Best Tom Rivett Carnac Podcasts (2026)

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Venezuela, Fossil Fuels, and the Year Ahead 42:44

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1h ago42:44

42:44

The year has barely begun, and already the fault lines of global power are on full display. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson take stock of a moment that feels both shocking and revealing. The US abduction of Venezuela’s president raises urgent questions about sovereignty, international law, and the enduring grip of fossil f…

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Beginning the Year With Ancestral Wisdom 40:58

9d ago40:58

40:58

As billions around the world mark the beginning of a new year, many are pausing to ask the same questions: what do we carry forward, and what do we leave behind, as we cross from the old into the new? And as headlines fill with predictions about the rise of artificial intelligence, could a different kind of AI - ‘ancestral intelligence’ - offer ins…

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Why Beauty Matters in the Climate Crisis 45:23

17d ago45:23

45:23

At a moment when the world feels noisier, faster, and more demanding than ever, what role can beauty play in helping us slow down, reconnect, and remember what matters? As the year draws to a close, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson step back from targets, timelines and political headwinds to explore how craft, design and th…

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Follow The Money: Who’s driving climate disinformation? 43:50

19d ago43:50

43:50

At the very moment we need clarity and trust, information integrity is being polluted. Disinformation is profitable and the impact on truth is dangerous. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the discourse around climate. This week, Outrage + Optimism steps into the murky, fast-moving world of climate disinformation. Not simply misunderstanding and …

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Paris, 10 Years On - Has it Changed the World? 49:05

26d ago49:05

49:05

Ten years ago, a gavel dropped in a conference hall north of Paris. It was the moment the world agreed on a strategic plan for one of the most consequential transformations in human history. But, a decade later, what has the Paris Agreement truly delivered? Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson pull back the curtain on the momen…

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Jacinda Ardern and… Is It Time to Talk About Geoengineering? 47:59

1M ago47:59

47:59

This week, hosts Tom Rivett Carnac and Paul Dickinson delve into the rapidly emerging - and faintly surreal - world of solar geoengineering. Politico journalist Karl Mathiesen joins us to unpack his investigation into Stardust, a VC-backed startup claiming it’s ready to spray particles into the stratosphere. Karl explains why this technology is sud…

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Kim Stanley Robinson on Pre Traumatic Imagination and the stories that change us 36:35

1M ago36:35

36:35

This week on Outrage + Optimism, we’re taking a breath. After two intense weeks of daily updates from COP30 in Belém, we’re returning to weekly programming with something different - a slower, deeper, more reflective conversation that felt too valuable to cut. While in the Blue Zone, we sat down with Kim Stanley Robinson, the acclaimed author of Th…

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Inside COP: The Final Hours of COP30 - and the road ahead 37:49

1M ago37:49

37:49

This is our final episode of Inside COP. For two weeks we’ve tried to bring you as close as possible to the heart of COP30 - the pace, the pressure, the progress, and the perspectives of those working inside and around the process. The closing plenary on Saturday began amid unexpected tension. Already running a day behind schedule, the Presidency m…

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Inside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue Zone 38:16

2M ago38:16

38:16

We recorded this episode across Friday afternoon and deep into the evening inside the Blue Zone at COP30. At the time of publishing, there is still no final deal. The negotiations are ongoing, positions are shifting, and the outcome remains uncertain. We know that by the time you listen, some of what we heard today may already have changed, but we …

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Inside COP: Friday Morning in Belém - what’s changed and why it matters 15:40

2M ago15:40

15:40

It’s Friday morning in Belém and COP30 is moving fast. After yesterday’s fire and the overnight closure of the venue, the Brazilian Presidency worked through the night and released a new draft text early this morning. It has immediately triggered significant pushback. In this emergency episode the team talks through what changed overnight, and why …

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Inside COP: Fire at COP30 - and the work still to be done 12:45

2M ago12:45

12:45

Today was not meant to be this episode. At around 2pm local time, a fire broke out near the country pavilions, triggering the full evacuation of the Blue Zone. As COP30 entered its final stretch, we’d planned to bring you an update on the negotiations, and to share some of the many extraordinary stories of progress and perseverance that surface her…

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Inside COP: Storms in Belém - Lula’s arrival, the carbon tariff debate, and the COP31 decision 38:09

2M ago38:09

38:09

We’re approaching crunch time in Belém, and a long-running COP30 saga may finally have found its landing spot. After days of rumour, diplomacy and thunderous rainforest downpours, the question of who will host COP31 looks close to being resolved - and it all plays out over the course of our day’s recording. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith trace th…

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Inside COP: China, India… and the Text on the Table 44:38

