PODCAST · society
Climate Conversations
by Robert McLean
A continuous conversation about climate change - news, views and interviews.
Episodes
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Interview: Lia is the eptiome of the energy behind a Repair Cafe that runs counter to our throwaway world
The Zero Waste Festival at Melbourne's Federation Square had many attractions, among them a "Repair Cafe". Lia, who plays a key role in organising and helping out at two Repair Cafes, one at Melbourne's "St Kilda", orchestrated the Federation Square Cafe and was kind enough to talk with Climate...
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500 in 50: A few see climate change as a hoax, most want more questions asked, and answered, some want to take the middle road
Another 10 people were interviewed, and their responses to 10 similar questions, despite the odd outlier, illustrate their eagerness for a broader understanding of climate change. "Keep asking questions", one interviewee said. She said the questions were good, not lecturing and were drawing…
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Climate News: Naomi Klein on the war to survive and supremacist governments; AI centre threat in Melbourne; Heat deaths will continue, unconscionable behaviour in U.S.
Author, filmmaker, and activist, Naomi Klein talks about the concern she has for supremacist governments. "AI data centre puts Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge at risk"; "What flash droughts and a super El Nino will mean for your summer"; "‘Deaths Will Continue to Mount,’ Scientist Warns After August...
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Webinar: Former Goanna folk-rock group band member Shane Howard says we are in 'nutso-world'
Shane Howard, a former key member of the Australian folk-rock group Goanna, is now a conservationist and activist who has a positive outlook, but declares we are now in "nutso-world." Howard was the special guest on the first of a series of webinars organised by The Wilderness Society to…
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Climate News: Leaders too afraid to acknowledge climate influence; EVs now Australia's top selling cars; The world rushes past 1.5 degrees celsuis
Former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, refused to acknowledge climate change when the country was ablaze in 2019/20, and now the present PM, Anthony Albanese, follows the same path despite UN warnings and the collapse of the "third pole" in Nepal. "The shift is now absolute’: China’s…
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Climate News: 'Bat-shit crazy' - Climate Council CEI Amanda McKenzie on the decision to proceed with the Beetaloo Basin project in Australia's Northern Territory
Australia's Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, has described plans to go ahead with the Beetaloo Basin project as "bat-shit crazy". "Nepal knows only too well the devastating dangers of climate change"; "Melbourne records its warmest winter on record, as bushfire season looms"; "End Times...
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500/50: Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains the dilemma and the first 10 of 500 tell how they feel about climate change, why it matters, and what our future looks like
Here in Victoria's Goulburn Valley, the climate conversation is rather mute; people know it is happening, want something done about it, but rarely speak about the dilemma. Here at "Climate Conversations", it was decided that an attempt would be made to provide the discussion with some oxygen....
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Intervies: Kirsty Bishop-Fox talks about Victoria's Zero Waste Festival at Melbourne's Federation Square on Saturday, September 12
Kirsty Bishop-Fox chairs the group behind Victoria's "Zero Waste Festival" and, as the event's director, talks about the Saturday, September 12, event. The program has many highlights, among them the Rewear Runway (a fashion parade revolving around used clothing), appearances by the Climate Choir...
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Climate News: Atmospheric changes can make breathing difficult; Reasons for and thoughts about Nepal floods; Date centres debate - some supporters, many doubters and some just don't know
Nepal floods - "Tsunami of dirt: what caused Nepal’s deadly glacial flood?"; "What probably triggered the Nepal flood, and why it could happen more often"; "Australia’s backdown on data centres allows them to use energy from coal and gas. Here’s what that means"; "The fight over AI data centres…
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Book Launch: 'In service to life on Earth, a new way of saying climate action' - Mik Aidt talks about his new book, 'Man of Earth'
About 30 people gathered recently at Geelong's Cellar Door Wine Bar for the launch of Mik Aidt's new book, "Man of Earth". Mik has been a truly active climate activist for more than a decade, and that lively approach has seen him involved in a range of processes, allowing him to exercise his...
