UCL Generation One: The Climate Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

As summer kicks-off, UCL Generation One dives into the intersection of sport and sustainability – exploring how sport contributes to climate change, and how the climate crisis is already affecting how and where we play.

Mark and Simon are joined by Sofie Junge Pedersen, professional footballer and climate campaigner (Inter Milan, Denmark national team) and Dan Hall (Sustainability Engagement Officer at UCL, Communications Manager for Football For Future). Dan and Sofie discuss the role of grassroots initiatives and player-led advocacy in promoting climate consciousness in the beautiful game.

We also hear from Dr Russell Seymour, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sport Business from Loughborough University, and the Chair of the British Association for Sustainable Sport. Russ breaks down the impact of climate change on sport, and the necessity for stronger government and organisational regulation to tackle climate change.

From grassroots campaigns to global initiatives, tune in to hear what clubs, venues, and fans can do to build a more sustainable future for the sports we love.

Link to Action FC actionfc.org/aramno-campaign

Transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 12 and 23 May 2025

Duration: 49:51
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Dan Hall (UCL Sustainability, Football For Future)
Sofie Junge Pederson (Inter Milan, Denmark national team)
Dr Russel Seymour (Loughborough University, British Association for Sustainable Sport)
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin

It’s crunch time for the oceans and shipping sector, and tensions are high. Dr Simon Chin-Yee brings you this special episode of #UCLGenerationOne in the midst of critical negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). 

Simon speaks to colleagues who have travelled across the oceans to the IMO: the UN agency responsible for regulating the shipping sector. In April 2025, countries came together to negotiate the IMO Net-Zero Framework, including a set of ‘mid-term measures’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with 2023 targets.  

In this episode, Fijian performing artist and climate advocate John Taukave (Pacific Coordinating Group) and Eldine Glees (Maritime Policy Consultant) discuss the importance of a just and equitable transition for small islands and developing countries.  

And as the dust settles, Simon picks up with Opportunity Green’s Emma Fenton to break down what actually happened, and what it means for the future of green shipping. 

The stakes are huge: will the IMO agree to decarbonise global shipping while ensuring no one is left behind? Find out in our podcast Talanoa! 

Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/ucl-generation-one-climate-podcast 

Date of episode recording: 5 and 16 April 2025 

Duration: 55:40 

Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests: 

John Taukave, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport 

Eldine Chilembo Glees, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport 

Emma Fenton, Senior Director, Climate Diplomacy at Opportunity Green 

Producers:  

Adam Batstone 

Caitlin Mullin 

Happy Earth Day! This episode’s focus is on entrepreneurial climate action: what are businesses – particularly the AI sector – doing to combat the climate crisis and help reach net zero?

Helping our hosts Mark and Simon answer these questions are Sims Witherspoon (current UCL student studying for MSC in climate change and Climate and Sustainability Lead at Google DeepMind), Buffy Price (COO and Co-Founder of Carbon Re, an AI startup which aims to accelerate decarbonisation), and Zoe Cokeliss Barsley (Director of Sustainability at Oxford University Press) and UCL alumna (MSc Conservation 2003)

Carbon Re carbonre.com/
Oxford University Press Responsible Publishing report oup.foleon.com/responsible-publi…-2022-23/2022-23/

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

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Date of episode recording: 14th February, 23rd February and 1st March 2024
Duration: 32.15 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:
Sims Witherspoon, Google DeepMind
Buffy Price, Carbon Re
Zoe Cokeliss Barsley, Oxford University Press
Producer: Adam Batstone

What are individuals doing to fight climate change and how important is the role of local activism? This episode will be focusing on individual climate action, with our guests chatting to our hosts about the role of activism in initiating change. Featuring Louise Harris (songwriter and Just Stop Oil activist), Versha Jones, (Climate Reality Project - Volunteer National Coordinator, UK) Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at the Green Alliance) and Kris de Meyer (Senior Research Fellow in Climate Communications University College London, Dept of Earth Sciences).  

‘We Tried’ song by Louise Harris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2XV20G85Tg 

The Climate Reality Project https://www.climaterealityproject.org/ 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

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Date of episode recording: 14th February and 8th March 
Duration: 39.20 minutes  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  

Louise Harris, Just Stop Oil  

Versha Jones, The Climate Reality Project  

Annabel Rice, Green Alliance 

Kris de Meyer, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL 

Producer: Adam Batstone  

In this episode, we’re moving beyond the UK to explore global climate policy in the wake of COP28. Hosts Mark and Simon are joined by Pierre Cannet, the Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth, to discuss how the law can be used to create change.

More about Client Earth: www.clientearth.org/
For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast
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Date of episode recording: 16th February 2024
Duration: 27.12 minutes
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests: Pierre Cannet, Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth
Producer: Adam Batstone

Introducing episode 3 of season four! Our hosts Mark and Simon continue this series with a discussion on the fallout from COP28 for the UK, and what needs to be done on a national, governmental and local level. 

Joining them are our guests Ian Townsend (ONS Divisional Director of Environment), Robbie Macpherson, (APPG lead at Uplift), Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at Green Alliance) and Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority, Shirley Rodrigues, to talk national feeling and climate policy. 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters  

References 

ONS release calendar: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar/ 

Key ONS environmental releases: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts 
Important issues facing the UK (5.1-5.13), http://bit.ly/ONSimpactCOL

Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain Statistical bulletins: 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/publicopinionsandsocialtrendsgreatbritain/previousReleases 

Business insights and impact on the economy bulletins: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/businessinsightsandimpactontheukeconomy/previousReleases 

Date of episode recording: 14th and 23rd February 2024  
Duration: 27 mins, 14 secs  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  

Ian Townsend, ONS, Divisional Director of Environment  

Annabel Rice, Political Adviser at Green Alliance and UCL alum (Environment, Politics and Society 2021)  

Robbie MacPherson, Political and Climate Change APPG Lead, Uplift 

Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor, Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority  

Producer: Adam Batstone

COP28 in Dubai is over and Mark and Simon are back in the studio to debrief. What on earth happened and is it good enough? They discuss the loss and damage fund, the challenges with the COP process and ultimately whether the outcome is enough. Joining them live from COP are Dr Guy Jackson (University of Northumbria), Nada Berrada (Education Development Centre), Mary McHarg (UCL Union Affairs Officer) and Kerrlene Wills (United Nations Foundation). 

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast

Welcome back to UCL’s Generation One podcast! To kick us off co-hosts Prof Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee are chatting about COP28, set to be held in the United Arab Emirates. In this episode Mark and Simon are looking back at what went wrong at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, and what needs to happen at COP28 to keep us track to combat the climate crisis.  

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast

Join host Helen Czerski as she discusses what happened at the COP27 conference, and whether the negotiations went far enough.

Helen is joined by Dr Nadia Ameli and Katie Kedward to discuss the financial implications of COP27, international financial institutions, and also the focus on loss and damage at COP27.

We also hear from Zi Han Xuan, UCL Student and climate activist with YOUNGO, the youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Zi Han shares his perspective as a young person at COP27, and why young voices are so critical. 

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast

Welcome back to UCL Generation One: The Climate Podcast. We’re back for a two-part series, and part one is coming to you live from COP27 in Sharm El-Sheik. Join Professor Mark Maslin as he takes us through the conference centre, and chats to multiple delegates and activists along the journey. 

Views expressed by our guests are their own.

For more information and to access the transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast