Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast Power, Money and Influence: The Hidden Forces Shaping Climate Action
Feb 5, 2026
They unpack who holds power in the climate transition and how money and influence shape decision making. They explore what fossil fuel lobbying really looks like and why subsidy figures can be misleading. They examine how politics, COP dynamics and media attention affect smaller nations’ visibility. They debate whether complex climate solutions can survive in a world of simple narratives.
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Suncor Tried To Sway UN Negotiation
- Tom recounts a UN-era approach where Suncor tried to persuade him that targets were too ambitious.
- He treated the attempt as an obvious, unsuccessful lobby effort.
Lobbyist Lists Can Mislead Public Perception
- Public lists of 'lobbyists' at COPs can mislead because methodology groups many non-fossil actors together.
- That distorts perception and can unfairly paint the COP as dominated solely by polluters.
Lobbying Emerged With Energy Choice
- 'Lobbying' blurred into 'sales' as renewables became a real choice against fossil fuels.
- Some actors tagged as lobbyists may be crucial transition partners, like grid operators or renewable manufacturers.