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Interview: Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis is impressed with everyting about Tatura, especially the Sunday, August 23, event at which he will be the special guest
Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis is excited about the Tatura Transitions event coming up on Sunday, August 23, at both the town's Cussen Park and the Italian Social Club. GV Community Energy is supporting the event, as are Zero Carbon Tatura; The Goulburn Valley Tree Group; Cussen Park; the...
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Climate News: Europe roasts in heatwave - Rhine may split in two; Electric car emissions benefits are far greater than first thought; ‘Climate whiplash’ is not simply a buzzword
Europe heatwave sees continent roast - "Germany’s Rhine River may ‘split in two’ as new heatwave roasts Europe"; "Electric car emissions benefits are far greater than first thought"; "‘Truly Devastating’: Trump Ends Federal Funding for Key Arctic Climate Report"; "When fuel prices rise, who picks...
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Lecture: Our misunderstanding and misuse of our economic system results in societal ills, among them, the rapid worsening of climate change - it's our master we need to make it our servant
Harry Rosson delivered the latest in the Public Money, Public Good lectures, titled "An economy that puts people & planet first: What it looks like & how to get there". In this lecture, Harry shows how we have been tricked into a destructive growth agenda, and how we can move beyond it for our…
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Climate News: Monty Don travels The Rhine, exploring gardens and references the impact of climate change; Melbourne's Age zeroes in on our warming world considering both mitigation and adaptation
Monty Don tours the gardens of the River Rhine, wondering frequently about the impact of climate change - "Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens"; "Earth Overshoot Day" – the date when humanity has consumed everything the planet can regenerate during the entire year. In 2026, that date arrived on 30…
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Climate News: John Lewis came to Australia what seems like a lifetime ago, and although retired from full-time reporting at the Shepparton News, his column 'My Word', looks at climate change
John Lewis came from England in what seems like a lifetime ago, and his first in Australia was with the Shepparton News. John, who quickly became a favourite with many readers of the city's newspaper, became, along with his family, an important member of the city's community, especially in the...
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Climate News: Climate migration is an issue the world must address, soon; Wildfires around the Earth emphasise the urgency and the need for all to grasp the reality of climate change
Many things trigger migration, but a worsening climate enriches the mood among people to move, to find what they believe is a safer place. The Guardian tells about the thousands of people who stormed into one of Spain's territories in search of a better life, driven by many things, among them a...
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Australia's Biggest Book Club: Tim Flannery discusses the new book written by he and his daughter, Emma: 'A brief history of climate folly'
Tim Flannery (pictured) was on the most recent edition of "Australia's Biggest Book Club" organised by The Australia Institute. Long had I been concerned that Tim had said, according to my climate-denying friends, Australia's dams would never fill again. Answering a question about that during…
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Webinar: Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer, author, activist, and public scientist, Tim Flannery talks about 'A Brief History of Climate Folly'
Tim Flannery, Australian mammalogist, palaeontologist, environmentalist, conservationist, explorer, author, science communicator, activist and public scientist, talks wth Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, about the new book he has written with his daughter, Emma. The book, "A Brief History of...
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Canal Street podcast: 'We are in for a world of disruption at the hands of the climate' - author of 'The Uninhabitable Earth', David Wallace Wells
The name David Wallace-Wells (pictured) was on everyone's lips following the publication of "The Uninhabitable Earth" and here he is being interviewed on the Canal Street Podcast, The title for that episode was "Climate Crisis Isn't Over". This episode of Canal Street is from earlier this year...
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Climate News: Humanity must have a suicide pact with itself as an objective look around the world will take us to carbon-intensive wars and sporting events causing similar damage to our climate
Is humanity on a trajectory toward death - does it have an unwritten suicide pact with itself? Wars and major international sporting events contribute massively to the worsening of the world's climate, resulting in wildfires in both Canada and Europe. "More than 200,000 people flee or lock down…
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Climate News: Fossil Fuel companies ignore bushwalking philosophy; ‘Robust’ Ties Between Climate Crisis and Extreme Weather Events
Fossil fuel companies that ignore bushwalking philosophy will be targeted - "Labor threatens oil giants with emergency offshore clean-up levy"; "‘It’s dirty’: Stoush over whether burning waste for energy is renewable"; "Hot nights are stealing people’s sleep, researchers say"; "Solar generated...
