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Bula COP31!
Bula COP31 is a podcast for anyone wanting to understand what it means for Australia and the Türkiye to co-host COP31 in 2026, and why this moment is influential in the UNFCCC process. Australia will be putting the Pacific Islands at the forefront of the climate negotiations to ensure adaptation and infrastructure investments flow to the region.
Your hosts are Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan.
Jack is a proud boomer who started his sustainability career long before it was considered ‘cool’. His experience spans the earliest COPs and reaches across business, industry, government, development agencies, NGOs, and the UN. He’s worked with the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development; and across Asia-Pacific with the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. Jack was nominated by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the design team that established the IRIS initiative, supporting climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure in Small Island Developing States — work that sits at the heart of Pacific climate priorities.
Heidi Dumesich is a millennial environmental scientist focused on implementing practical solutions. She’s the seasoned podcaster behind Life on Planet A, and currently a Sustainability Manager at Ventia, leading an Infrastructure Sustainability Council rating for a major road project. Heidi brings a fresh, grounded perspective on climate action and how sustainability plays out across communities and sectors.
Bula COP31 explores what really happens behind the scenes of a COP — with a special focus on how Pacific leadership, values, and voices shape the global climate agenda. Through candid conversations with stakeholders across Pacific governments, Australian agencies, industry, civil society, youth, and community groups, we unpack how climate diplomacy in our region is driven by relationships, resilience, and shared responsibility.
Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, activist, Pacific climate champion, or simply COP-curious, this podcast is your guide to getting the most out of COP31 — and understanding how it can deliver for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Tune in, get engaged, and say Bula COP31!
Bula COP31!
Episode 'M' for Marshall Islands: Inside Climate Action Week
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Most of us feel powerless in the face of climate change—and yet, change is happening right now, driven by everyday citizens and global leaders alike.
What if your voice could shape international negotiations? And how is Australia’s unique dual-presidency at COP 31 positioned to prioritize the vulnerable Pacific Islands?
In this episode, Heidi and Jack take you inside Climate Action Week Sydney, a massive week of advocacy, policy, and community-led initiatives that influence the biggest climate negotiations on the planet.
Discover how local events and grassroots activism are directly impacting global climate policies, with behind-the-scenes insights from key leaders like Minister Chris Bowen and grassroots innovators like Mary Jack from Vanuatu.
We break down how the Pacific's is shaping COP 31, the significance of the upcoming Fiji pre-COP, and hear from climate advocates amplifying Indigenous and women-led voices. You'll learn about the critical role that community input plays in forming official negotiation positions and why this moment is more important than ever for those who want to make a difference.
Voxies from:
- Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy
- Eezu Tan, Founder of Climate Writers
- Dr. Amba-Rose Atkinson, Indigenous Researcher
-Mary Jack, Founder of Mitingar Women and Girls Association
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