Advertise on podcast: Climate Humans

Around the world, women and girls spend hours each day gathering firewood and breathing in smoke from open fires. Herbert Murungi, co-founder of the Rural Environmental Sustainability Initiative (RESI), wants to change that. Clean cooking protects women and girls, children's health and forest biodiversity across Sub-Saharan Africa, but helping people to switch is a financial, technical, and cultural challenge. In conversation with HERO's Mauricio Porras, Herbert explains how a 15-year-old girl set him on his path for climate justice, why kitchen cook-offs can challenge taste beliefs faster than top-down interventions, and how he balances being an environmental scientist and social entrepreneur with being a father, writer and storyteller. Learn more about Herbert's organization RESI: ⁠https://seed.uno/enterprise-profiles/rural-environmental-sustainability-initiative-resi⁠ Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the platform for people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter and edited by Ben Beheshty at Studio Goldstar. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

Description:  “We made the case by refusing to treat climate action as a luxury.” In Season 3, Episode 3 of Climate Humans: The Policy Edition, Pacto x el Clima co-founder Juan Pablo Sierra tells host Mauricio Porras why the real heroes of climate policy aren't pedestaled icons – they're broad, trusted coalitions. Dissecting Bogotá’s Climate Emergency Declaration and the Escazú Agreement, join Juan and Mauricio to unpack the formulas behind climate policy wins in Colombia. From collective leadership, public mobilization, institutional advocacy, and political negotiation, tune in to learn how smart frameworks and sustained campaigning can turn pressure into lasting public policy – to enact real change. And Juan shares the mission driving it all – a world in which where you're born doesn't decide whether you get to live somewhere healthy. 00:00 Climate Action Not Luxury01:36 Meet Juan Pablo Sierra01:52 Quickfire Questions06:27 Escazú Origin Story08:48 Coalition That Lasted11:21 Testing Tactics16:15 Misinformation Roadblocks19:02 From Ratification To Reality21:33 Bogotá Electric Bus Law23:45 Trusted Conveners 28:00 Winning The Diesel Bus Ban30:10 Accountability That Sticks32:54 Heroes And Collective Power34:15 Colombia Next Decade Vision37:38 Closing And Call To Action Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the platform for people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Studio Goldstar by Josie Colter and Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

"We had no idea what the word activism was. It was just doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons." Melati Wijsen was 12-years-old when she helped say “bye bye” to plastic bags in Bali. A decade on, she's channelling that same energy somewhere new: classrooms. In Season 3, Episode 2 of ‘Climate Humans: The Policy Edition’, Melati tells host Mauricio Porras why this isn’t a pivot; it’s a deepening. They dig into the overlooked realities of youth mobilization, the resilience it demands, and Melati’s vision for the future of the planet and education’s role in that. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the platform for people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter and edited by Ben Beheshty at Studio Goldstar. Hosted by Mauricio Porras. Learn more about Youthtopia.  Show notes: 00:12 welcome to Climate Humans 02:03 quickfire get to know Melati 04:59 from plastic bags to systems change 07:14 fixing education for changemaking 09:50 writing 100 lessons book 12:08 turning book into university program 17:41 Youthtopia vision and platform 20:11 climate education policy in Indonesia 22:01 behind the scenes advocacy work 25:41 defining success and teachers role 28:25 ending chapters and passing the megaphone 34:15 burnout and finding your lane 37:29 staying grounded with big platforms 40:58 heroes and future classrooms 43:38 closing thanks and outro

“I'm taking the government to court. This is bonkers.” In 2021, environmental engineer and the founder of Fighting Dirty, Georgia Elliott-Smith, did something almost no private citizen had done before: she took the UK government to the High Court over its Emissions Trading Scheme – and won. The landmark ruling established that near-term government policy must account for the Paris Agreement, a precedent described as the most significant regulatory intervention to the UK waste industry in a generation. In episode one of Season Three, Climate Humans: The Policy Edition, Elliott-Smith speaks to host Mauricio Porras about the reality of citizen-led legal action, the unglamorous persistence it demands, and what her case might mean for environmental accountability elsewhere in the world. Learn more about ⁠Fighting Dirty⁠. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the platform for people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter. Edited by Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras. Timestamps 00:10 Welcome to Climate Humans Season Three: The Policy Edition + today’s guest 02:26 Quickfire warm-up: elevator pitch, comfort food & court theme song 05:56 Advice that fuels the work: “Don’t let lack of money stop you” 07:07 The 2019 wake-up call: when sustainability work stopped feeling enough 10:17 Meaningful change vs. “fiddling while Rome burns” 11:13 Greenwashing from the inside: how ESG language gets gamed 13:36 From consultant to activist: joining Extinction Rebellion & dropping the ego 15:47 The incinerator turning point: re-reading the science and changing sides 17:13 Go after the system: law, policy, finance – and the legal challenge begins 18:20 Crowdfunding courage: community support and the long-run win 19:21 How legal action forces change: disclosures, consultation, and rewriting the rules 21:05 ‘The Queen vs Me’: Seeing your name up against the government!  22:13 Why Elliott-Smith founded Fighting Dirty (and the legal dream team behind it) 23:22 Carrot vs Stick: Why law beats voluntary corporate sustainability 27:25 Fundraising without burning out: community, kindness & chocolate 31:20 Case study: The UK waste tyre scandal and the ‘one-two punch’ strategy 36:54 What’s next: PFAS, waste & holding iIndividuals accountable 38:41 The Future Elliott-Smith is fighting for & final thanks