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Climate News: Coming up - Climate specialist Sarah Perkins Kirkpatrick and Counterpunch co-editor, Joshua Frank; France experiences the fragility of nucear power, worsened by heat.
Sarah Perkins Kirkpatrick (pictured) is the Deputy Director, Engagement and Impact at The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Weather of the 21st Century, Australian National University. And she, along with the co-editor of CounterPunch and author of "Bad Energy: The AI Hucksters, Rogue Lithium...
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Climate News: Ketan Joshi from Crickey warns of data centre power consumption; Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee Flagship Report
Ketan Joshi (pictured) from Crikey warns of the power demands of Australia's proposed data centre. "Trump Administration Taps Climate Science Critic to Oversee Flagship Report"; "Framing the causes of hotter heatwaves"; "Hotter Seas in Britain and Europe Threaten Marine Life"; "Power companies…
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NYT interview: Climate activist and author, Bill McKibben, points to Australia as an example as to how best exploit solar power
Bill McKibben (pictured), who is recognised for his understanding of climate change, has praised Australia for its use of solar power. McKibben was in conversation with Ezra Klein from The New York Times. Many would know of McKibben for his efforts in establishing 350.org, and, more recently, The...
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Webinar: 'This is not just summer, we're past the point or showing people having fun in the sun' - Gareth Redmond-King, a panelist discussing 'Fuel omn Fire'
The U.S.-based 350.org presented the webinar "Fuel on Fire: Reporting El Niño and the true cost of climate change" Among the guests was Shel Winkley, a Senior Engagement Specialist and Chief Meteorologist with "Climare Central", and Gareth Redmond-King, who is the Head of the International...
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Climate News: First Europe battled floods and now it is fires - climate change is here now; Wilderness Society update; Amy Remeikis urges us to take action 'before some other fucker does'
"Record wildfires in Europe show failure to adapt carries a mounting cost"; Australia's Labor Party has been accused of "incrementalism" on a webinar organised by "The Australia Institute" - After the landslide: one year on from the historic 2025 election. Visit the "Wilderness Society" and learn...
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Climate News: Greens leader, Senator Larissa Waters argues for taxing gas; Mad scamble to dim sunlight; EV myths busted, but charging fragmented and incomplete
Greens Leader, Larissa Waters (pictured), wants the Federal Labor Government to rake in huge sums by properly taxing the gas industry. "The biggest myth about EVs is dying and sales are surging"; "The world is failing to curb carbon, and we may be close to a scorched earth tipping point";...
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Climate News: Kare Aronof demands climate action from the Democrats; U.S. heat impossible without climate change; Wildfires rage in Spain and Portugal; Value of billionaires questioned
Kate Aronoff says "This Is the Week for Democrats to Start Saying “Climate Change” Again"; "Heat Starts to Break in Western Europe, as Central Europe Begins to Broil"; "Without Climate Change, U.S. Heat Wave Called ‘Virtually Impossible’"; "Voters Rank Billionaires, Then Corporate Landlords as…
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Press briefing: Helping reporters tell a better and more pointed story about extreme heat and the impact it has on their community
The co-founder and executive director of "Covering Climate Now", Mark Hertsgaard, recently moderated a Press Briefing entitled "Deadly Heat, Vital Reporting". In this press briefing, panellists discussed climate adaptation best practices, attribution and end-to-end science, and storytelling tips,...