2M ago44:38

44:38

It’s the middle of week two at COP30, and the negotiations are entering their crunch phase. A draft cover text has finally landed, ministers are on the ground, and the presidency is pushing hard to close before Lula heads to the G20 in Johannesburg. Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith look at the issues still holding up progress - from finance and ada…

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Inside COP: Coal’s Out, Pressure’s On - a pivotal moment for COP30 40:50

2M ago40:50

40:50

It’s getting hot in the COP. Executive Secretary Simon Stiell turned up the pressure in Belém on Monday, sharpening his message as ministers arrived for what is often the most charged phase of the summit. He called for no more tactical delays, and no more dancing around the hardest issues. And Pope Leo XIV weighed in with an appeal to moral respons…

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Inside COP: The fight for the Amazon 44:46

2M ago44:46

44:46

As ministers arrive in Belém for the crucial second week of COP30, forests move from the backdrop of the summit to the main stage. Protests began at dawn on Friday and have continued through the weekend - among them, several activists carried a giant Brazilian flag, emblazoned with the words “Amazȏnia Protegida” (“Protected Amazon”). From the stree…

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Inside COP: Al Gore on Fossil Fuel Lobbying and (In)convenient Truths 56:58

2M ago56:58

56:58

It’s the mid-point of COP30 and all four of our hosts have gathered in Belém to take stock. In the Blue Zone, the mood is its usual blend of high-stakes and surreal. The Presidency is calling its consultations a “collective therapy session,” China would prefer “massage and yoga,” and delegates are deep in the weeds of the Carbon Border Adjustment M…

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Inside COP: The UN’s Top Climate Official on Week One of COP30 41:56

2M ago41:56

41:56

Christiana Figueres takes us behind the scenes at the UNFCCC offices to speak to the man who now holds her old job as Executive Secretary. As week one of the negotiations nears its end, Simon Stiell explains the quiet but crucial difference between the COP Presidency, which sets the political direction, and the Secretariat, which guards the Paris p…

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Inside COP: Protests at COP30 - and the reality of Indigenous representation 38:49

2M ago38:49

38:49

At a COP meant to centre the Amazon, some Indigenous voices have found themselves on the outside. On Tuesday night, what began as a vibrant street march ended in a dramatic breach of the Blue Zone, as Indigenous protesters passed through the barriers of the official venue. What does this moment tell us about who gets to shape the ‘Amazon COP’? From…

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Inside COP: Is The US Still In? And Gavin Newsom on ‘invasive species’ Trump 37:08

2M ago37:08

37:08

Day three of COP30, and there’s one elephant not in the room. While there are plenty of United States citizens at this COP, for the first time, there are no US delegates. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith consider this notable absence, and ask: can a country that keeps flipping between progress and denial still claim climate …

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Inside COP: Brazil's Climate Leadership - the COP30 host takes centre stage 43:22

2M ago43:22

43:22

What is Brazil trying to achieve with COP30? It's Day Two in Belém and all eyes are on the host nation. Join Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac as they unpack how the country is shaping the first days of COP30 - and the quiet strategy behind Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago’s leadership. With the release of the Call of Belém for the Climate, …

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Inside COP: The COP30 President Speaks, the Summit Begins 38:58

2M ago38:58

38:58

COP30 is here! Day one dawns in the Amazon, and all eyes are on the host nation - and on the man tasked with steering the talks. On the eve of what could be the most consequential COP since Paris, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac sat down with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s COP30 President, for an inside look at his priorities: …

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Inside COP: Ed Miliband on Multilateralism, Leadership and the UK’s Climate Dilemma 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

Why hasn’t the UK contributed to Brazil's flagship Tropical Forests Forever Facility it helped design? With COP30 about to open in Belém, the UK’s absence from this major forest finance deal is raising eyebrows. Meanwhile, Prince William, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Energy and Climate Change Minister Ed Miliband have been in Brazil this week…

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Inside COP: World Leaders Gather in Belém - with Jacinda Ardern and Selwin Hart 43:17

2M ago43:17

43:17

As COP30 opens in Belém, world leaders have gathered for the first major moment of this Amazon-based summit in the shadow of growing doubts about global cooperation. With some major countries absent and others already signalling caution, the urgency of credible action is louder than ever. Brazil has launched it’s flagship Tropical Forests Forever F…

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Inside COP: The Power of Cities - from the Local Leaders Forum 36:56

2M ago36:56

36:56

Behind the national plans and global headlines, a quieter revolution is already underway. Almost 100 major cities - representing 23% of the world’s economy - are proving what local leadership can do. From clean-air targets and green-job creation to citizen-led adaptation, these C40 cities are already showing that climate action works for the planet…

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Inside the Earthshot Prize 2025: Royal Vision, Real Change 43:35

