Welcome to another episode of Outrage + Optimism, where we examine issues at the forefront of the climate crisis, interview change-makers, and transform our anger into productive dialogue about building a sustainable future.

This week, co-hosts Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, and Paul Dickinson interrupt their previously scheduled programming一the launch of the O+O miniseries discussed last week一to celebrate International Women’s Day (recognized annually on March 8) with CEO & Leadership Activist Fabian Dattner. The team also covers big news about our oceans’ future and closes with music from Child Seat.

Tom starts with the news that after nearly 20 years, members of the United Nations have finally agreed on the United Nations High Seas Treaty, an international framework to protect biodiversity in international waters. It’s a massive achievement that protects the migratory routes of some of our most iconic species and demonstrates significant multilateral cooperation. 

Oh, and negotiations were led by Rena Lee, Singapore’s Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues and Special Envoy of the Minister for Foreign Affairs一another great reason to celebrate International Women’s Day.

On a related note, Christiana references a disturbing statistic from a report prepared by GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion, an advocacy group of 62 current and former senior women leaders, that women have held just 12% of top positions at 33 of the largest multilateral institutions since 1945. Clearly, we still have a ways to go in the pursuit of gender equality.

Next, the trio welcomes CEO & Leadership Activist and the founder of the global leadership consultancy the Dattner Group, Fabian Dattner. The group discusses Dattner’s work at the nexus of leadership, support for women, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). While it may sound like an unconventional combination, Dattner explains how it all came together一initially in a dream一and later in her Homeward Bound initiative. It is, our co-hosts agree, an unassailable mix of what our world desperately needs and could use more of.  

Later, Dattner brings up her trip to Antarctica and how the concept of success is as dangerous as the concept of failure. For many women, Dattner explains, success can be framed as an elusive ideal. She counsels that if you aren’t willing to fail, there’s nothing you can achieve because success is mostly a string of failures. These are just some of the topics from the group’s lively exchange!

Finally, the episode closes with the track “Burning” from indie rock powerhouse Child Seat.

You won’t want to miss this one!

NOTES AND RESOURCES 

To learn more about our planet’s climate emergency and how you can transform outrage into optimistic action subscribe to the podcast here.

Find out more about the United Nations High Seas Treaty.

Download the report from GWL, Numbers Matter: To Fix the multilateral system start by including women.

Fabian Dattner

LinkedIn

Learn More about the Dattner Group, the Compass Leadership Program for Women, and Homeward Bound.

Here’s the 20023 Edelman Annual Trust Barometer referenced in the episode.

MUSIC

Child Seat

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