Policy Voices | Fighting for the green transition

This is the ninth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with MEP Lena Schilling about her agenda for COP30 and her fight to protect the Green Deal. Schilling, the youngest MEP in this mandate, also talks about how youth voices can best be represented at the highest levels of decision-making. In the second part of the episode, Paul Watkinson, former climate negotiator, explains how COP negotiations actually happen and unravels the layers of participants around the decision-making core. If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: [email protected]