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Interview: Barry R. Davis has written a book about something for which there is no evidence - should 'The Preventioneers' be successful there is nothing to show
Barry R. Davis has written a book about something whose success is often invisible - should "The Preventioneers" be successful, there is nothing to show/see. The author has pulled something of a magical trick, as his excellent book is about an issue for which there is no obvious evidence or…
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Event: Carbon capture in the Asia-Pacific — Progress, policy and the path to net zero - 'Powering the Future' with the Melbourne Energy Institute
The fourth seminar in the Powering the Future series was presented by Dr. David Kearns from the Global CCS Institute. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly recognised as essential to achieving net zero, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals and LNG.…
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Climate News: Pauline Hanson addresses the Nation Press Club illustrating that both she, her party and supporters are locked in the 20th Century and unaware that the world needs new thinking
One Nation Party leader, Pauline Hanson, has just addressed the National Press Club and, in doing so, illustrated that she, her party and supporters are locked into 20th-Century thinking, seemingly unaware that this is the 21st Century, a time and place that needs a whole new approach and…
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Climate News: The climate worsens and those who could make a difference are not watching or are so indoctrinated with the idea of quarterly profits, that they simply don't care or don't see the danger
"Sorry, climate change is still dangerous, no matter what nonsense Trump emits" - Michael Man and Genevieve Gunther. "3 Months of Trump’s Disastrous Iran War Has Cost US Consumers $60 Billion in Extra Energy Costs"; "‘Deep concerns’: Labor gas plan triggers alarm in Asia"; "Wind and Solar…
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Climate News: David Spratt damns Federal Budget for not mentionin 'climate' even once'; Is diesel tax 'fit for purpose? ': BHP handles emissions truth rather loosely
David Spratt, the Research Director for Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration, has damned the recent Federal budget for not mentioning climate even once - "Turning a blind eye to climate risk threatens derailment". The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Four Corners program.…
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Interview: GV Home Energy Expo will enable people to live a cheaper, happier, more efficient and sustainable life
Greater City of Shepparton's Climate Resilience Officer, Jack Bowmaker, has encouraged city residents to attend the first-ever "GV Home Energy Expo" on Sunday, June 14. Mr Bowmsaker, or "Jack" to most, points to an array of reasons why people should visit the expo, among them, they can learn how…
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Climate News: ANU School of Regulation and Governance webinar guest, Fernando Racimo, talks about his book, 'Science in Resistance'
Book author and associate professor, Fernando Racimo, discusses academia's complicity in the polycrisis, and its potential for transformation towards serving social and ecological well-being. His book, "Science in Resistance", provides a first-person account of the Scientist Rebellion, a global...
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Climate News: 'Comforting ourselves with the most dangerous sentence of all, at least it's not me', Natalie Kyriacou speaking st the 'Revcovering Democracy Together'' forum
Natalie Kyriacou was one of several speakers at the May 9 event at the Melbourne Town Hall, "Recovering Democracy Together" where she asked the question "How will history judge us?" "Trump Has Created a Climate Opportunity"; "The Iran War Is Crippling One of the World’s Wealthiest Nations"…
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Climate News: Doing what I can from where I am - producing this podcast and making my voice a little louder.
What appeared, at the time, to be a dearth of news about the quickly unfolding climate crisis prompted me to have a crack at producing a podcast - "Climate Conversations". That was in 2018, and only you, as the listener, can make a judgment good or bad, useful or otherwise. I was fascinated when…
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Climate News: A deluded Angus Taylor hitches his party's wagon to coal; Kim Stanley Robinson explains the boiling frog syndrome
Apparently unaware of the real cost of coal, both financially and environmentally, coalition leader, Angus Taylor, has hitched his party's fortunes to coal - "Coal comfort: Taylor kicks off Climate War 3.0 in shift from nuclear"; "Trump’s Push to Keep Coal Plants Open Is Costing Hundreds of...
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Climate News: Powerful El Niño shaping for later this year; Nature's champion, Sir David Attenborough turns 100
From The Washington Post - "Why the odds keep rising for the strongest El Niño in a century": "As David Attenborough turns 100, four experts explore his legacy, from science to storytelling"; "Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war"; "‘Only the Beginning’: Santa...
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Climate News: 'The opportunity is equally clear: to become a destination for investment in clean industry, powered by abundant, low-cost renewable energy' - Christiana Figueres, climate change hero
Renewable energy, according to Christriana Figueres will give Australians and Australia everything the climate deniers argue is essential, including energy sovereignty - "This ‘energy crisis’ is fixable. We already have the answers"; "Scott was already working late on fuel supply when a call...