“Stepping up as a hero for me means collective redemption; this collective arc of solidarity and liberation,” says poet and activist Liba Ravindran on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Liba shares how the 2004 boxing day tsunami in his homeland of Sri Lanka set him on his climate action path, how poetry helps him connect to his roots, and his experiences today living in a community project.  References:  Anti-Oppression Circle: https://linksta.cc/@antioppressioncircle Firebrand Poets: https://linksta.cc/@firebrandpoets Hempen: https://www.hempen.co.uk/ Writing site: https://aestheticfiction.com/ Ubuntu Village: https://linktr.ee/Nu.ubuntuvillage Credits: Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter and edited by Ben Beheshty at Studio Goldstar. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“Now is the time to really double down on tackling equity and justice as part of climate work, rather than shying away,” says the CEO of Impatience Earth, Yasmin Ahammad, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Yasmin shares a 101 explainer on climate philanthropy and its role in climate action, explores the challenges of climate funding today and routes forward, and why the biggest risk is doing nothing. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Studio Goldstar and Josie Colter. Edited by Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“If there’s no shared understanding of what is true, we’re going to have a hard time organizing for real change,” says Germany’s Fridays for Future leader, Luisa Neubauer, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Luisa warns how far-right movements are derailing democracy and climate action, why courage and discomfort go hand in hand as an activist, and insights on best-in-class group organizing. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter. Edited by Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“If somebody's really empowered, it's from within.” Former Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado joins the Climate Humans podcast to share why true climate leadership isn’t about authority—it’s about building movements. In this conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Carlos explores the risks great leaders must take, the power of coalition building and allyship, and why real change comes from both the top and the bottom. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter. Edited by Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“I think many parents are everyday heroes,” says Our Kids’ Climate co-director and Mothers Rise Up co-founder, Maya Mailer, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Maya shares how parent-led campaigning style is rooted in intergenerational love, duty, and care, how it is expanding around the world, and memorable moments demonstrating with her daughter. Further resources Open Letter to World Leaders - ourkidsclimate.org Our Other Mother - ourkidsclimate.org Mothers from around the world demand action on fossil fuels, The Guardian India’s Warrior Moms demand right to clean air at Cop27, The Guardian Our Kids’ Climate Website Instagram LinkedIn Mothers Rise Up Website Instagram LinkedIn Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter. Edited by Ben Beheshty. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“If this work isn't valued now, what hope do we have as a humanity?” asks Lucy von Sturmer, the founder and director of Creatives for Climate, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Lucy shares how she’s mobilizing and upskilling the creative industry to drive solutions and not pollution, what it means to be an activist communicator, and why being a hero is all about “lifting while leading”. Visit the Creatives for Climate hub. 00:27 Meet Lucy von Sturmer, the founder and director of Creatives for Climate 02:21 Quick fire questions 05:01 Lucy's climate success stories 08:36 Lucy's journey into climate advocacy 21:30 Building Creatives for Climate 25:40 Funding and philanthropy in climate  26:23 The importance of stories and strategic narratives  27:32 Lessons learned becoming a non profit  30:02 Balancing idealism with practicality  33:28 The importance of funding and support 41:47 Supporting creative activism and creating "pockets of possibility" 43:56 Final thoughts  Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced and edited by Ben Beheshty. Executive produced by Josie Colter. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“I had that rebellious understanding that nobody was going to come and solve this for us,” shares Lauren MacDonald, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Lauren shares their experiences as part of the #StopRosebank and #StopCambo campaigns to stop new oil projects in the UK, why it’s important for activists to take rest, and processing the reality of growing up as a young climate activist in the media.  Introduction and welcome (1m) Quickfire questions (2m) Lauren's personal journey into climate activism (5m) Early lessons and burnout (2m) Daily routines and avoiding burnout (2m) Professional achievements and campaigns (1m) The Stop Rosebank campaign (14m) Behind the scenes of activism (10m) The importance of funding climate activism (8m) Final thoughts (5m) Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Produced and edited by Ben Beheshty. Executive produced by Josie Colter. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“No one is going to hold your hand through the process. So you need to figure out things for yourself,” shares Juanita Silva Mir, a Chilean sociologist and climate storyteller, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Juanita shares how she was thrown into the deep end of climate action at COP25 and the career insights she learnt along the way, why we must expand our understanding of climate activists as value creators, and how to reduce the divides in the climate movement. Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Edited, mixed and mastered by Ben Beheshty. Produced by Josie Colter. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“Activism quite literally changed my life,” says Futerra chief solutionist and co-founder Solitaire Townsend, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Solitaire shares her story of climate mobilization, from getting started protesting nuclear waste being dumped in her neighborhood, to transitioning her climate activism skills from the frontlines to the boardroom of global businesses, and why accessibility is key to improving the success of the movement.   Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Edited, mixed and mastered by Ben Beheshty. Produced by Josie Colter. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“It's really a process of continuing to believe that what we are doing is actually bringing about change. Sometimes it may be slow, but it eventually comes,” says climate activist Vanessa Nakate, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Vanessa shares personal stories from her early activism days, the importance of sustaining activists within the movement, and why we must redefine what it means to be a hero today. 00:23 Quickfire questions  03:21 Vanessa's journey into early activism  07:27 Overcoming fear and finding purpose 15:33 Challenges and realities of climate activism 19:36 The need for sustainable support for activists 23:38 Final thoughts Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Edited, mixed and mastered by Ben Beheshty. Produced by Josie Colter. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

“We need new ways of storytelling,” says founder and CEO of Kibbo Kift Agency, Sam Narr, on the Climate Humans podcast. In conversation with HERO’s Mauricio Porras, Sam shares why growing up in a single parent household on a council estate got him into climate, why standing out and daring to be different is central to his creative approach, and the Tuvalu digital nation campaign that captured his imagination.  Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the first platform where you can directly fund people-powered climate solutions. Edited, mixed and mastered by Ben Beheshty. Produced by Josie Colter.Hosted by Mauricio Porras.