Intelligence Squared How to Avert the Climate Catastrophe and a Financial Meltdown, with Eugene Linden
May 16, 2022
Eugene Linden, an esteemed author and environmental journalist, discusses his book, "Fire and Flood," revealing how U.S. governments have delayed climate action for decades. He emphasizes the heavy impact of climate change on the global economy and unpacks the ironies of the insurance industry prioritizing short-term gains over long-term sustainability. Linden shares insights from polar regions that highlight the urgent need to shift perspectives on climate change. He also advocates for innovative solutions and collaboration to avert environmental disaster.
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The Trigger
- Eugene Linden was triggered to write "Fire and Flood" after reading a 2018 article.
- The article quoted insurance lobbyists claiming to still be "scrambling to understand" climate change risks, despite knowing about them for 25 years.
Short-Term Incentives
- Businesses face strong incentives to prioritize short-term profits over addressing long-term threats like climate change.
- The insurance industry's inaction on climate risk exemplifies this vulnerability within our economic system.
Climate Change: A Switch, Not a Dial
- Trips to the Arctic and Antarctic revealed a shift in climate science understanding.
- The previously held belief of slow, gradual climate change was replaced by evidence of rapid, switch-like shifts.
