Bula COP31!

Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan
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Bula COP31 is a podcast for anyone wanting to understand what it means for Australia and the Türkiye to co-host COP31 in 2026, and why this moment is influential in the UNFCCC process. Australia will be putting the Pacific Islands at the forefront of the climate negotiations to ensure adaptation and infrastructure investments flow to the region. Your hosts are Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan. Jack is a proud boomer who started his sustainability career long before it was considered ‘cool’. His experience spans the earliest COPs and reaches across business, industry, government, development agencies, NGOs, and the UN. He’s worked with the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development; and across Asia-Pacific with the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. Jack was nominated by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the design team that established the IRIS initiative, supporting climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure in Small Island Developing States — work that sits at the heart of Pacific climate priorities. Heidi Dumesich is a millennial environmental scientist focused on implementing practical solutions. She’s the seasoned podcaster behind Life on Planet A, and currently a Sustainability Manager at Ventia, leading an Infrastructure Sustainability Council rating for a major road project. Heidi brings a fresh, grounded perspective on climate action and how sustainability plays out across communities and sectors. Bula COP31 explores what really happens behind the scenes of a COP — with a special focus on how Pacific leadership, values, and voices shape the global climate agenda. Through candid conversations with stakeholders across Pacific governments, Australian agencies, industry, civil society, youth, and community groups, we unpack how climate diplomacy in our region is driven by relationships, resilience, and shared responsibility. Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, activist, Pacific climate champion, or simply COP-curious, this podcast is your guide to getting the most out of COP31 — and understanding how it can deliver for the Blue Pacific Continent. Tune in, get engaged, and say Bula COP31!

  1. 5d ago

    Episode 'X' for Generation X - The COP University Alliance with Professor Peta Ashworth

    Our alphabet series hits X, and we're calling it Generation X. Recorded late at night in Nadi, Fiji, this episode brings you straight into the Pre-COP31 conversation with Professor Peta Ashworth OAM, Director of the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition at Curtin University. Peta is a leading expert in energy, communication and stakeholder engagement. She has spent almost two decades researching how communities respond to wind, solar, storage, hydrogen and carbon capture. She is attending the Pre-COP as part of the COP Universities Alliance for Australia, and heads to COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye next month. In this episode we cover: Why the Pre-COP is about moving from ambition to action, and why 1.5 is a lifeline, not a sloganWhat a just, community-led energy transition looks like for the PacificMoving from diesel to solar and batteries, and the role of blended financeOff-grid options and mini-grids for communities beyond the gridHow Australian universities can support Pacific project planning and capacity buildingAustralia's mixed position on fossil fuels and renewablesHow the Pre-COP connects to a COP31 focused on implementationLinks: COP Universities Alliance: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/climate/collaboration/cop-universities-allianceCurtin Institute for Energy Transition: https://research.curtin.edu.au/ciet/about-us/our-leaders/Bula COP31 follows COP31 through a Pacific lens. Hosted by Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan. Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  2. Oct 5

    Episode ‘W’ for Wallis & Futuna: Start of Pre-COP in Tuvalu with Jason Graham-Nye

    It's the first day of Pre-COP31 in the Pacific, and we're going straight to the ground in Tuvalu. Jack and Heidi kick off the week, then hand over to our Pre-COP correspondent, Jason Graham-Nye. He's lagoon-side in Funafuti as Hercules aircraft land with delegations, journalists and supplies. We're up to the letter W in our series. Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific. It sits between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east and Tokelau to the northeast. Mata Utu is its capital and largest city. It felt fitting to name this episode after a small island group in the middle of the Pacific, in a week when Pre-COP31 is taking place in Fiji and Tuvalu. Jason explains why life on a low-lying atoll feels so vulnerable. The highest point is a landfill, and the ocean is never far away. Then he walks us through the Greater Good Diaper Project, which he runs with his partner, Kim Graham-Nye. It replaces plastic disposable nappies with 100% compostable ones, delivered and collected by local women, and turned into compost in about eight weeks. In this episode: Discuss how nappies are the biggest source of plastic waste in TuvaluA financing model built on third-party verified plastic-avoidance certificates and a proposed circular transition bondA live tour of Jason's Tuvalu office and compost boxesWhy this is a practical example of the circular economy and zero waste agenda heading to COP31Learn more about Jason's work: http://www.thegreatergood.global/ Read the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report he co-authored, A Circular Economy for Nappies and How to Implement It Locally: https://content.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/m/d4bac88b31ead81b/original/A-Circular-Economy-for-Nappies.pdf Bula COP31 is your fortnightly guide to the COP31 negotiations through a Pacific lens. Stay tuned for more Pre-COP episodes from Fiji and Tuvalu this week. Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  3. Sep 24

