Cities 1.5

A Tale of Two Cities: A New Chapter

In this episode of Cities 1.5, we bring you another "Tale of Two Cities" [https://cities1point5.buzzsprout.com/2054827/episodes/13962216-a-tale-of-two-cities-a-global-north-south-case-study-in-resilience] - 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 Athens Nick Reece, Lord Mayor of Melbourne Links: Inside the World Mayors Summit: Cities throw down the gauntlet [http://lnk.to/SummitSpecial]- Cities 1.5 Inside the World Mayors Summit: The battle for cities, truth and a fossil fuel free future at COP30 and beyond [http://lnk.to/Summit2] - Cities 1.5 Athens mayor focuses on getting capital through extreme heat [https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/10/athens-mayor-extreme-heat-greece] - The Guardian A blueprint for European cities? Athens announces new initiative to tackle energy poverty [https://netzerocities.eu/2024/12/16/a-blueprint-for-european-cities-athens-announces-new-initiative-to-tackle-energy-poverty/] - Net Zero Cities Doughnut Economics Action Lab [https://doughnuteconomics.org/] 4th Youth Assembly on Climate Change with the participation of University Students [https://www.eliamep.gr/en/activity/4th-youth-assembly-on-climate-change-with-the-participation-of-university-students/] - Eliamep Nick Reece reveals plan to make Melbourne the “Garden City” [https://www.southbanklocalnews.com.au/nick-reece-reveals-plan-to-make-melbourne-the-garden-city/]- Southbank Local News Melbourne Renewable Energy Project  [https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbourne-renewable-energy-project] Disinformation and the City [https://www.unimelb.edu.au/cities/research/projects/current-projects/disinformation-in-the-city]- Melbourne Centre for Cities What should Melbourne be like in 2050? [https://www.docklandsnews.com.au/what-should-melbourne-be-like-in-2050/] - Docklands News M2050 Summit Report [https://mvga-prod-files.s3.ap-southeast-4.amazonaws.com/public/2025-07/m2050-summit-report.pdf] If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ [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/HDMiniSeries [https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries] Cities 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/ [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/ [https://jessdoespodcasting.com/] Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ [https://www.morganechambrin.com/] Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/ [https://origamipodcastservices.com/]

Lead like a girl - In conversation with Catherine McKenna

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 [https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/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 podcast [https://www.womenleadingonclimate.org/our-podcast] Audio clips: Environment minister tells Rebel Media reporter to stop calling her 'Climate Barbie' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKMO2H-ffkA] - CBC News Links: What justice for women in Afghanistan? [https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/human-rights/what-justice-for-women-in-afghanistan/91022702] - Swiss Info Inside the C40 World Mayors Summit [https://cities1point5.buzzsprout.com/2054827/episodes/18207788-inside-the-c40-world-mayors-summit-cities-throw-down-the-gauntlet] - Cities 1.5 It’s Grand Ol’ Bargain, Alright [https://cities1point5.buzzsprout.com/2054827/episodes/18337688-hot-take-it-s-grand-ol-bargain-alright-for-canada-s-fossil-fuel-companies] - Hot Takes Canada’s former climate minister on making a change, ‘aloof’ Trudeau and sexism [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/08/canadas-former-climate-minister-on-making-a-change-aloof-trudeau-and-sexism] - The Guardian Integrity Matters: Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities [https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/high-level-expert-group] - United Nations website Paris climate deal [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/12/paris-climate-deal-key-points] - The Guardian Breaking the Tragedy of the Horizon [https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/speech/2015/breaking-the-tragedy-of-the-horizon-climate-change-and-financial-stability.pdf] - Mark Carney speech Meet the young climate activists behind Mathur et. al. v. His Majesty [https://ecojustice.ca/genclimateaction/] - Ecojustice Why would anyone hate Catherine McKenna? [https://macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/why-would-anyone-hate-catherine-mckenna/]- Maclean’s If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ [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/HDMiniSeries [https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries] Cities 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/ [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/ [https://jessdoespodcasting.com/] Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ [https://www.morganechambrin.com/] Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/ [https://origamipodcastservices.com/]

Whose Streets? Our Streets: Curbing Fossil Fuel Industry Disinformation

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 Transport Charlie Worthington, C40 Project Officer, High Carbon Advertising Bans Links: The War Against Tobacco: 50 Years and Counting - National Library of Medicine [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4465196/] How the Fossil Fuel Industry Polluted the Information Landscape - Center for Climate Change Communication [https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/America_Misled.pdf] Air pollution from fossil fuels kills 5 million people a year - The Guardian [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/29/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-kills-5-million-people-a-year#:~:text=However%2C%20until%20now%2C%20mortality%20estimates,were%20published%20in%20The%20BMJ] In The Hague, ban on Big Oil ads survives legal challenge - Courthouse News [https://www.courthousenews.com/in-the-hague-ban-on-big-oil-ads-survives-legal-challenge/] Profitable Growth Without Fossil Fuels - Clean Creatives [https://cleancreatives.org/offramp] Frequently Asked Questions - A World Without Fossil Fuel Ads [https://www.worldwithoutfossilads.org/frequently-asked-questions-2/] Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change - UNESCO [https://www.unesco.org/en/information-integrity-climate-change/cop30declaration?hub=780] Cities Climate Transition Framework - C40 Knowledge Hub [https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Cities-Climate-Transition-Framework?language=en_US] Clearing the way: A toolkit for positive, fossil-free city advertising - C40 Knowledge Hub [https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Clearing-the-way-A-toolkit-for-positive-fossil-free-city-advertising?language=en_US] How cities can restrict carbon-intensive advertising - C40 Knowledge Hub [https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/How-cities-can-restrict-carbon-intensive-advertising?language=en_US] If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ [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/HDMiniSeries [https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries] Cities 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/ [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/ [https://jessdoespodcasting.com/] Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ [https://www.morganechambrin.com/] Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/ [https://origamipodcastservices.com/]

