Cities 1.5

In this episode of Cities 1.5, we bring you another "Tale of Two Cities" - but this time, David sits down with two pioneering mayors from opposite ends of the globe. Despite their vastly different histories, both Athens are Melbourne are inspiring and leading the way through the climate crisis, and mitigating its impacts.We explore Athens is embracing progressive economics and tackling energy poverty, and how Melbourne is transforming and greening urban spaces and trailblazing renewable energy schemes and much more.These urban leaders are protecting city residents from climate impacts, engaging the next generation, and proving that local innovation and leadership is the best way to navigate the climate crisis. Featured guests:Haris Doukas, Mayor of AthensNick Reece, Lord Mayor of MelbourneLinks:Inside the World Mayors Summit: Cities throw down the gauntlet - Cities 1.5Inside the World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth and a fossil fuel free future at COP30 and beyond - Cities 1.5Athens mayor focuses on getting capital through extreme heat - The GuardianA blueprint for European cities? Athens announces new initiative to tackle energy poverty - Net Zero CitiesDoughnut Economics Action Lab4th Youth Assembly on Climate Change with the participation of University Students - EliamepNick Reece reveals plan to make Melbourne the “Garden City” - Southbank Local NewsMelbourne Renewable Energy Project Disinformation and the City - Melbourne Centre for CitiesWhat should Melbourne be like in 2050? - Docklands NewsM2050 Summit ReportIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

What links the Paris Agreement, Barbie and Arnold Schwarzenegger? The answer is this week’s guest on Cities 1.5!As a key architect of the Paris Agreement, Catherine McKenna - Canada’s former Minister for Climate Change and the Environment - reflects on why cities are now the true engines of delivery. There’s also a powerful exploration of Catherine’s new memoir, Run Like a Girl, and a firsthand account of why we cannot solve the climate crisis while leaving half the world’s population out of the corridors of power. It’s time to lead like a girl.Featured guest:Hon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities and host of Women Leading on Climate podcastAudio clips:Environment minister tells Rebel Media reporter to stop calling her 'Climate Barbie' - CBC NewsLinks:What justice for women in Afghanistan? - Swiss InfoInside the C40 World Mayors Summit - Cities 1.5It’s Grand Ol’ Bargain, Alright - Hot TakesCanada’s former climate minister on making a change, ‘aloof’ Trudeau and sexism - The GuardianIntegrity Matters: Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities - United Nations websiteParis climate deal - The GuardianBreaking the Tragedy of the Horizon - Mark Carney speechMeet the young climate activists behind Mathur et. al. v. His Majesty - EcojusticeWhy would anyone hate Catherine McKenna? - Maclean’sIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

