COP29: Richie Merzian - from negotiator to clean energy advocate

Richie Merzian is currently the chief executive of Australia's Clean Energy Investor Group, which represents investors in the clean energy transition. He is also a former member of Australia's negotiating team, so he can talk about the COP from both sides of the fence.  In this wide-ranging episode Richie explains how the negotiations operate, and describes what clean energy investors can bring to the table.  We also discuss whether the world would be better off with the US out of the negotiations for the next few years, and the potential impact of the G20 leaders summit.   Richie highlights how Australia's experiences with renewables deployment can help other countries that are on the same path. And he emphasises the potential value of Australia and the Pacific hosting COP31 in 2026.  It's a wide-ranging episode, and that's because my guest has a wide range of expertise. Tune in for some great insights!