Climate Curious

“I feel upbeat about what's possible," says Tessa Khan, environmental lawyer, campaigner, and founder of Uplift. In this live episode, Tessa joins co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst for a stocktake of the UK's most epic climate victories: ending new oil and gas exploration, shutting down the last coal-fired power plant, and becoming the only major economy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 50% in 30 years. There's a lot to celebrate – and a lot still to fight for! Plus: how climate messaging can appeal to the populist right. Recorded live at Climate Curious Live in London.Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“We should be as optimistic as they [Big Oil] are,” says economist, diplomat, key architect of the Paris Agreement, and climate heavy-hitter Laurence Tubiana. Having spent decades navigating the political domain of global climate policy, in this Climate Curious short she dives into why the current “down cycle” of climate action is reflective of fear in the fossil fuel industry and should be viewed with optimism; as well as how the secret to resilience is in listening to the people around you. Finally Laurence shares how the “golden moment” for fossil fuels is coming to an end, and how we can reclaim control over our own future. Recorded live in London in conversation with co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst at Climate Curious Live: The OGs Edition. Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Climate is a combat sport”, says French economist, diplomat, and climate heavy-hitter Laurence Tubiana, live on stage at Climate Curious Live Climate OGs event last week. As one of the key architects of the Paris Agreement, very few people have the experience and political perspective she does in the world of climate action. Laurence breaks down why the current “down cycle” in climate action should be viewed with optimism, how the wealthiest 1% are fueling climate injustice, and howclimate conscious citizens can reclaim the right wing notion of “taking back control”. Recorded live in conversation with Climate Curious co-hosts Maryam Pasha and Ben Hurst. Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beth Gardiner, environmental journalist and author of Plastic Inc., untangles how Big Oil turned petrochemicals into a plastics empire. She traces plastics from Tupperware to disposability, reveals industry strategies to boost profits, and discusses policy fixes like producer responsibility and moratoria on new plants.

“The judge said ExxonMobil’s liability is unlimited, so that could cost them billions,” says Melinda Janki, the lawyer leading the fight to protect Guyana from the oil curse on the latest Climate Curious. Tune in to hear Melinda speak about legal wins against big oil and understand how you yourself can help keep big oil accountable for its polluting actions. Recorded live in conversation with Climate Curious co-host, Ben Hurst at TED Countdown 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.Watch Melinda’s talk at TED Countdown 2025, How we took an oil giant, and won https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj5jM6MANUoWho do you want to hear from next on Climate Curious? Fill out our quick listener feedback survey: https://tedxlondon.typeform.com/climatecurious ​​Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate’s thousand pound gorilla in the room? China. Since 2016, China has been responsible for about 90% of global emissions growth. But as of 2025, China' s emissions have started to fall. So why is no-one talking about it? Climate Curious’ Ben Hurst and Maryam Pasha spoke to Fix The News’ founder, solutions journalist and political economist, Angus Hervey to ask why this is a massive climate breakthrough, and question why the story that the world’s largest fossil fuel emitter in the world has decided to change its ways isn’t headline news. Tickets for Climate Curious LIVE, 11th February 2025, ‘Climate OGs: The history & future of climate progress: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-curious-live-tickets-1978623502158What do you want next on Climate Curious? Fill out our quick listener feedback survey: https://tedxlondon.typeform.com/climatecurious ​​Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Esther Duflo, Nobel Prize-winning economist known for using randomized trials to fight global poverty. She explains why climate efforts must center the poorest. Short, evidence-driven discussions cover testing adaptations in the field, scaling proven solutions, and funding climate compensation and rapid cash transfers to build resilience.

“If you can target black carbon, you have a huge impact over a very short period of time,” says science communicator and YouTuber, Simon Clark. Black carbon is hundreds of times more polluting  than CO2, but what is it? Where does it come from? And how can it be used as an emergency brake to reduce global warming? From clean cooking devices and fuels, to the phasing out of diesel vehicles, we’re spotlighting the black carbon solutions making a difference, today. Check out Simon’s YouTube: @SimonClark https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRRr_xrOm66qaigIbwFLvbQ Tickets for Climate Curious LIVE, 11th February 2025, ‘Climate OGs: The history & future of climate progress: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-curious-live-tickets-1978623502158What do you want next on Climate Curious? Fill out our quick listener feedback survey: https://tedxlondon.typeform.com/climatecurious ​​Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angus Hervey, solutions journalist and founder of Fix The News, specialising in climate and energy trends. He spotlights 2025’s big wins: rapid solar and wind growth, collapsing battery costs turning renewables into dependable power, and China’s massive renewables rollout reshaping global markets and exports. Short takes on surprising countries adopting solar and emerging offshore and geothermal innovations.

Can ancient myths and folktales from the lost goddesses of Britain help us solve the climate crisis? Kim Willis thinks so. From stories of powerful female forces of nature, to legends of wild river creation, Climate Curious is reconnecting with waterways, rivers, and nature through the stories of Britain’s lost goddesses. Narrative strategist and author Kim Willis takes us deep into Britain’s mythological roots; sharing how these ancient stories and ideas  can give us a fresh vision of the modern world today, and our place within it.Check out Kim’s upcoming book, ‘No Fair Maidens’, https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/308998/kim-willis Tickets for Climate Curious LIVE, 11th February 2025, ‘Climate OGs: The history & future of climate progress: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/climate-curious-live-tickets-1978623502158What do you want next on Climate Curious? Fill out our quick listener feedback survey: https://tedxlondon.typeform.com/climatecurious ​​Join the Climate Curious conversation on socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climatecuriouspod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@climatecuriouspod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtF6xzNkVIczlDmVcH8FCMA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10996041/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEDxLondon Website: https://tedxlondon.com/podcast/ All other links: https://linktr.ee/climatecuriouspod Created by TEDxLondonExecutive produced by Josie ColterProduced by Ben BeheshtyCurated by Deesha ChandraHosted by Maryam Pasha and Ben HurstCommunications by Tara Cooper and Issey Gladston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.