2M ago43:35

43:35

In a year when climate news can feel relentlessly bleak, the Earthshot Prize offers something vital - proof of progress. And in this year’s fifteen finalists, that proof is taking many forms, across many corners of the globe. This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Fiona McRaith bring us behind the scenes of the Earthshot Prize. Recor…

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Inside COP: Looking for a Plan in Finance - the trillion dollar transition 39:13

2M ago39:13

39:13

It’s the trillion-dollar problem: funds are on the table - but the money isn’t always flowing to where it’s needed most. As Hurricane Melissa batters the Caribbean, it leaves behind a stark reminder of what’s at stake when finance fails to reach the most climate-vulnerable places. This week on Inside COP, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Pau…

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Inside COP: Teaming Up for the Planet - The Global Mutirão 45:20

3M ago45:20

45:20

Nearly 9 out of 10 people worldwide want their governments to do more on climate. So why does it feel like progress is so slow? And what happens when countries start bending the rules? This week on Inside COP, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith react to the shock postponement of the IMO’s net-zero shipping deal…

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Inside COP: The New World Order - power, politics and the green pie 37:39

3M ago37:39

37:39

The global balance of power is shifting. Can climate diplomacy keep up? As China rises, the BRICS expand and the United States retreats, new power blocks formed by competition and conflict will take centre stage in the negotiations in Belem. In this week’s Inside COP, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith ask: wha…

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Inside COP: A New Economy Rising - from promises to progress 46:56

3M ago46:56

46:56

Will COP30 be the COP of ‘implementation’? And what would that actually mean? Beyond the famous negotiating halls, climate action is already happening. Businesses, investors and cities are driving real change, and the new green economy is rising in tandem with diplomacy. So can Belém mark the moment when implementation promises turn into reality? T…

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Remembering Jane Goodall 37:08

3M ago37:08

37:08

Following the sad news this week of Jane Goodall’s passing, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac remember her extraordinary work, personality and humility. They are joined by Mary Lewis, Vice President of the Jane Goodall Institute and Jane’s long-time friend, who shares her memories of her remarkable colleague and her reflections on the incre…

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Inside COP: How to Build a COP 48:58

3M ago48:58

48:58

How do you build a COP? With just a few weeks to go until COP30 in Belém, we take listeners inside the high stakes and the complex mechanics of a climate summit: how they’re structured, who’s running the show, and what makes this one different. Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickinson and Fiona McRaith unpack how high-level climate co…

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Inside COP: The countdown to COP30 at New York Climate Week 1:01:19

4M ago1:01:19

1:01:19

How does COP deliver a pathway to dealing with the worsening climate crisis? That’s the big question as attention across the world turns to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, later this year. Inside COP is your complete guide, unpacking the challenges, conversations and actions shaping the global response to climate change in 2025. Christiana Figueres, Tom Ri…

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From Courtrooms to Statehouses: The US Climate Pushback 1:06:00

4M ago1:06:00

1:06:00

This week on Outrage + Optimism, we join the Be Hope global podcast takeover - a collaboration of shows amplifying courage and possibility in facing the greatest challenges of our time. Alongside Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson, guest co-host Sophia Li helps us explore how states, cities, and communities in the US are hol…

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Beyond the Bad News: Evidence for Climate Optimism 44:09

4M ago44:09

44:09

From stalled UN plastics treaty talks, to the hottest summer on record across much of the northern hemisphere - it’s been a bleak few weeks for climate news. So this week, against a backdrop of worsening headlines, we ask: are there still reasons to be optimistic? And what will it take to turn urgency into real change? Christiana Figueres, Tom Rive…

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Rising Tides: How indigenous communities are facing the climate crisis 57:40

4M ago57:40

57:40

What does it mean to live on the front lines of climate change - where rising seas, collapsing ecosystems and the legacies of colonialism collide? This week, Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson are joined by guest host Andrew Higham (Founder of the Future of Climate Cooperation, and former UNFCCC Senior Advisor), to hear from three remarkable pe…

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Listening to the Living World: Can AI help us hear the planet? 58:05

5M ago58:05

58:05

What if we could not only listen to the rest of nature, but actually understand it? From decoding whale songs to giving nature a legal voice, the possibilities are tantalising - and they may not be as far-fetched as they sound. That’s why the Earth Species Project (ESP) is racing to use artificial intelligence to translate the communication of othe…

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Introducing: Inside COP - the Official COP30 Podcast from Outrage + Optimism 4:43

5M ago4:43

4:43

Live from Belém… it’s Outrage + Optimism! (Or it will be.) This year’s COP is one of the most significant in years, and we’ll be there with you every step of the way - charting the buildup, analysing events on the ground, and reflecting on the impacts that will be felt for decades to come. We’re delighted to announce that we are the official COP30 …

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You Are What You Eat: Soil, Seeds and Social Justice 45:10