In a world where climate emergencies are being declared daily, why do so many of our city streets and public transport networks have misleading ads for the very industries driving the crisis?Our conversation with two C40 experts reveals how the fossil fuel industry mirrors old tobacco industry tactics using sophisticated techniques to "greenwash" their image and frame essential health protections as attacks on free speech. Tune in to learn how cities reclaiming the narratives in our transit systems and urban squares is a vital step toward fending off industry attacks and securing a safer, more sustainable future for all.Featured guests:Mariana Batista, C40 Senior Manager, Public TransportCharlie Worthington, C40 Project Officer, High Carbon Advertising BansLinks:The War Against Tobacco: 50 Years and Counting - National Library of MedicineHow the Fossil Fuel Industry Polluted the Information Landscape - Center for Climate Change CommunicationAir pollution from fossil fuels kills 5 million people a year - The GuardianIn The Hague, ban on Big Oil ads survives legal challenge - Courthouse NewsProfitable Growth Without Fossil Fuels - Clean CreativesFrequently Asked Questions - A World Without Fossil Fuel AdsDeclaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change - UNESCOCities Climate Transition Framework - C40 Knowledge HubClearing the way: A toolkit for positive, fossil-free city advertising - C40 Knowledge HubHow cities can restrict carbon-intensive advertising - C40 Knowledge HubIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Hot Take: the climate crisis isn’t some abstract data point or a dry policy debate, it’s a deeply human story of survival. Right now, a whole generation is growing up inside the emergency, doing the heavy lifting to fix a mess they didn't create. We’re bringing you the raw, human heartbeat of the movement and amplifying the voices that stole the show at the World Mayor’s Summit in Rio. The C40 Youth Hub members dive into what real intergenerational collaboration looks like when those with the biggest stake in the future are finally the ones leading the change.Youth Moment featured leaders:Juliet Oluoch, Research fellow, Ufanisi Research NetworkAnjali Raman-Middleton, Co-founder and Director, Choked UpEsther Kamara, Founder of Youth Initiative For Climate Action Sierra LeoneFoday Kamara, National Coordinator, Youth Climate Council Global AllianceLetícia Mathias, Co-founder and Executive Director, Instituto SustentAçãoMicheala Chan, Young Water Utilities Expert for the Pacific, Asian Development BankFeatured interview guest:Earl Aldrin Burgos. C40 Youth Engagement and Campaigns ManagerLinks:World Mayors Summit special - Cities 1.5US cities as climate first responders - Cities 1.5C40 Youth Moment - YouTube Youth Hub - C40Youth Engagement Playbook for Cities - C40Loss and Damage: Challenges and Opportunities for City LeadershipIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

What would you risk to tell the truth, if the institution you served was one of the most powerful corporations on Earth?Early scientific warnings about global heating have long stood in tension with corporate narratives shaping public understanding. This episode examines the enduring disinformation created and disseminated by the fossil fuel industry: how it evolves, why it persists, and what it means for the pace of climate action. Through the perspective of a former insider at ExxonMobil, we explore the widening gap between the disinformation narratives pumped out by fossil fuel companies and the personal consequences of challenging one of the most powerful corporations in modern history.Featured guest:Lindsey Gulden, Principal Data Scientist at Leg Up Data and former employee at ExxonMobilAudio sources: Oil giant ExxonMobil predicted climate change in 1970s - BBC NewsExxon CEO and Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute Lee Raymond speech (1996) - CPANWSJ: SEC probes Exxon after whistleblower complaint - CNBCLinks:New study in 'Science' puts a number on what Exxon knew decades ago about climate change - Potsdam InstituteHow a Newton woman became an enemy of ExxonMobil - The Boston GlobeTracing Big Oil’s PR war to delay action on climate change - The Harvard GazetteCarbon Capture and Storage: The Billion Dollar Scam - Environmental DefenceTrump says he might keep Exxon out of Venezuela - ReutersCountering Climate Disinformation - C40 CitiesDisinformation episodes - Cities 1.5If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Across the United States, cities are acting as climate first responders - carrying climate action forward even as national politics grow more hostile. From clean energy and buildings to transport, land use and resilience to extreme weather events, mayors are proving that climate leadership does not depend on federal permission. It grows from proximity: to people, to impacts, and to the places leaders are entrusted to protect. Cities are stepping in to safeguard neighbourhoods, rivers, urban ecosystems and public health, often while the federal government undermines climate policy or attacks local authority.Featured guests:Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland, Oregon, USAKirk Watson, Mayor of Austin, Texas, USAJuliet Oluoch, Research fellow at Ustawi Analytica and youth climate activist from Nairobi, KenyaLinks:Solved: How the World’s Great Cities Are Fixing the Climate Crisis by David MillerThe Fate of the Inflation Reduction Act in the Second Era of Trump - Cities 1.5Trump signs order to withdraw US from Paris climate agreement for second time - The Guardian‘Poet, writer, wife, mom’: who was Renee Nicole Good, the woman killed by an ICE agent? - The GuardianMayor Keith Wilson Announces Portland Has Reached more than 1,500 Emergency Overnight Beds, Delivered at Unprecedented Speed - Portland.govCostumed protesters in Portland defy description of the city as a 'war zone' - NBC NewsAustin Climate Equity Plan$3,000 grants offered to groups addressing climate change and food access challenges - Austin MonitorMore links for this episode available at jccpe.utpjournals.press and c40.org.If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Cities worldwide are redefining success beyond GDP, focusing on human well-being and ecological limits. Kate Raworth discusses the principles of Donut Economics, which promote social and environmental balance. Milan's innovative food waste strategy showcases the city's commitment to sustainability. Tshwane is paving the way for inclusivity and skills development through green initiatives. Rotterdam ties circular economy concepts to resilience against global shocks. Overall, urban areas are emerging as hopeful hubs of innovation amid global challenges.

