I confess to being a bit of a politics podcast junkie. And what riches to pick from in recent years! The Rest Is Politics, The News Agents, Electoral Dysfunction… I lap them all up. But whilst they’re great for following the comings and goings of Westminster, it can sometimes feel a bit self-indulgent. With the country facing so many challenges, from crises in pretty much all our public services to the pollution choking our rivers and lakes to the here-and-now impacts of climate breakdown – sometimes it would be nice if these shows delved beyond political psychodramas to look at actual issues with a little depth.
A breath of fresh air, then, to discover Political Heat. In the series, Amy Mount seeks, in her words, “to make sense of climate politics”. She does this by opening her impressive contacts book to speak to some of the UK’s most influential and insightful brains in the world of climate policy and campaigning. Each episode is a long-form interview, allowing Mount to delve deep into her guests’ specialist subject area and gain insights into everything from the workings of the green economy to the power of protest and the role of backbench MPs in shaping policy.
Mount’s strength as an interviewer lies in her in-depth knowledge of the subject and clear passion for it, coupled with an understanding of how to explain complex ideas. She asks insightful questions but is also often on hand to explain the context of an issue, or to ask a guest to clarify something. The long-form nature allows each interview to be thoughtfully put together, with topics often reduced elsewhere to a two-minute news clip explored in depth over 40 minutes. Consequently the listener comes away genuinely informed – Mount’s interview with Carys Roberts was the clearest exposition I’ve heard of the role of public sector investment in the energy transition.
Many of Mount’s guests have been involved in significant moments in UK climate policy. The episode with Camilla Born sheds huge light on the build-up to COP26 and the role of the UK’s presidency in coaxing nations to up their ambitions. Likewise, it was eye-opening if a little alarming to hear Isabella Gornall lay bare some of the chaos and luck involved in successfully influencing environmental legislation through the Brexit process. A must-listen for anyone working in environmental political advocacy.
When grappling with a subject as complex as climate politics, in a world demanding quick reaction, ‘hot takes’, and analysis that fits into a tweet, Political Heat follows a different path. It seeks to inform listeners about the trade-offs, complexities and dilemmas in climate policymaking. There is something pretty special about Mount’s choice of guests too, but I’ll leave you to discover that. Here’s hoping this podcast is on Keir Starmer’s playlist.
