Podcasts about cop26 president alok sharma

Scores of brave Palestinian journalists have been bringing the horrors suffered in Gaza to the world. Many of them have lost their lives doing so. CNN is the first western media outlet to gain access without Israeli military escorts. Correspondent Clarissa Ward witnesses the severe crisis, on a visit to a field hospital facilitated by the UAE.  Also on today's show: Israeli peace activist Magen Inon & Palestinian regional leader Hamze Awawde; COP26 President Alok Sharma; Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter; musician/author Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Paris climate pact was gaveled into existence at the COP21 UN climate summit in 2015, it was met with a standing ovation. After more than two decades of talks, 196 countries had signed on to a climate pact requiring countries to set emissions targets and report on them, with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 or “well below” 2 degrees Celsius. Each subsequent summit hammered out the details of the historic agreement until, in Glasgow in 2021, COP26 President Alok Sharma declared the Paris “rulebook” complete. “For the first time ever, we will be able to see that when a country makes a commitment,” he said after the summit, “whether or not they have stuck to those.” Optimism soared after the Paris Agreement was established in 2015. But progress at UN climate talks since then has been incremental at best.“There's nothing more to negotiate,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and longtime fixture at the climate summits. And yet, he said, “We're seeing no progress. We're actually regressing. We need to globally reduce emissions by 6-7% per year, and now, we're increasing [by] 1% per year.”Even if countries slash emissions as much as they've promised, global temperatures are expected to increase by between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels by the end of the century, according to the UN Emissions Gap Report released last week. Rockström argues the system of countries setting voluntary targets and then reporting on their progress isn't working. “At least not so far,” he said. “So, there's a great and rising frustration. And the frustration is at a point of urgency.”Faith in the ability of the UN process to deliver meaningful results on climate change has waxed and waned over the years. And this year, it's at a low point. Rockström and others have called for a rethinking of the COP meetings, shifting them from what he sees as a showcasing of best intentions to an exercise in accountability. Rachel Kyte, a former World Bank climate envoy and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, argues the Paris Agreement is working, just not nearly fast enough.“Governments have dropped the ball in many cases, or have struggled to pick up the ball, for countries with less capacity, since Paris,” she said. The COP28 president himself has said the world is “way off track” and needs a “major course correction.”But there's added skepticism that this climate summit, in particular, can deliver meaningful results, in part because of who that COP28 president is: Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil company. He argues that oil and gas companies need to be part of the solution and at the table during climate talks.  “This is a global challenge that calls for global solutions from every stakeholder,” Jaber said at an industry conference in May. “And this industry, in particular, is integral to developing the solutions.”But critics have called his dual postings a conflict of interest. Environmental leaders have criticized his appointment, and more than 100 lawmakers in the US and EU called for his removal in May. This week, leaked documents and reports published by the Centre for Climate Reporting show that Jaber was prepared to lobby for oil and gas deals in official COP28 meetings.  “I think these documents show that the United Arab Emirates is not playing a neutral, impartial role in the COP process, which is its job,” said Michael Jacobs, professor of political economy at the University of Sheffield and former climate adviser to the UK government. One of the big debates set to happen at COP28 is whether to phase out fossil fuels. “So, it's really not appropriate for [the UAE], in the very same meetings that it is discussing the negotiations, which are aimed at phasing out fossil fuels, to be frankly trying to phase them up.” Jacobs said to get nearly 200 countries with widely divergent interests to agree to anything, COP presidents must be seen as advocating for the whole world's best interests, not just the host country's.  “And it will be very difficult, I think, for many countries to trust the UAE if it's been doing this, if it's basically been promoting its own interests through this process.” In response to questions from The World, a COP28 spokesperson wrote that the documents are “inaccurate” and “not used by COP28 in meetings.” They did not respond to questions about whether oil and gas business was discussed in meetings set up for Jaber in his capacity as COP28 president. Even with the controversy dogging this COP, there are some bright spots heading into the UN summit in Dubai.The US and China are talking about climate change again, and this month agreed to work together on increasing renewables and decreasing methane, the potent greenhouse gas. “It's not yet real change, but it is, I think, a clear signal that both countries recognize that China and the US have to work together, or else, we will fail to achieve anything at COP that's worth talking about,” said Gina McCarthy, a former US national climate adviser.Meanwhile, former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres has warned of the “self-fulfilling prophesy” of despair and has been cheered by recent economic indicators. “The cost of renewable energy has plummeted, meaning at this COP, countries can readily commit to tripling renewable energy by 2030,” Figueres said. That's on the table at COP28, along with a likely contentious debate about phasing down or out fossil fuels. Another key outcome to look for at the summit is how much money richer countries commit to a newly established loss and damage fund to help poorer nations deal with the devastation already being caused by climate change.  

