As summer kicks-off, UCL Generation One dives into the intersection of sport and sustainability – exploring how sport contributes to climate change, and how the climate crisis is already affecting how and where we play.

Mark and Simon are joined by Sofie Junge Pedersen, professional footballer and climate campaigner (Inter Milan, Denmark national team) and Dan Hall (Sustainability Engagement Officer at UCL, Communications Manager for Football For Future). Dan and Sofie discuss the role of grassroots initiatives and player-led advocacy in promoting climate consciousness in the beautiful game.

We also hear from Dr Russell Seymour, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sport Business from Loughborough University, and the Chair of the British Association for Sustainable Sport. Russ breaks down the impact of climate change on sport, and the necessity for stronger government and organisational regulation to tackle climate change.

From grassroots campaigns to global initiatives, tune in to hear what clubs, venues, and fans can do to build a more sustainable future for the sports we love.

Link to Action FC actionfc.org/aramno-campaign

Transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 12 and 23 May 2025

Duration: 49:51
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:
Dan Hall (UCL Sustainability, Football For Future)
Sofie Junge Pederson (Inter Milan, Denmark national team)
Dr Russel Seymour (Loughborough University, British Association for Sustainable Sport)
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin

It’s crunch time for the oceans and shipping sector, and tensions are high. Dr Simon Chin-Yee brings you this special episode of #UCLGenerationOne in the midst of critical negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Simon speaks to colleagues who have travelled across the oceans to the IMO: the UN agency responsible for regulating the shipping sector. In April 2025, countries came together to negotiate the IMO Net-Zero Framework, including a set of ‘mid-term measures’ to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with 2023 targets.

In this episode, Fijian performing artist and climate advocate John Taukave (Pacific Coordinating Group) and Eldine Glees (Maritime Policy Consultant) discuss the importance of a just and equitable transition for small islands and developing countries.

And as the dust settles, Simon picks up with Opportunity Green’s Emma Fenton to break down what actually happened, and what it means for the future of green shipping.

The stakes are huge: will the IMO agree to decarbonise global shipping while ensuring no one is left behind? Find out in our podcast Talanoa!

Transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/ucl-generation-one-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 5 and 16 April 2025

Duration: 55:40

Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests:

John Taukave, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport

Eldine Chilembo Glees, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport

Emma Fenton, Senior Director, Climate Diplomacy at Opportunity Green

Producers:

Adam Batstone

Caitlin Mullin

In the months of both Ramadan and Lent, Generation One joins in with reflections on the relationship between food, community, and health with our fifth episode of Season 5.

Hosts Mark and Simon explore not only the impacts of climate change on global food availability, but societal behaviour around food and decision-making. Examining the intersecting issues of food security and consumer culture, they uncover the effects of both on nutritional health.

They’re joined by two UCL experts: Mark Miodownik (Professor of Materials & Society) who deconstructs the supply chain to highlight the damaging effects of packaging and microplastics. And Gail Taylor (Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences), who explains how the latest developments in plant science and agrotechnology can help make food more nutritious and widely available.

We also heard from Dr Andrew Simms of the New Economics Foundation. And from UCL students Carson and Valentina, leaders of the Students’ Union’s Zero Food Waste project, which aims to tackle food waste on campus.

Zero Food Waste: studentsunionucl.org/volunteering/o…ero-food-waste
Transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 6 and 21 March 2025
Duration: 55.46
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:
Professor Mark Miodownik, UCL
Professor Gail Taylor, UCL
Yat Hin Carson Chan, UCL Students’ Union
Valentina (Hye Won) Chang, UCL Students’ Union
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin

What is the Climate and Nature Bill, and why does it matter?

The Zero Hour campaign is here to tell us, as we dive into their efforts to secure widespread backing for the Climate and Nature Bill. The Bill, which had its Second Reading in Parliament on 24 January 2025, aims to strengthen the UK government’s commitments to cut emissions, restore nature, and ensure public consultation on the road to net zero.

Hosts Mark and Simon are joined by Simon Oldridge, Policy Advisor at Zero Hour to break down the key components of the Bill, and why it’s crucial to tackling the climate emergency. Simon also sheds light on how Zero Hour managed to gain cross-party support for the Bill, and what individuals can do to help it get passed.

We also hear from the Bill’s sponsor: Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, on why she believes it’s a vital step needed on climate action. And from Conservative MP Andrew Bowie, who shares his concerns about the Bill and why he remains a critic.

Find out more about the Zero Hour campaign:
www.zerohour.uk/
www.youtube.com/@zerohour_uk

UCL’s Love Your Planet event: www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challenges/e…e-your-planet-2025

Transcript: www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: 31st February 2025
Duration: 32.51 mins
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:
Simon Oldridge, Policy Advisor at Zero Hour
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin

In this special episode hosts Mark Maslin and Simon Chin Yee give us behind the scenes insights and their verdicts on the outcome of COP29.

