Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

T his podcast created by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence the editors of the book  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage  focuses on the contributions of Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti , the former Brazilian Ambassador to the United Nations, to international sustainable development efforts.  It specifically examines her role in the lead-up to and during the Rio+20 Conferenc e, a United Nations summit held in 2012 to review progress on sustainable development and formulate future plans.  The podcast highlights Viotti's diplomatic skills, her commitment to multilateralism, and her role in advancing critical agreements like the Sustainable Development Goals. The authors present Viotti as an exemplar of a quiet but effective diplomat who prioritizes consensus building and avoids unnecessary conflict, ultimately furthering the cause of sustainable development on a global scale. The authors of the chapter were   Izabella Mônica Vieira Teixeira, André Aranha...

W elcome to  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage , a podcast ($25 on Amazon) dedicated to  exploring the inspiring stories of individuals who have shaped the global environmental movement.  Drawing from the book  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage,  edited by  Felix Dodds  and  Chris Spence,  each episode highlights the remarkable contributions of leaders who have fought for sustainable development, protected vital ecosystems, and navigated complex political landscapes. This  podcast  on  Sidney Holt  i s produced by  Sustainable Society Cafe. Sidney Holt, a British fisheries biologist, dedicated his life to one mission: protecting the world's whale populations from extinction. In this episode, we dive into Holt's remarkable career, tracing his journey from his early days in science to his influential work with the International Whaling Commission. Drawing from Heroes of Env...

W elcome to  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage , a podcast ($25 on Amazon) dedicated to  exploring the inspiring stories of individuals who have shaped the global environmental movement.  Drawing from the book  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage,  edited by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence, each episode highlights the remarkable contributions of leaders who have fought for sustainable development, protected vital ecosystems, and navigated complex political landscapes. This  podcast  i s produced by  Sustainable Society Cafe. What does it take to turn a hole in the ozone layer into one of the most successful agreements in history?  In the 1980s, with Earth's ozone layer at risk, one leader emerged at the forefront of environmental diplomacy: Dr Mostafa Tolba, head of the United Nations Environment Programme. This episode dives into Dr Tolba’s relentless campaign to protect the ozone layer from harmful chem...

A guest blog by Ebrima Jarra, Soil Scientist and Civil Actor from The Gambia. Originally published by SPIKED:  Best African News Online A Path Toward Equitable and Sustainable Development by “The Soil Solution” (NGO) Abstract As climate change accelerates, its impacts disproportionately burden local communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These communities, often with minimal contributions to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, face severe challenges, including land degradation, resource scarcity, and heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events. This writeup underscores the need to respect and uphold international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, to secure environmental, social, and economic benefits for local communities in LMICs. Through a lens focused on equity and sustainability, this discussion outlines the tangible benefits of adhering to climate commitments, emphasizing ecosystem restoration, resilience building, and social stabilit...

W elcome to  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage ,($25 on Amazon) a podcast dedicated to  exploring the inspiring stories of individuals who have shaped the global environmental movement.  Drawing from the book  Heroes of Environmental Diplomacy: Profiles in Courage,  edited by Felix Dodds and Chris Spence, each episode highlights the remarkable contributions of leaders who have fought for sustainable development, protected vital ecosystems, and navigated complex political landscapes. This podcast is produced by Sustainable Society Cafe. What does it take to turn a struggling global climate effort into one of the most ambitious agreements in history? In this episode, we explore the remarkable leadership of Christiana Figueres , the former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, who transformed the UN’s climate framework from a place of frustration to one of hope. Drawing from her story, we uncover how Figueres inspired a “can-do” culture within t...

Originally published on Inter Press Service By Felix Dodds and Michael Strauss So, the worst has happened. American voters have apparently just elected the most chaotic and kleptocratic individual in their country’s political history as their president.  (We say ‘apparently’, because these days nothing can be certain about the integrity of the US political or electoral system – as is the case with far too many other countries.) That means the incumbent president, Joe Biden – who implemented the greatest investment in wind and solar energy, in climate-friendly technology, and in reducing CO 2 emissions in any nation in history – is out. That means the previous president, Donald Trump – who opposed every one of those climate-friendly investments and has promised the greatest re-investment in oil, gas and coal of any nation in history – is back in. As the annual global Climate Conference (COP29) continues its first week in Baku, Azerbaijan, we can already see what the impac...