Is COP failing?

Is COP failing?

Author: BBC World Service December 8, 2023 Duration: 49:07

The Paris climate agreement in 2015 aimed to limit global warming to 1.5C. But have politics and lobbying got in the way of urgently needed progress? Is it too late for some nations? There has been much scepticism among delegates at COP28 as to whether the hosts are honest brokers in this process and if the money pledged by the wealthiest nations is enough to mitigate this crisis.

Shaun Ley is joined by:

Rachel Kyte served as Special Representative for the UN Secretary-General, and is a long standing advocate for sustainable energy. She was vice president of the World Bank and is a visiting professor at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford in the UK.

Cassie Flynn, who's now global director of climate change at the UN Development Programme. Cassie Flynn was senior adviser to the Prime Minister of Fiji when he was presiding at COP23 in 2017.

Adil Najam, Professor of International Relations and Earth and Environment at Boston University. He's originally from Pakistan. In the summer, Professor Najam became President of WWF, the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Also featuring:

Amos Wemanya, is senior advisor on climate and energy at Power Shift Africa, a pan African non governmental organisation from Kenya.

Vishal Prasad, campaign director of Pacific Islands' Students Fighting Climate Change from Fiji.

Produced by Rumella Dasgupta and Max Horberry.

(Photo: Activists protest to demand loss and damage payments by rich countries to poor countries affected by climate change at COP28, Dubai. Credit: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)


Each week, The Real Story from the BBC World Service moves beyond the headlines to examine a single, pressing issue shaping our world. Instead of rapid-fire updates, this podcast dedicates its time to deep, thoughtful conversation. You’ll hear directly from the people involved-policymakers, analysts, journalists, and those directly affected-as they unpack the complexities of a major event or trend. The discussions are rigorous and nuanced, focusing on the underlying forces, historical context, and potential consequences that simpler reports often miss. It’s a space for genuine debate where differing perspectives collide, providing a clearer picture of why a story matters. For anyone seeking to understand the deeper narratives behind the news, this podcast offers essential context and insight, transforming a familiar topic into a richer, more complete understanding. Tune in for a thorough analysis that challenges assumptions and connects the dots on global affairs.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Real Story
Podcast Episodes
Do any paths to peace still exist in the Middle East? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:02
As the war in Gaza continues, it may seem the worst possible time to revisit the idea of a permanent political resolution to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. US President Joe Biden however, says a two-state soluti…
How should we tackle the global obesity epidemic? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:53
Over 1 billion people worldwide are obese, according to the World Health Organization. If current trends continue, half the world could be obese or overweight by 2035. The WHO refers to it as an epidemic. Recent data sho…
The future of work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:01
The prospect of a world without work - that was the vision offered up by Elon Musk this month. The US tech billionaire has predicted that artificial intelligence will eventually mean that no one will have to work. Mr Mus…
Why world leaders fear an escalation of Israel-Gaza war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:51
The Israel-Gaza war has caused reverberations around the world and diplomatic efforts are intensifying to stop the conflict from escalating. Iran has warned Israel that the Middle East could spiral out of control if it d…
Argentina at a crossroads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:56
Argentina’s economy minister has won more than 36% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential elections, defying expectations. The election has been shaken by the emergence of anti-establishment populist and self-styled "liber…
Is Indian democracy being undermined? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:53
Earlier this month police in Delhi raided the homes of several prominent journalists in connection with an investigation into the funding of news website NewsClick. Officials are reportedly investigating allegations that…
China’s BRI: Development or Debt? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:59
It has been a decade since Chinese President Xi Jinping's launched the Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious plan to connect Asia with Africa and Europe through a series of land and sea networks via investments in local…
How do we stop rapid insect decline? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:57
As human activities rapidly transform the planet, the global insect population is declining at an unprecedented rate. In the UK, a recent survey suggested the number of flying insects have fallen by almost 60% in less th…
How a flood exposed Libya’s broken state [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:59
Earlier this month two dams collapsed after torrential rain in eastern Libya. Whole neighbourhoods in the city of Derna were swept into the sea. More than 15,000 Libyans are dead or missing and the full death toll may ne…
Is Biden too old to run in 2024? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:05
The top brass of the Democrat party in the US have all rallied behind Joe Biden with their eyes on the 2024 presidential election. But they have a problem. Repeated polls suggest support for the incumbent president is st…