    Episode 'V' for Vanuatu: "We're Not Going to Give Up on 1.5" — Dr. Tess Newton-Cain on the PIF

    Tess Newton-Cain joins Heidi and Jack on the podcast to discuss the outcomes of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the pressing climate challenges facing the region. The podcast unpacks the discussions held at this pivotal event, and the shifts to the upcoming UN Conference of the Parties COP31 and the significant role the Pacific plays in the global climate narrative. One of the main highlights from the PIF was the declaration for urgent and inclusive climate action to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Dr. Newton-Cain emphasized that this declaration builds on previous commitments, such as the Kainaki Declaration and the Ocean of Peace Declaration, which have long underscored the Pacific's stance on climate change as a paramount security issue. "This is the preeminent security challenge that we face: the impact of climate change."Dr. Newton-Cain noted that the context surrounding this declaration was particularly significant, especially with the recent UNEP report indicating that the 1.5-degree goal is at risk of being overshot. This news has understandably caused unrest among Pacific leaders, with thoughts of its implications weighing heavily on their minds. In response to the challenging climate forecasts, Dr. Newton-Cain shared the resolute spirit of Pacific negotiators.  "We’re not going to give up on 1.5; we will continue to advocate for urgent action to minimize overshoot."The declaration calls for immediate action in four critical areas, highlighting the necessity to keep 1.5 degrees within reach, alongside recognizing the vital ocean-climate nexus. This multi-faceted approach showcases the Pacific's commitment to climate resilience and global leadership. As we look forward to COP31 in Antalya, the voices from the Pacific remind us of the urgency for global collaboration and decisive action against climate change. For more information and to read more of Dr. Tess Newton-Cain's work - refer to the links below: Affirmed,note, endorsed: Pacific Island Forums leader in Koror Dr Tess Newton Cain Lowy Institute Griffith University - Strategic-outlook-for-the-pacific-islands-regio Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  4. Sep 21

    Episode 'U' for Upolu: Decarbonising Global Shipping with Jenny Ruffell Smith

    Shipping produces around 3% of global emissions, yet almost everything we buy has travelled by sea at some point. In Episode U, Heidi and Jack are joined by Jenny Ruffell Smith, Senior Project Manager at the Global Maritime Forum, to unpack one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Jenny has spent almost two decades in shipping and logistics. She explains why there's no silver-bullet fuel, from wind-assisted sails and biofuels to methanol and ammonia. She also walks us through the Western Australia–East Asia Iron Ore Green Shipping Corridor, the world's largest bulk shipping route, and what it will take to run it on ammonia. We cover the cost gap, policy uncertainty at the IMO, and why electrification suits ferries but not deep-sea trade. We also look at why shipping is a lifeline for Pacific communities, from food and fuel security to connecting islands, and what Jenny's team is planning for the Pre-COP in Fiji and COP31 in Antalya. Named for Upolu, the main island of Samoa and home to Apia, this episode is a reminder that decarbonising shipping is about future-proofing global trade. Links: Green Shipping Cooridors report Getting to Zero Coalition Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  5. Aug 20

    Episode 'T' for Tonga: Plastics, Policy and the Pacific with WWF John Duncan

    This episode, we're joined by John Duncan, Global Initiative Lead for WWF's No Plastics in Nature program, to unpack the Global Plastics Treaty — often called the most significant environmental agreement since Paris.  John breaks down why voluntary corporate action hasn't moved the needle, how a 330+ company business coalition is pushing governments for binding rules, and why extended producer responsibility (EPR) could be the single biggest lever for change. We dig into the sticking points stalling negotiations, why the Pacific is ground zero for the plastic-climate-biodiversity connection, and what "circular economy" solutions actually look like beyond recycling. Plus: laser-printed fruit labels, compostable nappies in Vanuatu, and why refill-and-reuse systems might beat "eco" materials altogether. Links: John Duncan LinkedIn https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/business-coalition-for-a-global-plastics-treaty https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/13/new-un-plastic-treaty-going-backwards-experts https://www.linkedin.com/posts/did-you-see-the-latest-development-in-the-share-7495478417866391553-QuL4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABcNHiUBeH_j_Dyo4tHVOsvmulrogj21M6E Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  6. Aug 9

    Episode 'S' for Solomon Islands: The Case for Electrification - Part 2 with Jon Jutsen

    Jon Jutsen returns to Bula COP31 to unpack the messier middle of the energy transition: where biofuels and biogas still have a role in hard-to-abate sectors like mining, farming and remote transport, and whether Australia's electricity grid is actually ready for the wave of EVs and heat pumps about to hit it. Jutsen makes the case that biodiesel is a short-term bridge at best, that biogas is underused in agriculture and rural industry, and that our networks — built for a world of dozens of new connection applications a year, not thousands — are racing to catch up. The conversation turns to a bigger question: are big centralised transmission networks becoming redundant as we shift toward local, distributed grids?  Jutsen thinks the answer is nuanced — networks aren't going away, but their role is changing fast. A must-listen ahead of COP31 for anyone tracking Australia and the Pacific's electrification journey. Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  7. Jul 26

    Episode 'S' for Samoa - Electrification target of 35% - Realistic or Aspiration for Australia?

    Can Australia hit net zero without a clear plan to get there? In this episode of Bula COP31, we sit down with energy transition expert Jonathan Jutsen to unpack what it will really take to electrify Australia's economy by 2035. Jon has spent decades working at the intersection of energy policy and business, and he doesn't pull punches: Australia's energy transition remains deeply politicised, market forces (not policy) are currently driving renewables adoption, and without a detailed, bottom-up operational plan, the 35% electrification target risks becoming another missed milestone. We cover what's genuinely improved in renewable uptake, why bipartisanship has been so hard to find, sector-by-sector realities of electrification, lessons Australia could take from Norway, and the case for microgrids and local energy solutions as the grid strains to keep up. We also touch on the future of biofuels and renewable diesel for the hard-to-abate sectors electrification can't easily reach. This episode also pays tribute to Fiona Wain, remembered as a high-energy voice who was never short of an opinion — and whose impact on the sector's thinking runs through much of this conversation. 👤 Guest: Jonathan Jutsen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjutsen/Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

  8. Jul 1

    Episode 'R' for Rarotonga: COP31 Türkiye Brief Part 2

    Heidi continues her conversation with Selen İnal, founder of the COP31 Türkiye Brief, picking up where they left off at the Zero Waste Forum. This episode dives into the climate issue hiding in plain sight — waste. Selen breaks down why methane from poorly managed organic waste is one of the most dangerous and underrated climate threats, and unpacks the circular economy challenge: which plastics can actually be recycled, why the EU's new digital product passport could change everything, and a confronting question raised at the Forum — why are developed nations still exporting their waste to developing countries? The conversation also turns to representation, with reflections on meeting Australia's COP31 Youth Climate Champion Sally Higgins, and why having a young woman from an agricultural background in that role matters far beyond symbolism. Heidi and Selen also touch on the Subsidiary Bodies meetings currently underway in Bonn — the dense, high-level negotiations that shape what actually gets discussed at COP. 🔗 Follow the COP31 Türkiye Brief: cop31tr.com | LinkedIn: COP31 Türkiye Brief Follow us on our socials for more content: Instagram  & LinkedIn

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About

Bula COP31 is a podcast for anyone wanting to understand what it means for Australia and the Türkiye to co-host COP31 in 2026, and why this moment is influential in the UNFCCC process. Australia will be putting the Pacific Islands at the forefront of the climate negotiations to ensure adaptation and infrastructure investments flow to the region. Your hosts are Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan. Jack is a proud boomer who started his sustainability career long before it was considered ‘cool’. His experience spans the earliest COPs and reaches across business, industry, government, development agencies, NGOs, and the UN. He’s worked with the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development; and across Asia-Pacific with the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. Jack was nominated by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the design team that established the IRIS initiative, supporting climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure in Small Island Developing States — work that sits at the heart of Pacific climate priorities. Heidi Dumesich is a millennial environmental scientist focused on implementing practical solutions. She’s the seasoned podcaster behind Life on Planet A, and currently a Sustainability Manager at Ventia, leading an Infrastructure Sustainability Council rating for a major road project. Heidi brings a fresh, grounded perspective on climate action and how sustainability plays out across communities and sectors. Bula COP31 explores what really happens behind the scenes of a COP — with a special focus on how Pacific leadership, values, and voices shape the global climate agenda. Through candid conversations with stakeholders across Pacific governments, Australian agencies, industry, civil society, youth, and community groups, we unpack how climate diplomacy in our region is driven by relationships, resilience, and shared responsibility. Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, activist, Pacific climate champion, or simply COP-curious, this podcast is your guide to getting the most out of COP31 — and understanding how it can deliver for the Blue Pacific Continent. Tune in, get engaged, and say Bula COP31!

Information

  • Creator
    Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bula COP31!
  • Show Website
    Bula COP31!

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