Climate Talks
Melbourne Climate Futures
0
Climate Talks is a podcast hosted by Professor Jackie Peel, Associate Professor Cathy Oke, and PhD Candidate Bek Markey-Towler. It focuses on the annual United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COPs), covering news and interviews with experts. Each season follows the journey to a specific COP, from COP26 up to the upcoming COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. The show aims to inform listeners about key climate issues and negotiations in the lead-up to these global summits.
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Finance and Just Transition 11.08.2026 31minArj Dibley, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law at the National University of Singapore and Amanda Cahill, founder of the Next Economy join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the fifth episode of Season 6 of Climate Talks to talk about finance and just transition. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from Bronwen Tucker, Public Finance Lead, Oil Change International speaking on a panel at the Santa Marta conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTTT3FTcFY8 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. -
1.5°C Overshoot 16.07.2026 32minAndy Reisinger, independent consultant and Honorary Associate Professor at the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Debra Roberts, a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and Lavanya Rajamani, Professor of International Environmental Law at the University of Oxford join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the fourth episode of Season 6 of Climate Talks to talk about 1.5°C overshoot. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from AOSIS Lead Climate Negotiator Anne Rasmussen raising concerns about attempts to de-link the recent Bonn Climate negotiations from the best available science and weaken the 1.5°C limit. You can hear the clip in full here.Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. -
Fossil Fuel Phase Out 08.06.2026 30minRebecca Byrnes, Legal Strategy Director, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, Christoph Nedopil Wang, Professor at the University of Queensland Business School and Elisa Morgera, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the third episode of Season 6 of Climate Talks to talk about fossil fuel phase out. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer, Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth in the Netherlands, speaking at the 1st Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta Colombia in April this year. You can hear the clip in full here.Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. -
Loss and Damage 24.05.2026 35minLisa Vanhala, Professor of Political Science and Deputy Head of the Department of Political Science, University College London, Hyacinthe Niyitegeka, Engagement Lead and Heidi White, Technical Expert at the Loss and Damage Collaboration, and Dr Roda Verheyen, partner in the law firm Rechtsanwälte Günther Partnerschaft, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the second episode of Season 6 of Climate Talks to talk about loss and damage. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from a panel event on the landmark case on climate change loss and damage, Lliuya v RWE. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD7-GW3Kfu8 Lisa’s book is called ‘Governing the End: The Making of Climate Change Loss and Damage’. The article Lisa mentioned is called ‘One thousand ways to experience loss: A systematic analysis of climate-related intangible harm from around the world’. Further information from the Loss and Damage Collaboration can be found here: https://www.lossanddamagecollaboration.org/resources/loss-and-damage-response-toolkit https://www.lossanddamagecollaboration.org/resources/the-obligations-of-states-in-respect-of-climate-change Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcast, or wherever else you're listening from. -
Looking ahead to COP31 31.03.2026 27minChristian Downie, Professor in the School of Regulation and Global Governance at the Australian National University and Steve Davison, Executive Director, Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the first episode of Season 6 of Climate Talks to talk about the outcomes from COP30 last year and to look forward to COP31 this year. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from COP31 President, Murat Kurum. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/59WARa5kKz8 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. -
What happened at COP30 and what comes next 16.12.2025 32minRobyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor in the Discipline of Political Science, School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Roanna McClelland, Research Fellow, Laureate Program on Global Corporate Climate Accountability and Jane Lomax-Smith, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the final episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about what happened at COP30 and what comes next. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from COP President Ambassador Corrêa do Lago speaking at the closing ceremony for COP30. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watchv=Poxx7VsEtqA&t=12220s Jackie’s LinkedIn posts and Conversation article are available here: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-peel-69bb1944 and https://theconversation.com/this-years-climate-talks-saw-real-progress-just-not-on-fossil-fuels-269903 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. -
What to expect from COP30 12.11.2025 29minMarcele Oliveira, the Youth Climate Champion for COP30, Megan Bowman, Director of Centre for Climate Law & Governance and Professor of Climate Law, King’s College London and Arianna Griffa, Senior Policy Manager – Global, Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change join hosts Jackie Peel and Bek Markey-Towler, in the ninth episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about what to expect from COP30. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaking at Climate Week in New York. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRRqeo-xW48 A new article from Megan Bowman is available here: M Bowman and T Tayler (2026) ‘Law and the International Financial Architecture: Pathways and Pivot points for achieving Paris objectives’ in A Research Agenda for Law, Finance and the Environment (M Bowman and L Mai (eds.), Edward Elgar, forthcoming): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5632470 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. -
