In 2021, the UK is hosting the annual UN Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, where politicians and experts from across the world gather to cooperate on addressing the threat of climate change.

This podcast, from the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House, explores the major issues that shape international debates on climate change.

The Climate Briefing

Negotiators left COP26 in Glasgow with a relatively ambitious outcome. What progress has been made on the climate agenda since COP26, and what are some of the key issues to watch at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh? Mere days before COP27, Anna is joined by Bernice Lee (Hoffmann Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House) to discuss these important questions. Read the explainer:

Episode 25: A climate action stocktake

Earlier this year, India and Pakistan witnessed a prolonged heatwave, starting in March months before usual hot weather. This was followed by, and was in part the cause of, major flooding in Pakistan, as well as in parts of India.

The heatwave severely affected agriculture, while the flooding came with immense cost to property and infrastructure. Millions of people were affected.

South Asia has experienced devastating climate extremes – more than half of all South Asians have been affected by at least one climate-related disaster in the last two decades.  

In this episode, Gareth speaks to Aisha Khan, Executive Director, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change; Dr Daanish Mustafa, Professor in Critical Geography, King’s College London; and Jakob Steiner, Glacier Hydrologist, ICIMOD.

They discuss how climate risks in South Asia are being felt, and how the region can work to build resilience to these threats.

Episode 26: The climate crisis in South Asia

South Asia is home to one-quarter of the global population who reside in only 3.5 per cent of the world’s land area, making it the most populous and most densely-populated region in the world. It is also one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change: a recent study found that Chittagong in Bangladesh and Ahmedabad in India are two of the fastest-sinking coastal cities, leaving millions of people vulnerable to rising sea levels. This episode takes place during COP15, the UN’s Biodiversity Conference, and explores how climate change is threatening coastal cities, including megacities like Mumbai, Karachi, and Dhaka, and how community initiatives such as the &nbsp;are responding to adapt and build resilience. The discussion also considers whether there are alternative models to foster regional cooperation and to encourage working together on a common climate agenda. Speakers:  Yusuf Jameel, Research Manager, Project Drawdown Ashwin Naidu, Founder, Fishing Cat Conservancy Dhanasree Jayaram, Assistant Professor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Anum Farhan, Programme Coordinator, Environment and Society Programme, Chatham House

Episode 27: Building resilient coastal communities in South Asia

Examining the reasons why an International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on Climate Change could accelerate effective climate action solutions. Vanuatu is building a coalition within the United Nations (UN) to request an Advisory Opinion on Climate Change from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). An advisory opinion could help provide clarity on how existing international laws can be applied to strengthen action on climate change, protect people and the environment, and save the Paris Agreement.&nbsp; To find out more about the ICJ initiative and its potential impact on climate action, Anna speaks to His Excellency Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Risk Management.

Episode 30: How the International Court of Justice can accelerate climate action

Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano served as executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) between July 2016 and July 2022.&nbsp; In this role, she headed the UN entity tasked with supporting the global response to climate change. In this episode of the Climate Briefing, Ambassador Cantellano talks about the major developments in international climate politics during her tenure, and discusses the key issues tackled by the role of executive secretary at the UNFCCC.

Episode 31: The role and impact of the UNFCCC

The Climate Briefing is a monthly podcast from Chatham House, exploring the major issues shaping international debates around climate change.&nbsp; In this first episode, the team focus on what happened – and what didn’t happen - at the last UN Climate Change Conference, the COP25 in Madrid, and what it will mean for the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow. Anna and Johanna are joined by two guests; Archie Young, the UK’s lead climate negotiator, and Peter Betts, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House with long experience from the UN climate negotiations. Read the Meeting Summary: Outcomes of the Madrid COP25 and what this means for 2020. [Forthcoming] Follow us on Twitter:  Credits: Speakers: Peter Betts, Archibald Young Hosts: Anna Aberg, Johanna Tilkanen, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

Episode 1: What Does Success Look Like At COP26?

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 , and Jen Austin, Policy Director of the  coalition. Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the postponement of COP26 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Read the Meeting Summary:  Follow us on Twitter:  Credits: Speakers: Imke Lubbeke, Jen Austin Hosts: Johanna Tilkanen, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

Episode 2: European Climate Ambitions

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.&nbsp; Anna speaks to  about the threats posed by climate change, before Ben asks  how militaries and international organisations are adapting to these threats.&nbsp; Follow us on Twitter:  Credits: Speakers: Neil Morisetti, Patricia Lewis Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

Episode 3: Climate Change and National Security

In this bonus episode , 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?&nbsp; Read the BBC article:  Read the Expert Comment:  Credits: Speaker: Tim Benton Host: Anna Aberg Producer: Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 4: Coronavirus and Climate Change

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.&nbsp; This week the Climate Briefing team speak to three experts to find out more. , from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explains the key debates surrounding climate financing. Tenzin Wangmo, Lead Negotiator for the  outlines how developing countries view these financial concerns. Finally, Rachel Ward from the &nbsp;provides an insight into how investors are approaching the issue.&nbsp; Read the meeting summary:  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

Episode 5: How to Finance Climate Action

Industry accounts for approximately 24% of global CO2 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. &nbsp; 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  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. &nbsp; Credits: Speakers: Catherine Barber, Steve Evans Hosts: Ben Horton, Johanna Tilkanen Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 6: How to Decarbonise Industry

The Climate Briefing returns with two new interviews on the transition towards a renewable energy sector.&nbsp; 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  from Chatham House, and  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.&nbsp; Read the Expert Comment:  Credits: Speakers: Daniel Quiggin, Simon Sharpe Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 7: How to Encourage the Energy Transition

The Climate Briefing returns from its summer break with a deepdive into the history of the international climate agenda.  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  from the London School of Economics. Read the International Affairs article:

Episode 8: How Did We Get Here? A History of the Climate Negotiations

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 , 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 , the Executive Director of Greenpeace International.&nbsp; Credits: Speakers: Amy Harder, Jennifer Morgan Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 9: What Does the US Election Mean for Climate Change?

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. Could these tactics play a big role in increasing national climate ambitions at COP26? To find out, Ben speaks to  from Vivid Economics before Anna is joined by  from the Perspectives Climate Group. They discuss the various policy tools that fall under the umbrella of carbon pricing and how these figure in the UN climate negotiations, particularly within the hotly contested discussions around Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.&nbsp; Credits: Speakers: Stuart Evans, Aglaga Espelage Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced by Chatham House

Episode 10: Understanding Carbon Pricing

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

Episode 11: The Shifting Politics of Climate Change

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