As geopolitical power shifts, cities are rising to lead this urban century while nations cling to outdated systems. Season 6 of Cities 1.5 explores how mayors and urban leaders from around the world are turning uncertainty into opportunity, building regenerative futures with hope-filled narratives that counter disinformation and inspire action.Join us from January 13, 2026, as we explore the urban transformation the world cannot wait for, ranging from tackling disinformation, decarbonising infrastructure, and confronting the growing alliance between political authoritarianism and the fossil fuel industry. Through intimate conversations with global mayors and urban innovators, we reveal how cities are not just adapting to change…but are actively shaping our future.Because the future isn't waiting, and neither are cities.Links:Zohran Mamdani’s full victory speech, 4 November 2025 - Zohran Mamdani for NYC YouTube channelIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

 In the face of the accelerating climate crisis, rising authoritarianism, and geopolitical shifts, national governments are faltering…but cities are stepping into the void and taking the lead. Season 6 of Cities 1.5 will delve into how municipal-level actions and powerful coalitions are creating a carbon-free future, promoting resilience, and enabling a new economic system based on wellbeing over profit. We’ll explore how cities are countering disinformation, fear, and inertia by spearheading significant local climate initiatives and forming new alliances, daring national governments to follow in their footsteps. Because the future won’t wait - so we need to decide now who will lead, and whether we want to move towards disaster … or resilience.If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/

Welcome to Cities 1.5 Hot Takes: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis. Hot Takes brings you fast, focused coverage on breaking news and underserved stories at the intersection of climate, economics and public health - all through an urban lens. This first-ever edition of Hot Takes is about a major move in Canada’s energy future…and what it means for climate, cities, and the promises made to hold fossil fuel giants accountable. As Canadian cities race toward net zero, their efforts are being fundamentally threatened by a high stakes federal agreement known as "The Grand Bargain": a political compromise on behalf of the Mark Carney government to build a new pipeline that would transport diluted bitumen from the Alberta oil sands westward across the rocky mountains to the British Columbia coast.Touted as a bridge to a clean energy future, we go behind the spin to explore the  real facts behind this project - and lay bare the reasons many are opposed to this doubling down on promises made by the fossil fuel industry…promises that historically haven’t been worth the paper they’re written on.Featured guests:Hon. Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities, and former Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate ChangeLinks:World Mayors Summit two-part special - Cities 1.5 podcast83 Countries Join Call to End Fossil Fuels at COP30 - Earth.org Why Mark Carney’s pipeline deal with Alberta puts the Canadian federation in jeopardy - The ConversationA Not-so-Grand Bargain - Pembina InstituteCanada may approve a new oil pipeline. First Nations fear another ‘worst-case scenario’ - The GuardianWatch David’s full CPAC interviewCanada OKs ‘Massive’ $20 Billion Loan for Trans-Mountain Pipeline - DeSmogIf you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/Listen to the Cities 1.5 five-part miniseries “Going Steady with Herman Daly: How to Unbreak the Economy (and the Planet)" here: https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeriesCities 1.5 is produced by the University of Toronto Press and the C40 Centre, and is supported by C40 Cities. Sign up to the Centre newsletter: https://thecentre.substack.com/Writing and executive production by Peggy Whitfield.Narrative and communications support by Chiara Morfeo.Produced by Jess Schmidt: https://jessdoespodcasting.com/Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/