The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Bill McKibben: "Climate, Movements, and Power”

Dec 20, 2023

Bill McKibben, environmental activist and author, joins Nate to reflect on climate education and movements. They discuss barriers to effective climate action, the role of power structures, and organizing at different levels. They explore fossil fuel companies' responsibility and challenges faced by activists. They also delve into the concept of good and evil from religious and ecological perspectives, recall a conference, and discuss local food and energy. They highlight the work of Third Act, coordinating actions against banks funding fossil fuels.

01:19:44

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Episode guests

Bill McKibben

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Building powerful social movements and challenging the influence of the fossil fuel industry is crucial to making meaningful change in addressing climate change.

Renewable energy, such as solar and wind, has the potential to replace fossil fuels, but material requirements and energy consumption must be addressed.

Collaboration between older and younger generations is necessary to create a powerful and effective movement to combat the climate crisis and shape a better future.

Deep dives

The Urgency of Taking Action on Climate Change

The podcast episode discusses the urgent need for action on climate change. The guest, Bill McKibben, highlights that humans have emitted more carbon since 1989 than in all the years prior. He emphasizes that winning the argument about climate change is not enough, as the fight is about money and power. McKibben explains that building powerful social movements and challenging the influence of the fossil fuel industry is crucial to making meaningful change. He also discusses the importance of renewable energy and the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Introduction

2min

The Exponential Increase in CO2 Emissions

5min

Fossil Fuel Companies and the Climate Crisis

27min

Understanding the Implications of Climate Change

16min

Exploring the Concept of Good and Evil from Religious and Ecological Perspectives

2min

Recalling a Conference and Discussing Local Food and Energy

2min

Third Act: Protecting Climate and Democracy

27min

On this episode, environmental activist and author Bill McKibben joins Nate for a reflection on the last few decades of climate education and movements – and the possibilities and challenges that we’ll face ahead. Among a system that is dependent on growth and embedded in a biosphere full of limits (which we continue to surpass), working towards shifting our societies to be ecologically balanced is potentially the most important mission to which an individual can contribute - yet this is much easier said than done. What have been the largest barriers towards actual effective climate action since emissions have continued in a straight line up since the 20th century? What power structures stand as a barrier to proactive initiatives, and which ones could we utilize to propel movements forward? How can we prepare and organize at the individual, community, and national levels, as we look ahead to climate - and other - challenges we’re likely to face in the coming decades?

About Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben is founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 for action on climate and justice. His 1989 book The End of Nature is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change, and has appeared in 24 languages. He’s gone on to write 20 books, and his work appears regularly in periodicals from the New Yorker to Rolling Stone. McKibben helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, which has organized protests on every continent, including Antarctica, for climate action. He played a leading role in launching the opposition to big oil pipeline projects like Keystone XL, and the fossil fuel divestment campaign, which has become the biggest anti-corporate campaign in history.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qCrgpdHCO3U

Find out more, and show notes: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/102-bill-mckibben