Medicine and Science from The BMJ Could a Ministry for the Future solve the climate crisis? | Kim Stanley Robinson interview
Jan 9, 2026
Join acclaimed science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson as he dives into the urgent themes of climate crisis and political imagination. Robinson discusses the relevance of his novel 'Ministry for the Future', highlighting innovative concepts like the Carbon Coin to fund decarbonization. He underscores the importance of global cooperation and the health sector's role in addressing climate challenges. With insights on youth activism and ethical responses to crisis, Robinson encourages a hopeful outlook on our collective future.
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Fiction Still Matches Reality
- Ministry for the Future remains plausible and timely despite missing events like the pandemic and Ukraine war.
- The novel's chaotic, disorderly future still maps well onto real-world developments since 2019.
Distinguishing Sabotage From Murder
- Robinson draws a clear moral line between sabotage and murder in political violence debates.
- He suggests targeted property destruction may be defensible, but harming people is never acceptable.
Carbon Quantitative Easing Explained
- Robinson frames the Ministry as a lawful UN standing committee, not a US-led project.
- He proposes 'carbon QE'—central banks creating money—to compensate fossil fuel sellers and fund transition.
