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James lovelock was a true scientific pioneer and inventor extraordinary. He issued one of the earliest warnings that petroleum products were de stabilizing the climate. His accuracy in his predictions sometimes even seemed prophetic. In his two thousand and eight book, the revenge of gaye, he wrote that by 20 20, extreme weather would be the norm to night.

James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia hypothesis, died last Tuesday on his 103rd birthday. Known as something of a maverick, the scientist and inventor was one of the most influential thinkers of the past century. Our global environment editor, Jonathan Watts, tells Madeleine Finlay about spending time with Lovelock for his forthcoming biography, the impact of the scientist’s ideas and inventions on the modern world, and how his immense influence will continue to be felt in the critical decades ahead. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod