From FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, The Urban Report is a podcast that takes a close look at how cities around the world are transitioning to net-zero. Every two weeks, host Sean Carroll has in-depth conversations with some of the most interesting minds working on sustainability in the built environment today. From making local mobility greener to improving energy efficiency in buildings, there’s never been a better time to explore the climate transition from an urban perspective.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From FORESIGHT Climate & Energy, The Urban Report is a podcast that takes a close look at how cities around the world are transitioning to net-zero. Every two weeks, host Sean Carroll has in-depth conversations with some of the most interesting minds working on sustainability in the built environment today. From making local mobility greener to improving energy efficiency in buildings, there’s never been a better time to explore the climate transition from an urban perspective.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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During European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first term from 2019 to 2024, climate change was arguably at the top of the political agenda. The European Commission tabled a huge package of laws aimed at slashing emissions across the bloc, framing the new “Green Deal” as the backbone of a more prosperous European Union.
Today, things have changed. With Russia's war on Ukraine continuing, military conflict in the Middle East, and trade uncertainty caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs, climate seems to have slipped down the list of political priorities.
In Europe, the political debate is less about how to urgently slash emissions than how to boost military spending and reduce red/green tape to give businesses an edge in the global marketplace.
For Green Party politicians across the continent, this poses a problem, both environmentally and politically. How can green politicians marry the need to address climate change with current political priorities?
“The winds are not in our favour at the moment. We have war on European soil, and that has been challenging for Green parties internationally. We have prided ourselves on our pacifism. To look at people from Ukraine in the eye and say, ‘Actually, we support you in your fight against Russian aggression’ requires a change from ourselves in our approach.”
Ciarán Cuffe won a seat in the European Parliament in 2019, where he sat with the Greens/EFA group. Cuffe gained a reputation as a dedicated lawmaker, landing the role of chief negotiator on new EU rules to make buildings more energy efficient. However, despite his legislative achievements, Cuffe was not returned as an MEP in the 2024 elections. Today, he acts as the co-chair of the European Green Party.
In this episode of The Urban Report, Cuffe reflects on his experiences in the European Parliament, whether defence, competitiveness and climate concerns can co-exist politically, his new position with the European Greens, and the role of cities in pushing forward climate action.
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