When the Paris climate pact was gaveled into existence at the COP21 UN climate summit in 2015, it was met with a standing ovation. After more than two decades of talks, 196 countries had signed on to a climate pact requiring countries to set emissions targets and report on them, with the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 or “well below” 2 degrees Celsius. Each subsequent summit hammered out the details of the historic agreement until, in Glasgow in 2021, COP26 President Alok Sharma declared the Paris “rulebook” complete. “For the first time ever, we will be able to see that when a country makes a commitment,” he said after the summit, “whether or not they have stuck to those.” Optimism soared after the Paris Agreement was established in 2015. But progress at UN climate talks since then has been incremental at best.“There's nothing more to negotiate,” said Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and longtime fixture at the climate summits. And yet, he said, “We're seeing no progress. We're actually regressing. We need to globally reduce emissions by 6-7% per year, and now, we're increasing [by] 1% per year.”Even if countries slash emissions as much as they've promised, global temperatures are expected to increase by between 2.5 and 2.9 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels by the end of the century, according to the UN Emissions Gap Report released last week. Rockström argues the system of countries setting voluntary targets and then reporting on their progress isn't working. “At least not so far,” he said. “So, there's a great and rising frustration. And the frustration is at a point of urgency.”Faith in the ability of the UN process to deliver meaningful results on climate change has waxed and waned over the years. And this year, it's at a low point. Rockström and others have called for a rethinking of the COP meetings, shifting them from what he sees as a showcasing of best intentions to an exercise in accountability. Rachel Kyte, a former World Bank climate envoy and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, argues the Paris Agreement is working, just not nearly fast enough.“Governments have dropped the ball in many cases, or have struggled to pick up the ball, for countries with less capacity, since Paris,” she said. The COP28 president himself has said the world is “way off track” and needs a “major course correction.”But there's added skepticism that this climate summit, in particular, can deliver meaningful results, in part because of who that COP28 president is: Sultan al-Jaber, the head of the United Arab Emirates' state-owned oil company. He argues that oil and gas companies need to be part of the solution and at the table during climate talks.  “This is a global challenge that calls for global solutions from every stakeholder,” Jaber said at an industry conference in May. “And this industry, in particular, is integral to developing the solutions.”But critics have called his dual postings a conflict of interest. Environmental leaders have criticized his appointment, and more than 100 lawmakers in the US and EU called for his removal in May. This week, leaked documents and reports published by the Centre for Climate Reporting show that Jaber was prepared to lobby for oil and gas deals in official COP28 meetings.  “I think these documents show that the United Arab Emirates is not playing a neutral, impartial role in the COP process, which is its job,” said Michael Jacobs, professor of political economy at the University of Sheffield and former climate adviser to the UK government. One of the big debates set to happen at COP28 is whether to phase out fossil fuels. “So, it's really not appropriate for [the UAE], in the very same meetings that it is discussing the negotiations, which are aimed at phasing out fossil fuels, to be frankly trying to phase them up.” Jacobs said to get nearly 200 countries with widely divergent interests to agree to anything, COP presidents must be seen as advocating for the whole world's best interests, not just the host country's.  “And it will be very difficult, I think, for many countries to trust the UAE if it's been doing this, if it's basically been promoting its own interests through this process.” In response to questions from The World, a COP28 spokesperson wrote that the documents are “inaccurate” and “not used by COP28 in meetings.” They did not respond to questions about whether oil and gas business was discussed in meetings set up for Jaber in his capacity as COP28 president. Even with the controversy dogging this COP, there are some bright spots heading into the UN summit in Dubai.The US and China are talking about climate change again, and this month agreed to work together on increasing renewables and decreasing methane, the potent greenhouse gas. “It's not yet real change, but it is, I think, a clear signal that both countries recognize that China and the US have to work together, or else, we will fail to achieve anything at COP that's worth talking about,” said Gina McCarthy, a former US national climate adviser.Meanwhile, former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres has warned of the “self-fulfilling prophesy” of despair and has been cheered by recent economic indicators. “The cost of renewable energy has plummeted, meaning at this COP, countries can readily commit to tripling renewable energy by 2030,” Figueres said. That's on the table at COP28, along with a likely contentious debate about phasing down or out fossil fuels. Another key outcome to look for at the summit is how much money richer countries commit to a newly established loss and damage fund to help poorer nations deal with the devastation already being caused by climate change.  

It's all very well demanding that everything happens NOW, but we're actually going to do - or not - about climate change is all about negotiation.  What happens inside those fusty negotiating halls?  How does one negotiate well and get what one wants, whether on climate or things more domestic? And does the climate have the time for us to negotiate our way out of a paper bag? Joining Dave this episode is Camilla Born MBE. Camilla's been at more top tables than you've had hot dinners, and has been there for the crunchy bits of some of the planet's most important negotiations - not least when advising COP26 President Alok Sharma.  Find out how Camilla gets her way, and what she thinks about protestors demanding the seemingly impossible. Follow Camilla on Twitter @camillaborn. We don't talk about it in the episode but Camilla and I recommend this moving piece by Pete Betts, a legendary negotiator, reflecting on everything he's learned. Owl noises: -- 08:08: Anchoring bias explained over at the Decision Lab. -- 10:16: I should probably give due kudos to the thing that I read, which is these top 10 negotiating tips by the Harvard Law School's negotiation programme. -- 16:56: it really does matter whether we phase coal 'down' or 'out', and Carbon Brief explains why. -- 19:52: Professor Lee's thoughts on tactical empathy and much else - including more Camilla - in this Inside Science episode on negotiation. Your Brain on Climate is a podcast about human psychology vs the climate crisis: what we think, why we think it, and how it all adds up to a planet-sized emergency.  Contact the show:  @brainclimate on Twitter, or hello@yourbrainonclimate.com. Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/yourbrainonclimate. The show is hosted by me, Dave Powell, who you can find @powellds on Twitter.  Original music by me, and I twiddle all the production knobs too. Show logo by Arthur Stovell at www.designbymondial.com.   

World leaders will start meeting in Egypt on Sunday at COP27, the sequel to last year's climate summit in Glasgow, in an effort to tackle climate change. But with the UN warning that the global effort to cut emissions is "woefully inadequate", could this COP be more of a flop? Adam previews the conference with COP26 President Alok Sharma and the BBC's climate editor Justin Rowlatt. Also, writer Dolly Alderton turns into Newscast's agony correspondent to help us navigate worries about the news after a relentless few weeks. Today's Newscast was made by Daniel Wittenberg with Alix Pickles, Madeleine Drury and Miranda Slade. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Tim Walklate.

As the world turns its attention to the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (CoP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, CoP26 President Alok Sharma reflects upon the achievements won thus far in the fight against climate change in our latest podcast. Sharma's address at the Wilson Center also outlines the steps that need be taken at CoP27 and in the future to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all.Sharma observes that the CoP26 in Scotland last year represented a “fragile win” and that the Glasgow Climate Pact went further than many had imagined it would to keep accepted climate goals in place. “The pulse of 1.5 degrees remained alive,” he says. A year on from Glasgow, however, the geopolitical landscape has altered. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered crises of food and energy security. Economic factors such as inflation and increased debt pressures have compounded the world's existing environmental emergency in a moment when it is still making a tremulous recovery after Covid-19.  “But as serious as these crises are,” Sharma remarks, “we must also recognize the seismic structural shift that is underway. Our global political economy built on fossil fuels for the last century is in a state of flux.” He urges the world community not to get bogged down in, and distracted by, these new challenges. In this way, global leaders might avoid the same mistakes committed during the financial crisis of 2008, when economic meltdown put climate action on the back burner. Sharma highlights the excellent gains being made on climate action despite the changing currents, noting that “estimates suggest that by the middle of this decade, renewables' capacity is expected to be up 60 percent on 2020 levels”. He cites cleaner energy initiatives undertaken across various countries, including the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, and the strengthened reduction targets of India's 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution. Sharma also praises Kenya's pursuit of its geothermal potential and welcomes Australia back to the forefront of the “fight against climate change.” Taken together, these actions and others offer a “future of hope.”Yet Sharma also offers a note of frustration and urgency. He observes that his conversations today on climate issues have not changed in nature from those he was having three years ago at the start of his CoP Presidency tenure. In assessing the G20 Climate and Environment Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia in August 2022, for instance, Sharma reveals that "some of the world's major emitters threatened to backslide on commitments that they had made in Glasgow and in Paris.” The urge to reverse progress reveals that there is still “a big deficit in political will,” he says. “What further evidence or motivation do global leaders need to act?”A sharp critique of current infrastructure for addressing climate is at the center of Sharma's current thinking. He says that the institutions currently in place to deal with climate action are ill-fitted to deal with today's critical situation. “We cannot tackle the defining challenge of this century,” he argues, “with institutions defined by the last”. Sharma seconds the comments of Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, at the UN General Assembly in September 2022 that there needs to be an “overhaul of global financial architecture.” “Countries must get access to the technical help they need through fully operationalizing the Santiago Network,” he says.Sharma concludes by threading together the seeming paradoxes of our moment, noting that the positive work and progress already made in combatting global warming must be accompanied by adequate systems that recognize the systemic risk of climate change and manage it accordingly. If the global community can manage this task, he believes that the twenty first century “will be the century that we unlocked a just and sustainable path to prosperity for billions of people around the world.”

With Sue Gray's report set to be published this week, Labour MP Catherine West says it will be up to Tory MPs to decide how to react to the outcome of the inquiry. On the cost of living, the shadow foreign affairs minister tells Bloomberg's Yuan Potts and Stephen Carroll a windfall tax on oil and gas companies would help to bolster consumer confidence. Also in the show, we hear from COP26 President Alok Sharma about the green energy transition, and Gerard Lyons from the Centre for Policy Studies explains why the think-tank is calling for the UK government to scrap a planned increase in corporate tax.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Monday, COP26 President Alok Sharma said the war in Ukraine has pushed climate change from the global agenda, which is undermining the “fragile” climate deal reached in Glasgow last year. POLITICO Europe's Karl Mathiesen breaks down how geopolitical dynamics have stymied progress on climate since COP26 and the expectations heading into COP27.   Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Karl Mathiesen is the Senior Climate Correspondent for POLITICO Europe.  Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Raghu Manavalan is a senior editor for POLITICO audio. Jenny Ament is the executive producer of POLITICO's audio department.

The climate summit COP26 was seen as a qualified success. As COP27, due to be held in Egypt by the end of the year, draws closer, and in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke with the head of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, Gim Huay Neo, to discuss the significance of public-private collaboration in delivering more radical climate action. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The climate summit COP26 was seen as a qualified success. As COP27, due to be held in Egypt by the end of the year, draws closer, and in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke with the head of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, Gim Huay Neo, to discuss the significance of public-private collaboration in delivering more radical climate action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The climate summit COP26 was seen as a qualified success. As COP27, due to be held in Egypt by the end of the year, draws closer, and in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke with the head of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, Gim Huay Neo, to discuss the significance of public-private collaboration in delivering more radical climate action.

Russia's Supreme Court says Memorial violated a law requiring groups to register as foreign agents. The organisation was originally set up to investigate abuses during Joseph Stalin's time in power. Also in the programme: US health officials halve the recommended isolation time for those with asymptomatic Covid-19 infections; China says Elon Musk's satellites came close to colliding with its space station; and COP26 President Alok Sharma reflects on 2021's climate successes and failures. (Photo: Russian police detain a supporter of Memorial outside the country's Supreme Court during a hearing in Moscow on December 28, 2021 – Credit: EPA / YURI KOCHETKOV)

When the Glasgow climate jamboree ended after two weeks, COP26 President Alok Sharma broke down in tears and seemed to apologise for his failure to get countries like China and India on side. But now that the dust has settled from Glasgow's COP26 summit, but how will this one be remembered? There were protestors, no shows from state leaders and new commitments were made whilst backroom wrangling had mixed results. What are the key factors that make these summits a success? Given the mammoth task ahead of the countries that have committed to tacking climate change, is it realistic to expect real change? In this podcast, Cindy Yu is joined by seasoned professionals in climate change and sustainability. Harriet Lamb, CBE and CEO of Ashden which is an organisation that supports and promotes sustainable energy enterprises. Emily Thornberry MP who is shadow attorney general but was Labour's shadow international trade secretary at the time of recording this podcast. Finally, Simone Rossi, who is the CEO of EDF Energy. This podcast is kindly sponsored by EDF Energy.

A few days before COP26 the UN convened the 16th Conference of Youth – COY16. Over 40,000 young people around the world were consulted in the preceding months and the conference concluded a statement of desired action to be presented to COP26. It was received at the COY16 closing ceremony by COP26 President Alok Sharma and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. Jonathan Levy spoke to delegates and dignitaries. He also caught up with Amy Meek, a Humber based youth activist from Kids Against Plastic to gain her impressions of COP26

COP26 President Alok Sharma has said that the summit will be a success only if it keeps the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive. But it's extremely unlikely that countries will commit to those kinds of carbon cuts at the summit. Also, Nov. 13 marks the sixth anniversary of the coordinated terrorist attacks at the Bataclan concert hall and six other sites in Paris. This year, it comes amid a major trial against the 10-man group that carried out the attacks. Plus, ever wonder what happens if a large asteroid goes on a trajectory to hit planet Earth? NASA is now testing a solution called the Double Asteroid Redirection Test — or DART — and they say it's the world's first planetary defense mission.

