Samuel Furfari: “The Truth About the COPs” | Tom Nelson Pod #390

Samuel Furfari: “The Truth About the COPs” | Tom Nelson Pod #390

From Tom Nelson by Thomas Nelson

April 28, 2026 · 59 min

About this episode

Samuel Furfari discusses the evolution and criticisms of COPs in addressing climate change since 1992.

Former European Commission energy official Samuel Furfari recounts COPs from the 1992 UN climate convention through recent meetings, arguing the process became propaganda-heavy, expensive, and ineffective as global CO2 emissions rose 66% since 1992. He cites Glasgow as a turning point when China and India blocked anti-coal language, and notes recent COPs hosted by fossil-fuel producers and growing pushback from Africa and others seeking development. He criticizes “technology transfer,” NGO influence (especially in the EU), and anti-nuclear sentiment, discusses synthetic fuels as too costly until oil/gas decline, and describes shifts at the IEA and oil firms like BP back toward oil and gas. 00:00 Meet Samuel Furfari 01:02 COP Zero Origins 02:38 Berlin COP and Merkel 04:14 Glasgow Turning Point 06:11 Fossil Fuel Host COPs 09:39 Brazil COP Contradictions 10:46 Money and Degrowth Agenda 12:49 Nuclear and Synthetic Fuels 15:03 Cuckoo Takes the Nest 17:19 COP Spectacle and Emissions 20:07 Africa and Tech Transfer 22:44 Papua New Guinea Shifts 24:09 Polar Bear Messaging Fades 25:40 IEA From Oil to Renewables 29:03 US Pressures IEA 30:05 Oil Chokepoints Reality 31:08 Inside IEA Ideology…

People in this episode

Host: Thomas Nelson

Guest: Samuel Furfari

Topics covered

  • COPs
  • climate change
  • energy policy
  • fossil fuels
  • technology transfer
  • nuclear energy
  • synthetic fuels

Keywords

  • COPs
  • climate convention
  • CO2 emissions
  • fossil fuels
  • technology transfer
  • nuclear energy
  • synthetic fuels
  • IEA
  • BP
  • Africa

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: European Commission, IEA, BP

Places: China, India, Brazil, Papua New Guinea

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