Ten years ago, on 12 December, 2015, the Paris Climate Agreement was concluded at COP21. IDDRI and RFI present a series of documentary podcasts on the progress and outlook, on a global scale, of the fight against climate change.
In eight episodes, key players—politicians, economists, activists, and experts—provide informed and critical perspectives on the changes observed in daily life, economic sectors, consumption patterns, politics, and greenhouse gas emissions.
This series, coproduced by IDDRI and RFI, is a must-listen to learn, understand, and grasp both the progress made and the climate emergency that still lies ahead, and to discover the innovative ideas championed by next decade’s key players.
A documentary podcast series by Sophie Larmoyer
Brigitte Béjean, editorial director
David Roe from RFI coordinated the English version
Listen to the episodes in English on RFI's website
Episode One: behind the scenes of a historic agreement
This eight-part podcast series examines the Paris Agreement ten years on, featuring global climate leaders discussing progress, challenges and the dramatic power shift towards emerging economies. It explores how multilateral cooperation has evolved despite geopolitical fractures, from industrial transformation and innovative financing to changing climate leadership rules.This episode examines the discussions and politics leading to the agreement's signing. The series draws on 28 interviews with climate experts conducted worldwide.The podcast is based on 28 interviews carried out globally by journalist Sophie Larmoyer on behalf of IDDRI, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations.
Episode Two: the decarbonisation quest
Ten years after Paris, this eight-part series brings together leading voices on climate action to assess what's been achieved and what's gone wrong. Through conversations with experts from across the globe, it charts how international cooperation has adapted amid rising geopolitical tensions, tracks the evolution of climate finance and policy, and examines the shifting balance of influence as developing nations claim greater authority.This episode focuses on worldwide efforts to reduce carbon emissions and evaluates their outcomes.The podcast is based on 28 interviews carried out globally by journalist Sophie Larmoyer on behalf of IDDRI, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations.
Episode Three: energy, the key to success
This eight-part podcast series examining the Paris Agreement ten years on, featuring global climate leaders discussing progress, challenges, and the dramatic shift in power towards emerging economies. The series explores how multilateral cooperation has evolved despite geopolitical fractures, from industrial transformation and innovative financing to the changing rules of climate leadership. This episode looks at need for energy and how its production is aggravating the climate crisis. The podcast is based on 28 interviews carried out globally by journalist Sophie Larmoyer on behalf of IDDRI, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations.
Episode Four: climate crises - the urgency to adapt
This eight-part podcast series examining the Paris Agreement ten years on, featuring global climate leaders discussing progress, challenges, and the dramatic shift in power towards emerging economies. The series explores how multilateral cooperation has evolved despite geopolitical fractures, from industrial transformation and innovative financing to the changing rules of climate leadership. This episode looks at the challenges in adapting to climate change.The podcast is based on 28 interviews carried out globally by journalist Sophie Larmoyer on behalf of IDDRI, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations.
Episode Five: How to face climate challenges in a fragmented world?
This eight-part podcast series examining the Paris Agreement ten years on, featuring global climate leaders discussing progress, challenges, and the dramatic shift in power towards emerging economies. The series explores how multilateral cooperation has evolved despite geopolitical fractures, from industrial transformation and innovative financing to the changing rules of climate leadership. This episode examines how the optimistic "Spirit of Paris" from the 2015 COP21 climate summit has dissipated amid years of geopolitical disruption and global instability. The podcast is based on 28 interviews carried out globally by journalist Sophie Larmoyer on behalf of IDDRI, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations.
Episode Six: Finance, the heart of the matter
Africa is home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources, yet it accounted for only 2% of global clean energy investment in the past year. This simple fact illustrates the challenge of financing the energy transition, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change. Financial flows are insufficient and often misdirected. How can we better address the needs of developing countries? How can we reform the World Bank and the IMF in the right direction? New financial players are emerging, breaking free from the control of established powers. And against a backdrop of intense pressure on public finances worldwide, the debate on creating new taxes—on carbon, aviation, and marine fuel—is maturing and gaining momentum.
Episode Seven: Civil society, a driving force for change?
The social dimension of the transition, which France discovered with the Yellow Vest crisis, has become, worldwide, the key to accepting the upheavals we must initiate or accelerate for the climate. The 90,000 coal workers in South Africa cannot be left behind: a just transition is the watchword of climate negotiations. Civil society remains vigilant, even if the Greta generation is losing momentum. Indigenous peoples are now making their voices heard. The interconnected challenges of climate change, development, democracy, and the fight against disinformation: no, decidedly, the environmental backlash is not a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Episode Eight: After COP30, how can we continue to cooperate?
Of the 28 individuals from around the world who have shared their perspectives in this podcast series, none intend to give up, regardless of the challenging circumstances of the past two or three years. In this final episode, they offer their visions for the next decade. Where will new alliances be forged? What can Brazil, host of the next COP and a driving force within the BRICS group, do? What will become of global trade? Will we still share common rules? The final word goes to a young Chadian activist: “Do you think we have the privilege of losing hope?”
French episodes:
