Some weeks it’s better to listen. So we’ve kept quiet and done that. Now we thought best to share some of the convos we’ve been having.
In a week where the unstoppable force climate negotiations met the immovable object of petrostate realities, this latest episode of Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations from the heart of COP29 in Baku comes with all the contradictions, frustrations, and unexpected ironies you’d expect. From the EU head negotiator's frosty reception of the draft texts to a renegade petrostate (who’s also the host) declaring fossil fuels a "gift from God," this one has it all.
So we rounded up two critical voices to bring you: Tom Raftery, host of Climate Confident (who to be honest I was hoping would be more optimistic than me so f*ck me yeah it really is grim); and Tim McDonnell, Net Zero newsletter editor at Semafor who took time out at the COP29 press centre to chat.
Will there be a deal? Or will this be the COP where things actually fall apart?
We unpack the tension and inertia behind climate finance deals, whether this is a bridge too far for small island states, and whether COP as an institution is still the best (or only) game in town.
Key Moments in the Episode:
"Is COP broken?": Why Tim McDonnell likens the summit to a trade show and explores how its unwieldy size might actually undermine its effectiveness.
Finance vs. Fudge: With finance negotiations stalled and major players balking, is the only path forward to kick the can down the road to COP30 in Brazil? And how does Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, oddly emerge as a reluctant voice of reason?
Ironies on Ice: Yes. I am wearing a SKI DUBAI hat. Yes it was on purpose. And yes, I got it while skiing in Dubai. Shiz cray. We’re here for whatever. YOLO.
The Episode in a Nutshell:
We talked about what progress looks like when it feels like the system is collapsing under the weight of its contradictions. Tim gave us a front-row seat to the late-stage negotiations, where adaptation and grid resilience linger on the brink of becoming success stories. Tom reminded us of the stakes—the immediate impact of climate crises from Valencia to Vanuatu—and why giving up on COP risks far more than just diplomatic theatrics.
If you’re looking for hope, you might find it in the grit of climate activists and small island delegations holding their ground or the unexpected alignment of unlikely voices. If you’re looking for clarity, well, you might need to wait until the next round of talks.
Why This Episode Matters:
The theme of COP29 might as well be "too big to fail." But as we dig into the geopolitics of climate leadership, the moral stakes of adaptation, and the cold calculus of finance, we’re left asking: Can a process this flawed still deliver?
It’s a conversation about standing your ground even when the world feels like it’s slipping through your fingers. And yes, it’s about having the right kind of irony-fuelled soundtrack to keep you moving forward.
So grab your post-punk playlists and join us. As always, your support helps keep this dialogue alive. Subscribe, share, and let’s keep asking the hard questions.
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