HOT TAKE: The Kids are alright - Youth take the Mic in Rio

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joluoch/], Research fellow, Ufanisi Research Network [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ufanisi-network/?viewAsMember=true] Anjali Raman-Middleton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjali-raman-middleton/], Co-founder and Director, Choked Up [https://www.instagram.com/chokedup_uk/] Esther Kamara, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-kamara-691541254/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app] Founder of Youth Initiative For Climate Action Sierra Leone [https://www.linkedin.com/company/yicasalone/] Foday Kamara [https://www.linkedin.com/in/onlyunclemark/], National Coordinator, Youth Climate Council Global Alliance [https://yccsierraleone.org/] Letícia Mathias [https://www.instagram.com/leticiacientista], Co-founder and Executive Director, Instituto SustentAção [https://www.instagram.com/instsustentacao] Micheala Chan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michealachan/], Young Water Utilities Expert for the Pacific, Asian Development Bank [https://www.adb.org/] Featured interview guest: Earl Aldrin Burgos. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/earlaldrinburgos/] C40 Youth Engagement and Campaigns Manager Links: World Mayors Summit special [https://lnk.to/SummitSpecial] - Cities 1.5 US cities as climate first responders [http://lnk.to/S6E2] - Cities 1.5 C40 Youth Moment [https://www.youtube.com/live/3C55bdb-2s0?si=5C2o6lk5EARP5DTH&t=7977]- YouTube  Youth Hub [https://www.c40.org/what-we-do/building-a-movement/youth-engagement/youth-hub/] - C40 Youth Engagement Playbook for Cities [https://www.c40.org/what-we-do/building-a-movement/youth-engagement/playbook/] - C40 Loss and Damage: Challenges and Opportunities for City Leadership [https://www.c40.org/what-we-do/building-a-movement/youth-engagement/loss-and-damage/] If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ [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/HDMiniSeries [https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries] Cities 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/ [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/ [https://jessdoespodcasting.com/] Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ [https://www.morganechambrin.com/] Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/ [https://origamipodcastservices.com/]

Tales from the Belly of the Beast: An ExxonMobil Whistleblower’s Story

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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-gulden/], Principal Data Scientist at Leg Up Data [https://legupdata.com/] and former employee at ExxonMobil Audio sources:  Oil giant ExxonMobil predicted climate change in 1970s - BBC News [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v66mIaBkHls] Exxon CEO and Chairman of the American Petroleum Institute Lee Raymond speech (1996) - CPAN [https://www.c-span.org/clip/public-affairs-event/user-clip-lee-raymond-1996/5192060] WSJ: SEC probes Exxon after whistleblower complaint - CNBC [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5tQgO6jN5I] Links: New study in 'Science' puts a number on what Exxon knew decades ago about climate change - Potsdam Institute [https://www.pik-potsdam.de/en/news/latest-news/new-study-in-science-puts-a-number-on-what-exxon-knew-decades-ago-about-climate-science] How a Newton woman became an enemy of ExxonMobil - The Boston Globe [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/29/magazine/exxonmobil-whistleblower-lindsey-gulden-legal-battle/] Tracing Big Oil’s PR war to delay action on climate change - The Harvard Gazette [https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/09/oil-companies-discourage-climate-action-study-says/] Carbon Capture and Storage: The Billion Dollar Scam - Environmental Defence [https://environmentaldefence.ca/2025/09/23/carbon-capture-and-storage-the-billion-dollar-scam/] Trump says he might keep Exxon out of Venezuela - Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/trump-says-he-might-keep-exxon-out-venezuela-2026-01-12/] Countering Climate Disinformation - C40 Cities [https://www.c40.org/what-we-do/building-a-movement/disinformation/] Disinformation episodes - Cities 1.5 [https://lnk.to/Cities1.5Disinfo] If you want to learn more about the Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, please visit our website at https://jccpe.utpjournals.press/ [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/HDMiniSeries [https://lnk.to/HDMiniSeries] Cities 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/ [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/ [https://jessdoespodcasting.com/] Edited by Morgane Chambrin: https://www.morganechambrin.com/ [https://www.morganechambrin.com/] Music by Lorna Gilfedder: https://origamipodcastservices.com/ [https://origamipodcastservices.com/]