Hot topics impacting the COPs: AI, an Advisory Opinion and Misinformation 12.10.2025 37minStephen Minas, Professor of Law, Peking University and Chair of the UN Climate Technology Centre and Network Advisory Board, Rohan Nanthakumar, international law consulting counsel at Blue Ocean Law and Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Melbourne Law School and Alfie Chadwick, PhD student at the Climate Change Communication Research Hub at Monash University, join hosts Jackie Peel and Cathy Oke, in the eighth episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about ‘hot topics’ impacting the COPs, specifically focusing on the impacts of AI, the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion and climate misinformation. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from a webinar introducing the COP30 Climate Action Agenda, hosted by the COP30 Incoming Presidency, the Climate High-Level Champions, and UNFCCC.You can hear the clip in full here. You can also hear a longer panel discussion from the Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH) at the Melbourne Law School on the ICJ Advisory Opinion here: https://on.soundcloud.com/GBnRFuhyR00kGzbopi Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/climate-talks/ -
Youth and the COPs 17.09.2025 29minLilieta Soakai, Witness Stand Project Officer withPacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Imogen Kane, a youth engagement specialist at UNICEF Australia and Amelia Pearson, a climate communicator based at the Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub, joinhosts Jackie Peel and Bek Markey-Towler, in the seventh episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about youth and the COPs. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from youth climate activist Selena Marwaha.Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futuresand Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. -
Connecting climate science to the COPs 10.08.2025 28minJim Skea, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Winston Chow, Co-Chair, Working Group II at the IPCC and Professor of Urban Climate and a Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow at Singapore Management University’s College of Integrative Studies and Virginia Marshall, Research Fellow at the School of Regulation and Global Governance with the Australian National University and Member at the Climate Change Authority, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the sixth episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about the role of climate science in the COPs. You can read the COP30 Presidency’s fourth letter here: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Fourth_CPD_Letter.pdf The clip at the beginning of the episode is from UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaking at the final day of the UN June Climate Meetings in June in Bonn. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtGqsg4-VM4 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. -
From Land to Sea: Forests, oceans and biodiversity at the COPs 08.07.2025 32minDirk Nemitz, Team Lead Agriculture, Forestry and Land-Use at the UNFCCC, Margaret Young, Australian Research Council Future Fellow and Professor at the Melbourne Law School and Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology and Director, Melbourne Biodiversity Institute at the University of Melbourne, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the fifth episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about the role of forests, oceans and biodiversity in the COPs. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell at the 62nd session of the IPCC speaking about the need to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees. You can hear the clip in full here.Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. -
Connecting COPs to communities 03.06.2025 29minGraeme Reed, Post-Doctoral Associate at the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages at York University, Alexei Trundle, Associate Director (International) at the Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne and Belle Workman, Research Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the fourth episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about the connecting COPs to communities. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from COP30 President, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago speaking at the Instituto Rio Branco in Brasilia earlier this year talking about the importance of other actors, including communities, for climate action. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHXgokQTjQA Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks to stay up-to-date with our latest episodes. -
The politics of climate (in)action 30.04.2025 34minRobyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Michael Gerrard, Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice and Founder and Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School, and Neil Carter, Professor at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of York join hosts Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the third episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about politics and climate action. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from Johan Rockström speaking for a TED talk, highlighting that many citizens want climate action. But, as what we are talking about in this episode, shows that sometimes politics gets in the way. You can hear the clip in full here: Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. -
How to ‘break up’ with coal: Renewables, nuclear and beyond 09.04.2025 32minAndrea Vecchi, Research Fellow in Clean Energy at the University of Melbourne, John Wiseman, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures and Adjunct Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne, and Fergus Green, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy, University College London join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the second episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about the just transition away from fossil fuels and what the energy mix might look like in the future. All Net Zero Australia results and reports are publicly available: https://www.netzeroaustralia.net.au The book referenced is ‘Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From Impossible to Possible’ edited by Gareth A. S. Edwards, John Wiseman, and Amanda Cahill. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from a debate between Chris Bowen, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Ted O’Brien, the Shadow Minister, on renewables versus nuclear speaking on the ABC’s 7.30 program. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e4TVLvJ5n4 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. -
COP turns 30: Expectations for climate negotiations in 2025 13.03.2025 38minRobyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Janine Felson, Enterprise Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures, Arthur Wyns, Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne and Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC in Bangladesh join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the first episode of Season 5 of Climate Talks to talk about expectations for COP30. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, incoming COP30 president, speaking about the upcoming climate conference. You can hear the clip in full here. Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/climate-talks -
What did we achieve (and not achieve) at COP29? 19.12.2024 30minKate Coleman, Associate Professor in Visual Arts and Design Education at the Faculty of Education, and Arthur Wyns, Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne join hosts Jackie Peel and Bek Markey-Towler, in the final episode of Season 4 of Climate Talks to talk about the outcomes from COP29. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev and Chandni Raina, Indian delegation representative speaking at the end of COP29. You can hear the clip in full here. Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or here. -
Hopes and fears ahead of COP29 12.11.2024 34minRobyn Eckersley, Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne, Janine Felson, Enterprise Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures, Don Henry, Professor, University of Melbourne and at the Climate Reality Project, and Kris Ebi, Professor in the University of Washington Center for Health and the Global Environment join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the eight episode of Season 4 of Climate Talks to talk about expectations for COP29. This episode was recorded prior to the results of the US election being announced. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaking at the Brookings Institution’s Global Economy and Development Programme Virtual Event. You can hear the clip in full here. Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or here. -
Climate City Innovation Special: Innovate4Cities Outcomes Report 05.11.2024 33minIn this final episode of City Climate Innovation, special episodes of the ClimateTalks Podcast produced by GCoM, Melbourne Centre for Cities and Melbourne Climate Futures, we bring a “fire side chat” with the co-chairs of the Innovate4Cities 2024 Conference - Ben Jance, Head of Research and Innovation at GCoM; and Lea Ranalder Associate Programme Management Officer at UN Habitat; and two other key members of the event organising team and lead authors of the Outcomes Report. We have the mastermind of the new city building form of the updated Global Research and Action Agenda for Cities and Climate Change Science (or GRAA) - Andrew Irvin; and curator of the Plenary Sessions, Hackathon and Climate Innovation Readiness Navigator Samia Khan. These guests join host Cathy Oke, Associate Professor Cathy Oke Senior Advisor to the Innovate4Cities Initiative and Director of Melbourne Centre for Cities. In this final episode of this third series of special episodes of the ClimateTalks Podcast series produced in partnership with GCoM, we conclude the discussions on themes of the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference with key outcomes from this event, including the third iteration of the GRAA. The clip at the beginning of the episode is Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer, former Grand Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke opening the Innovate4Cities 2024 You can hear the clip in full here. The City Climate Innovation podcast series is produced by GCoM and the Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. And this podcast is produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Follow the City Climate Innovation podcast series by subscribing to the ClimateTalks podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts. -
Who else will go to COP29? 10.10.2024 29minLinh Do, lead of the Wattle Fellowship, University of Melbourne and chair of Climate Action Network Australia, Gregor Robertson Special Envoy for Cities in CHAMP and Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Global Ambassador, Longest Serving Mayor of Vancouver, and Steve Davison, Deputy Director, Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge and international lead, UK Universities Climate Network, join hosts Jackie Peel, Bek Markey-Towler and Cathy Oke, in the seventh episode of Season 4 of Climate Talks to talk about who else, besides governments, will go to COP29. The clip at the beginning of the episode is from Eduardo Maher, First Nations climate activist, speaking with ABC Radio National. You can hear the clip in full here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/climate-activists/104326986 Climate Talks is produced by Melbourne Climate Futures and Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Climate Talks acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Owners of the unceded land on which this podcast was produced. Subscribe to Climate Talks on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/climate-talks -
City Climate Innovation Special: Finance 11.09.2024 31minIn this fourth episode we kick things off with the Executive Director of the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, Ms. Savina Carluccio and Ms. Joanna Masic, Lead Urban Specialist and Global Lead, Urban, Disaster Risk Management and Land Global Practice at the World Bank. We also have Mr. Georges Youssef, Mayor of Menjez, Lebanon discussing the finance of urban sustainability at the local government level. These guests join hosts Ben Jance, and Cathy Oke in the latest episode of City Climate Innovation, special episodes of the ClimateTalks Podcast produced by GCoM. This marks the third series of special episodes of the ClimateTalks Podcast series produced in partnership with GCoM, now focused on the key themes of the 2024 Innovate4Cities Conference. Today, we will explore the enduring need for finance to catalyze climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban environments. The clip at the beginning of the episode is Ms. Savina Carluccio speaking at the IABSE Manchester 2024 keynote address. You can hear the clip in full here. The City Climate Innovation podcast series is produced by GCoM and the Melbourne Centre for Cities at the University of Melbourne. And this podcast is produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Our theme music is by Music for a Warming World. Follow the City Climate Innovation podcast series by subscribing to the ClimateTalks podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen to your podcasts.