Outrage + Optimism22 Nov 2025

Inside COP: Friday Night in Belém - uncertainty in the Blue Zone

We recorded this episode across Friday afternoon and deep into the evening inside the Blue Zone at COP30. At the time of publishing, there is still no final deal. The negotiations are ongoing, positions are shifting, and the outcome remains uncertain. We know that by the time you listen, some of what we heard today may already have changed, but we decided there was value in sharing the day with you.

This episode is meant as a time capsule.

We wanted to bring you inside the atmosphere of a COP Friday: the outrage, the optimism, the urgency, and the sheer human effort that goes into trying to land a deal.

Rather than wait for the dust to settle, we spoke to the people living this moment. City leaders. Climate diplomats. Ministers from the front lines. Seasoned negotiators who’ve been in this process for decades. Activists still fighting for the best possible outcome for the planet. Their perspectives were captured as they were living this day, not in hindsight.

This episode captures the feeling of a COP Friday: the confusion, the determination, the fear of losing ambition, and the belief, still alive in many corners, that progress is possible if countries choose it.

With thanks to those who spoke with us:

⁠Eric Garcetti, former US Ambassador to India and former mayor of LA

Mark Watts, CEO of C40

⁠Matt Webb, Associate Director for Global Clean Power Diplomacy, E3G

Gustavo Pinheiro, Senior Associate, E3G

⁠Irene Velez Torres, Colombian Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development and head of the Colombian delegation

⁠Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, Ghanian Negotiator and incoming head of Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN)

Giovanni Maurice Pradipta, Foundation for Sustainability

🎤 What do you want to hear on Inside COP? Ask us on SpeakPipe or on our socials where you can also see more behind the scenes moments and to watch our videos:

Instagram @outrageoptimism

LinkedIn @outrageoptimism

Or via this form.

Produced and edited by: Caitlin Hanrahan and Ben Weaver-Hincks

Additional editing by: Miles Martignoni

Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford

With thanks to Groundswell and Global Optimism.

This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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