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Interview: Geelong's Mik Aidt is in the midist of a reset - he wants us all to think again about how we addresss climate issues and should the emphasis be on 'life' rather than focussing on numbers
Geelong's Mik Aidt (pictured) describes himself on Substack as a "Climate crusader with a creative soul – part journalist, part campaigner, part podcast poet and musician." He writes and speaks about mobilising more people in service to life on Earth. His Substack is "In service to life on…
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Climate New: Peter Gleick points how climate driven events are becoming my frequent and instensive; Carbon driven conflict and the confusion surronding Australia's ANZAC Day
The American-based "Covering Climate Now" recently staged a "press briefing" at which the speakers and hosts explored "America’s Extreme Drought and Its Climate Connection". One of those at the event was Dr Peter Gleick, a leading scientist, innovator, and communicator on water and climate…
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Climate News: To address climate change, and protect democracy, we must first deligitimize the fossil fuel industry and strip it of its social licence
Common Dreams says: "We Must Fight Fossil Fuel Oligarchs to Save Democracy"; "Energy security is now inseparable from national security. Australia has options, but they’re being neglected"; "Critically Endangered listing of Lower Murray River ecosystem and Macquarie Marshes is a wake up call";...
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Climate News: Recovery and rebabilitation will dominate our lives as the world's climate systems continue to worsen
It was the co-Chief Executive Officer of The Australia Institute, Richard Denniss, who told those at a Royal Society of Victoria gathering late last year that recovery would preoccupy Australians as the world's climate system continued to worsen. "Bessent Questions the Cause of Climate Change and...
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Interview: John Brinnard - A quiet, considered man who cares about justice and the climate, but who is remote from the radical activist image portrayed by climate deniers
John Brinnard lives in a wonderful place just west of Yandina on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, in a lush piece of forest you could never imagine burning, but after a long, dry spell, that's exactly what happened - bushfire! Was that attributable to climate change? John, in his quiet and considered...
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Interview: Professor Ian Lowe - a cricketer, a choristor, an author, a scientist and a granddad who intends to keep lighting a candle to ward off the darkness
Professor Ian Lowe lives in the small coastal town of Marcoola on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, a place he and his late partner moved to in retirement. However, as he points out, once a scientist, always a scientist, and so he continues to devour scientific journals, engage in webinars and travel…
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Climate News: Invite to talk with EarthX CEO, Peter Simek, about April conference at the Hilton Anatole
Peter Simek leads EarthX, one of the world’s largest convenings of environmental and sustainability leaders, bringing together policymakers, investors, scientists, innovators, and advocates to accelerate pragmatic, market-driven solutions. Recently, EarthX announced programming and additional...
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Webinar: “Degrowth vs. green growth: can capitalism solve climate change?
Capitalism is, for many, the root of the problem regarding climate change, and some see the solution in degrowth, and others in what's known as "green growth". The Columbia Climate School tackled this issue through its webinar "Perspectives Dialogue, “Degrowth vs. green growth: can capitalism…
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Climate News: The late Edward O. Wilson understood some critical issues about human nature: 'Humanity has paleolithic emotions, medieval Institutions and God-like technology'
Darwin's successor, the late Edward O. Wilson, clearly understood humanity and the dilemmas it facedwhen he said it has "Palaeolithic emotions, medieval Institutions and God-like technology". Read the story about the late professora nd hear the interview in a story from The New York Times: "E.O....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A continuous conversation about climate change - news, views and interviews.
HOSTED BY
Robert McLean
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Climate Conversations have?
Climate Conversations currently has 822 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Climate Conversations about?
A continuous conversation about climate change - news, views and interviews.
How often does Climate Conversations release new episodes?
Climate Conversations releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 822 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Climate Conversations?
You can listen to Climate Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Climate Conversations?
Climate Conversations is created and hosted by Robert McLean.
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