How the City of Oslo plans to cut emissions by 95% with Heidi Sørensen
What does it take for a city to cut nearly all of its emissions in just a few years?
In this episode of Reimagining Government, hosts Gabrielle Beran and Kandice Louis-Wilson speak with Heidi Sørensen, Director of Oslo’s Climate Agency.
Heidi explains how the city’s groundbreaking Climate Budget is turning bold targets into real progress, why public buy-in is just as important as policy, and how optimism can unlock faster action.
With lessons for cities everywhere, this conversation reveals how local leadership and long-term vision can turn climate ambition into real change.
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Kumi Naidoo on activism, human rights, and climate justice
How do we shift power to confront climate change head-on?
In this episode of Reimagining Government, hosts Gabrielle Beran and Kandice Louis-Wilson sit down with Kumi Naidoo, lifelong activist and former head of Greenpeace and Amnesty International.
Kumi reflects on lessons from decades of campaigning for climate justice and human rights, the risks of staying silent in the face of crisis, and the urgent need to put marginalised voices at the centre of decision-making.
This powerful conversation highlights why reimagining leadership is essential for building a more just and sustainable future.
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From heatwaves to city hall: Eleni Myrivili’s vision for climate-resilient cities
What does it take to make our cities liveable in a world that is rapidly heating?
In this first episode of Reimagining Government's new season, hosts Gabrielle Beran and Kandice Louis-Wilson speak with Eleni Myrivili, the UN's first Chief Heat Officer and former Deputy Mayor of Athens.
Eleni shares how extreme heat exposes deep inequalities, why climate action is inseparable from questions of power, and how centring justice and care can transform how we design and govern our cities.
This conversation sets the stage for a season spotlighting women and gender-diverse leaders reimagining climate governance from the ground up.
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Season Four Trailer
Season four of Reimagining Government is back on October 9th, 2025, and we ask a bold question: what if tackling climate change starts with rethinking who holds power?
Across six episodes, we spotlight women and gender-diverse leaders who aren’t just responding to climate change — they’re redesigning cities, challenging climate colonialism, defending the Amazon, mobilising global activism, and bringing youth voices into politics and policy.
Share, subscribe, and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
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Why work in government?
In every podcast episode, we meet people who work in government and public service. We’re always impressed by their passion and commitment. But what drew them to their work, what drives them and why do they keep doing such a tough job?
In this episode, we talk to real public servants about the joys and challenges of their work.
In this episode:
Adrian Brown (host): Centre for Public ImpactPierre Berastain (host): Interim Executive Director, Centre for Public ImpactLeina’ala Nakamura, Administrator at City and County of Honolulu, HawaiiCouncil Woman Pierina Sanchez, 14th Council District, New York
Governments are under increasing pressure to bring about the results people expect, while remaining trusted and relevant. And yet, the systems, structures, and processes of government today are often not set up to respond to the complex challenges we face as a society. In recent years, wicked problems such as the global pandemic, climate crisis, persistent racial and economic inequity, as well as a rise in misinformation have brought into sharp focus the need for government to work differently.
From the Centre for Public Impact, this podcast explores radical new approaches to addressing the most pressing issues of our time by speaking with public servants and politicians at the heart of government around the world.
Learn more about this emerging vision for better government at centreforpublicimpact.org
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