On this episode, Nate is joined by climate researcher Leon Simons to unpack recent trends in global heating during 2023 and potential explanations and subsequent projections for the coming year. While the connection between human emitted greenhouse gasses and global warming is scientifically agreed upon, the other complexities and feedbacks of our climate system are still just beginning to be understood. Today, Leon theorizes on the intensity of aerosol masking from particulates such as sulfur, based on the connection between recent changes in marine fuel sulfur requirements and corresponding climate data. How will the global trend towards aerosol reductions affect near and long term global heating? What does this catch-22 mean for potential future climate action and policy? How should we be thinking about creating a more simplified global system in response to the unknown unknowns of our potential future climate?

About Leon Simons

Leon Simons is a climate researcher and science communicator at the Club of Rome Netherlands and is studying the effects of reduction in sulfur emissions on regional and global radiation changes and its impact on global heating. Most recently he was a co-author of the paper Global Warming in the Pipeline with renowned climate scientist James Hansen. Leon is also the founder of Magic Ventures BV, which works to make clean cooking technologies accessible to people everywhere. 

For Show Notes and More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/105-leon-simons

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RPAnoSt6FnY

Slides referenced in this episode

15:43 - Slide 3

23:24 - Slide 3

24:30 - Slide 4

30:46 - Slide 5

32:29 - Slide 6

36:38 - Slide 7

39:55 - Slide 7

42:29 - Slide 8

50:55 - Slide 10