones, Ed Davey and Helena Leurent!

Volkert Engelsman

Founder and CEO, Eosta

Eosta

LinkedIn | Website

Nature & More

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Website

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Wanjira Mathai

Vice President & Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute (WRI)

Twitter | LinkedIn | Website

WRI Africa

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

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Jenipher Sambazi

Coffee Farmer & Vice Chair, Mount Elgon Agroforestry Community Cooperative Enterprise (MEACCE)

MEACCE

Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Website

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Elen Jones

Co-Founder and Director, Jenipher's Coffi

Jenipher's Coffi

Instagram | Facebook | Website

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Ed Davey

Policy and International Engagement Director, Food and Land Use Coalition

& Co-Director, WRI UK

Twitter | LinkedIn

WRI

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

FOLU

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

—

Helena Leurent

Director General, Consumers International

Twitter | LinkedIn

Consumers International

Twitter | LinkedIn | Website

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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142. Ukraine, Defense, and Climate Change with William Hague and David Miliband Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

All eyes are on Ukraine as we watch the horrific events unfold as a result of Russian aggression. Are we sliding toward a global catastrophe or seeing the birth of a new political order? How will we know which one awaits us?

This week, we speak to former UK Foriegn Ministers David Miliband and the Rt Hon Lord William Hague. We pitch to them this question of, “how will we know which one awaits us?” as we admire the resilience of the people of Ukraine and witness the inextinguishable might of people power.

Is this the ironic end of global energy dependence on a petrostate or the resurgence of fossil fuel infrastructure for the sake of energy independence?

No simple answers ahead.

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

—

Mentioned links from the episode:

READ: William Hague’s piece from 2019 in The Telegraph - Conservatives Have to Take the Climate Crisis Seriously

READ: David Miliband’s latest in NYT - Ukraine Presents a Moral Crisis, Not Just a Military One

CATCH UP: Outrage + Optimism’s previous episodes on The Future of Food

LISTEN: Our episode from Tuesday on the Latest IPCC Report

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Thanks to our guests this week, William Hague and David Miliband!

Rt Hon Lord William Hague

Lord Hague of Richmond

Twitter

David Miliband

President & CEO | International Rescue Committee

Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook

International Rescue Committee

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

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Keep up with Christiana Figueres online:

Instagram | Twitter

Tom Rivett-Carnac:

Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn

Paul Dickinson:

LinkedIn | Twitter

—

Follow @GlobalOptimism on social media and send us a message!

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

Don't forget to hit SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss another episode of Outrage + Optimism!

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141. IPCC Report: Adapt or Die! with Patrick Verkooijen Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

The latest IPCC Report from Working Group II on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability comes at an unprecedented moment in human history. A moment too late to avoid all effects of climate change baked into an already 1.1C warmer world, and a moment not too late to adapt humanity and all species to our increasingly important target of only 1.5C of warming.

In a strikingly clear connection this report makes between human and ecosystem vulnerability, the science is clear; Either we adapt, or we perish. Because between 3.3-3.6 Billion humans are currently living in areas “highly vulnerable to climate change”.

So, with over 270 scientists that poured over 34,000 publications and assessed 127 risks telling us to adapt now, Now, NOW! …how do we cut to the heart of those at the levers of economic and governmental power already dealing with war, famine, a pandemic, the list goes on.

This week, Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation joins us to lay out the findings of this next section of the IPCC report, and how tapping into humanity’s enlightened Self-interest (with a capital S) can take investment now into adaptation and promise exponential returns for humanity, as well as all species on Earth.

—

Christiana + Tom’s book ‘The Future We Choose’ is available now!

Subscribe to our Climate Action Newsletter!

—

Mentioned links from the episode (and others):

READ: The IPCC Report: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

WATCH: IPCC Press Conference + Secretary-General of The UN’s Address

LISTEN: Our Episode with Michael Mann on the previous Working Group I contribution to the IPCC Report

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Thanks to our guest this week, Patrick Verkooijen!

Patrick Verkooijen

CEO | Global Center on Adaptation