This COP was mainly about the money and went into extra time, but our hosts unpack it and take a deep dive into the key results with the help of special guests in the studio Priti Parikh, Professor of Infrastructure Engineering and International Development, at UCL’s Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and Anoushka Jain, a UCL Politics and International Relations student and member of the UK Youth Climate Coalition. We even round off this episode with some post COP music therapy! Let the spine tingling music wash over you. It’s a new composition from the collaboration between UCL and the BBC Young Composer project.

UCL teamed up with the BBC Young Composer competition to inspire the winners to create brand new pieces based on UCL’s climate science. Composing for the Climate is a collaboration between UCL and the BBC as part of East Bank – the UK’s newest culture quarter on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park where UCL has a campus.

BBC music credits:

© BBC ‘Gaia’ composed by BBC Young Composer competition winner Advaith Jagannath. Recording made as part of the BBC Proms 2024, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted by Hugh Brunt.

BBC Radio 3 website to hear the full pieces: BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms - BBC Young Composer Winners: The Process and Music

Website for BBC Young Composer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030pblf

Find out more about UCL at COP29 https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/ucl-cop

Date of episode recording: Monday 25th November 2024
Duration: 41:57

Language of episode: English

Presenters: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:

Professor Priti Parikh

Anoushka Jain
Producer: Adam Batstone

Executive producers: Caitlin Mullin, Jane Yelloly

What do vultures in India and beavers in West London have to do with protecting our ecosystems? What’s the link between biodiversity loss and human-driven climate change? Why does Simon love beavers so much? And what exactly is “COP16”?

This episode explores some of the key issues at play – focusing on global ecosystems and local conservation efforts, and coincides with the Sixteenth Convention on Biological Diversity in Cali, Columbia.

Hosts Mark and Simon are joined in the studio by Elliot Newton of The Ealing Beaver Project: a collaboration between the Ealing Wildlife Group, Citizen Zoo, The Friends of Horsenden & Ealing Council. And UCL expert Dr Alex Pigot, whose work on evolutionary biodiversity helps predict how ecosystems are responding to climate change.

While at the conference in Cali, Simon also catches up with freshwater systems expert: UCL’s Dr Izzy Bishop, to discuss the work she took to COP16.

Citizen Zoo www.citizenzoo.org/
The Ealing Beaver Project theealingbeaverproject.com/
UCL Faculty of Life Sciences biodiversity campaign www.ucl.ac.uk/lifesciences-facul…rsity-ucl-priority
Find out more about UCL at COP16 www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/ucl-cop/ucl-and-cop16
Access the transcript www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast

Date of episode recording: Friday 18th October 2024
Duration: 45 mins
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:
Elliot Newton, Head of Conservation at Citizen Zoo and Creative Director at A Focus On Nature
Dr Alex Pigot, Professorial Research Fellow in the UCL Division of Biosciences
Dr Izzy Bishop, Lecturer in Ecology, UCL’s People and Nature Lab
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin
Jane Yelloly

This is Generation One, the climate podcast from University College London – turning climate science and ideas into action.

Hosted by Dr Simon Chin-Yee from the School of Public Policy, and Mark Maslin, Professor of Earth Systems Science at UCL.

We’re going to be tackling climate action in all its forms, from innovative business and tech solutions, to inspiring stories from the frontlines of collective activism. With fantastic guests and top UCL experts.

Look out for Series 5, coming soon on your favourite podcast platform.

Learn more about UCL’s Generation One campaign and access the transcripts here www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/pod…ne-climate-podcast. Or find us on X using #UCLGenerationOne.

Presenters: Prof. Mark Maslin and Dr. Simon Chin-Yee
Producers: Adam Batstone, Caitlin Mullin, Jane Yelloly

Welcome to Series 5! In this first episode, following the recent Labour party conference, our hosts Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee discuss the UK government’s plan to create ‘Great British energy’.

The (not so?) ambitious programme aims to make Britain a clean energy superpower to bolster energy security and achieve its net zero carbon emissions target by 2050. But how impactful actually are these policies?

With UCL’s Professor of Energy Policy Jim Watson, Emma Fletcher from Octopus Energy, and Dave Powell from Climate Outreach, we assess whether this is a genuine step towards green energy or just political rhetoric. Our experts also look more broadly at green initiatives, and whether they really can lower your bills.

Date of episode recording: Monday 16th and 17th September 2024
Duration: 49.55 minutes
Language of episode: English
Presenter: Professor Mark Maslin and Dr Simon Chin-Yee
Guests:
Emma Fletcher (Low Carbon Homes Director of Octopus Energy)
Dave Powell (Senior Advocacy Manager at Climate Outreach)
Jim Watson (Professor of Energy Policy and Director of UCL Institute of Sustainable Resources within the Faculty of the Built Environment)
Producers:
Adam Batstone
Caitlin Mullin
Jane Yelloly