5M ago45:10

45:10

What’s really in the food on our plates? The journey to our supermarket shelves is one of broken economics, environmental destruction, and social injustice. But what if agriculture could look completely different? This week, Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson travel to Umbria, Italy, to visit QuintoSapore, a farm founded by twin brothers Nicola…

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Too Hot to Handle?: Facing a Future Beyond 1.5°C 54:17

5M ago54:17

54:17

As global temperatures continue to skyrocket, the once unthinkable is now within view: overshooting 1.5°C of warming. This limit, set out in the Paris Agreement, has defined a decade of climate action, but is fast approaching. So what happens next? This week, Tom, Christiana and Paul grapple with the latest science, the looming risks of climate tip…

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Mistakes, Mistruths and Misinformation: Climate's biggest myths debunked 52:24

5M ago52:24

52:24

Isn’t climate change just part of a natural cycle? Weren’t CO2 levels much higher in the past? And, even if we should be worried, can one person really make a difference? Lies travel faster than facts. We’ve all been confronted by someone who doesn’t ‘believe the science’ and asks questions like these - but how do we change their minds? A powerful …

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Trump’s War on Climate - and Maggie Baird on food justice and plant-based touring with Billie Eilish 56:07

5M ago56:07

56:07

As record heat scorches the US, Trump’s government is making things dramatically worse. We break down the devastating implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the reversal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s endangerment finding, and a potential US withdrawal from all UN agencies. It’s a full-blown climate backslide with global consequences…

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Breaking Planetary News: The ICJ Climate Opinion Explained 53:20

6M ago53:20

53:20

“An Existential Problem of Planetary Proportions” International Court of Justice President Yuji Iwasawa just delivered a landmark advisory opinion on climate change and human rights - one that could transform global climate action and accountability. A dancing and crying Christiana Figueres is joined by Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson, to reac…

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Planes, Protests, Pensions... and have banks given up on saving the planet? 58:09

6M ago58:09

58:09

Can a pilot really be the change-maker who helps us to holiday nearer home? Why aren’t governments and institutions doing more to help climate activists? And can climate progress happen without sacrificing prosperity, especially in countries like Brazil? Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and guest host Fiona McRaith (Director of The Climate Pledg…

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From Outrage to Action: Your Questions, Our Answers 55:30

6M ago55:30

55:30

We’re handing the mic over to you on this week’s Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast. In this special Q&A episode, Christiana Figueres, Paul Dickinson and guest host Fiona McRaith (Director of The Climate Pledge at Global Optimism) respond to thought-provoking questions from listeners around the world. They consider the future of the COP model,…

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The Climate Case of the Century: Inside the story of a youth-led legal movement 55:51

6M ago55:51

55:51

In a world-first, the International Court of Justice is preparing to deliver an advisory opinion on climate change and human rights - all thanks to a youth-led campaign that began thousands of miles from The Hague, in the Pacific Islands. This week, we look inside that extraordinary campaign, and hear the story of Cynthia Houniuhi, who - as a young…

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O+O Recommends: 'When Science Finds A Way' 5:50

6M ago5:50

5:50

Last episode, we explored the urgent connection between climate and health, and brought you a powerful and timely conversation with Julia Gillard, former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of the Wellcome Trust. Today, we want to recommend a show that those who enjoyed that episode are likely to love. When Science Finds A Way is a brilliant podcas…

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Health Warning: The Human Cost of Climate Inaction with Julia Gillard 39:08

7M ago39:08

39:08

Scientists warn that the world could breach its 1.5°C emissions limit within just 2-3 years. It’s a scary thought, but across the globe, many are grappling with an even more immediate and visceral reality: the climate crisis is already a health crisis. From deadly heatwaves to worsening air pollution and climate-related trauma, the health impacts o…

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Could This Change Your Life?: The Climate Tech Revolution 54:31

7M ago54:31

54:31

While climate diplomacy grapples with global uncertainty, there’s a quiet revolution happening that may be just as important - thousands of breakthrough technologies and creative applications that are emerging to tackle the climate crisis in new and unexpected ways. Around the world, figures from business, government and civil society come together…

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Hope for the High Seas?: Sylvia Earle and Oceans on the World Stage 44:53

7M ago44:53

44:53

World leaders, scientists and ocean advocates are gathering in Nice for the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) and hopes are high that progress can be made on some of the many pressing issues facing our seas - from acidification to pollution, and from biodiversity loss to deep sea mining. Reporting from the summit, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Ca…

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COP30: Can Brazil deliver a global breakthrough? 59:17

7M ago59:17

59:17

This November, Brazil will host COP30 in Belém, on the edge of the Amazon rainforest, in what is bound to be a moment packed with symbolism, high expectations, and global significance. This week, Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson explore what’s at stake, what Brazil wants to achieve, and whether the world is ready to move f…