Episode 6 (Part 1): In this episode we are live from COP26 and trying to take the temperature of the climate conference. COP26 President Alok Sharma has called for world leaders to come together for our planet, saying “Paris, promised, Glasgow, must deliver”. We wanted to ask some of those focused on delivering low carbon solutions what they wanted to see from COP26, and what positive action can be taken now to achieve a net zero future.

Is this a make or break moment? As the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference better known as COP26 just started and will take place in Glasgow till November 12th, the question is if political leaders will use the event to effectively move forward when addressing the climate emergency. "This is a chance for all these countries to show leadership, this is the point where they have to stand up and be counted. I want more out of every country," COP26 President Alok Sharma said for Sky News. And according to political economist Alexander Gard-Murray this is a problem because we cannot be sure if politicians will step up. Gard-Murray is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Climate Solutions Lab and the Rhodes Center for International Economics and Finance at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University. We debate what to expect from COP26, why he is hopeful but not confident and why he says that climate change delayism is perhaps even worse than climate change denial. And what does he think about Greta Thunberg? Listen to our conversation. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/andrej-matisak/message

On this installment of our series, The Road To COP26 Presented By Octopus Energy, we kickoff our two week special coverage of COP26 in Glasgow with Time Magazine's Justin Worland, senior correspondent covering climate change, about what to expect from this year's critical United Nation's conference on climate change. Justin explains the biggest issues on the table at this year's negotiations, why this year's conference is a big test for multilateralism, and what it's like to be in Glasgow during the meetings. He also talks about his recent piece "The Diplomat: John Kerry Brings America Back To The Climate Fight" and what COP26 could mean for the legacy of the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate. Co-hosts Ty Benefiel and Brock Benefiel also react to COP26 President Alok Sharma's kickoff press conference and discuss the stakes for world leaders as they gather for the opening days as the conference begins with a rocky start.  Subscribe to Time Magazine's Climate Newsletter Thank you to our sponsor Octopus Energy, a 100% renewable electricity supplier. Octopus Energy is currently serving millions of homes around the globe in countries like the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, and Germany.  Subscribe to our Substack newsletter "The Climate Weekly": https://theclimateweekly.substack.com/ As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to our new YouTube channel! Join our Facebook group. Check out our updated website! Further Reading: The COP26 Climate Talks Are Opening. Here's What to Expect. Climate finance for poor countries to hit $100bn target by 2023, says report Bad weather causes delays on train routes to Glasgow Cop26 talks  

European gas prices soar, as the UK's business and energy minister prepares to hold emergency talks with suppliers, but COP26 President Alok Sharma has played down concerns. In Germany, the SPD's Olaf Scholz has emerged the clear winner in the latest TV debate ahead of this weekend's general election. Chinese property developer Evergrande faces twin bond payment deadlines this week, prompting its share price to plunge on the Hang Seng. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Britain's President for November Glasgow COP26 Alok Sharma (pictured) and Australia's Shadow Climate Change Minister, Chris Bowen, were among the last of the speakers' at the three-day Better Futures Forum Australia. Mr Sharma was insistent that the intent of the Glasgow event be adopted and pursued with enthusiasm - he is an enthusiast of what will unfold in Glasgow and what it will mean for the world. Mr Bowen went to some lengths of "sell" the Australian Labor Party's position on the climate crisis and whatever your political stripe it is worth listening to what Australia's Shadow Minister for Climate Change had to say. In the meantime, enjoy "Music for a Warming World". Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/climateconversations

Alok Sharma on Climate, Carbon and COP acronyms. COP26 President Alok Sharma joins Adam to talk all things Climate, Carbon and COP. He takes us deep into the negotiations, explaining how he's going to meet the 100 billion climate pledge, what he's doing about NCDs and his plans for Net Zero by 2050. And we give him the ultimate Newscast welcome – with a COP26 acronym quiz! Also, Branwen gives us the run-down of the national picture on A-Level results day and when we can expect exams to return to normal. Today's Newscast was made by Natalie Ktena with Caitlin Hanrahan and Alix Pickles. The Studio Director is Emma Crowe. The Assistant Editor is Emma Close.