Climate: Bold Leadership Now? Or a Lost Future? - with Sandrine Dixson-Declève

How can we successfully communicate the full scale of the climate crisis when traditional media is pulling back? Marek Pruszewicz warns that "if you leave space fallow, it's going to be filled with misinformation, disinformation, denial." Marek Pruszewicz, Chief Executive of Dialogue Earth, joins Nik Gowing for a direct, candid conversation on Thinking the Unthinkable. Marek outlines how generic climate messages fail to resonate and why journalism must focus on immediate human impacts, from extreme heat affecting health to school closures and economic disruptions. From empowering indigenous communicators to syndicating fact-based reporting globally, Dialogue Earth is building new models to bridge the gap between science and community reality. Marek emphasises that "the starting point has to be meeting the audience where it is." By investing in trusted communications, leaders can channel momentum into high-impact solutions, combat fake news, and protect societal stability. This is a critical discussion on environmental journalism, risk communication, leadership, and why "climate change will be defeated in detail."

Can we successfully adapt to a changing climate before disaster strikes? David Shukman warns that "this is happening with a speed and on a scale that no one is ready for." David Shukman, former BBC Science Editor and author of The Responses, joins Nik Gowing for a direct, unvarnished conversation on Thinking the Unthinkable. David outlines how "the phrase global warming... masks a violence, a kind of malevolence" as heatwaves, flash flooding, and wildfires push infrastructure to its breaking point. From redesigning cities with "spongy" infrastructure to deploying satellite-backed early warning systems, the methods to protect lives exist, but execution is dangerously lagging. David emphasises that "the starting point has to be honesty." By moving past coyness and hesitation, leaders across government and industry can channel emergency resources into high-impact solutions to prevent systemic failure, maintain economic stability, and save lives. This is a critical, high-stakes discussion on climate adaptation, risk management, leadership, and why "we need something very, very dramatic by way of a warning to actually galvanise action."

The positive direction of travel must be recognised and celebrated. Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Chapter Zero Alliance, returns to Thinking the Unthinkable to catch up with Nik Gowing. Since Chapter Zero launched in 2019, the movement has grown from a handful of UK board members into a global alliance of 100,000 directors across 34 chapters in 73 countries. Julie says the shift is from awareness to “real understanding and real ambition. Boards and leaders increasingly see both the risks and the commercial opportunities. Even while navigating new challenges like AI energy demands, geopolitical headwinds, and political backlashes, directors are recognizing that investing now is far less costly than fixing things later. “We've got that perfect combination” of passionate directors who are also focused on growth, jobs and commercial reality. And through Chapter Zero they exchange experiences, both successes And her message is simple: “Just don't stop, just accelerate.” There is clear evidence this works.

Why does sustainability still sometimes sound like a cost when the business case for it is becoming increasingly clear? Sally Uren, Chief Acceleration Officer at Forum for the Future and its former CEO, joins Nik Gowing to explore why sustainability is increasingly creating commercial value and why the wider story is still struggling to keep up. “The business case has never been stronger.” Sally explains how sustainability can reduce operating costs, improve access to finance, attract and retain talent and create new opportunities for businesses. But she argues that “data on its own doesn't shift anything.” The energy transition requires more than evidence. It requires changes in mindsets, beliefs and the stories we tell about the future. Sally explores the growing importance of “value at risk”, from vulnerable supply chains and climate adaptation to new skills, technology and changing regulation. She also explains why businesses need to “shine a light on what’s working” highlighting the innovations and “bright spots” already emerging across renewable energy, nature-based solutions and climate resilience. The conversation also explores personal resilience, climate and health, and why the next chapter of the transition will ultimately depend on what people choose to do. “We need to share stories of hope and determination and courage.” This is a conversation about sustainability, business value, systems change, resilience and the opportunities emerging from a rapidly changing world. 🌐 Learn more about Thinking the Unthinkable here: https://thinkunthink.org/ 📄 Full transcript available on our website. 🎧 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with leaders challenging conventional thinking.

What happens when climate change is an intensifying daily reality? Karen-Mae Hill, is High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda. Here she joins Nik Gowing to describe the nerve wracking life on the frontline of the climate crisis. From hurricanes the size of Texas to coral reef restoration and renewable energy innovation, she describes both the challenges and the opportunities facing Small Island Developing States. "When a hurricane impacts an island state, it's the whole country that's gone." Yet there are reasons for some optimism. "We are doing what we can as a small island developing state." This conversation explores climate resilience, sustainable development, leadership and the practical actions needed to create lasting change. 📄 Full transcript available on our website. 🎧 Subscribe for more unfiltered conversations with leaders challenging conventional thinking. 🌐 Learn more about Thinking the Unthinkable here: https://thinkunthink.org/