About 20,000 heads of state, diplomats and activists will convene a critical conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow – popularly known as COP26 (Conference of the Parties). In our launch episode of our Linnean Future podcast series, we hash out the long history of climate negotiations with Prof. Mark Maslin. We chart the political journey of international environmental negotiations, the challenges that COP26 faces, and what it hopes to achieve.The Linnean Future podcast series is an initiative by The Linnean Society of London in response to the ongoing planetary emergency. Twelve episodes over twelve months will bring you stories from around the world that explore the wide-ranging impacts of climate change.Over the series, we will be bringing you vivid interviews, sharp opinions, current research and field science that we hope will help explain the complex and deeply intertwined relationship between us and the planet.The Linnean Society of London is committed to Net Zero (with offsets) by 2022 and reducing its carbon emissions by at least half by 2030.

Speakers: Prof. Mark MaslinInterviewer: Padmaparna GhoshProducer: Ross Ziegelmeier