Kim Stanley Robinson on Technology, Climate and Capitalism

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Mar 11, 2024

Renowned science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson discusses his impactful novel Ministry for the Future, exploring themes of climate change, capitalism, and society. The conversation touches on terraforming Mars, sea-level rise in Lower Manhattan, and the importance of decarbonization solutions. Robinson's deep connection with nature, reflections on civil disobedience, global governance challenges, and utopian scenarios for the future are also highlighted.

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ANECDOTE

Finding Solace in Nature

Kim Stanley Robinson found solace in nature, from body surfing as a child to backpacking in the Sierra Nevada.
He now finds peace in his garden, connecting with the natural world amidst suburbia.

ANECDOTE

Writing "The High Sierra"

Robinson wrote "The High Sierra: A Love Story" during the pandemic after a period of personal loss.
The book explores the Sierra Nevada's past, wildlife, geology, and his reminiscences, in a mosaic format.

INSIGHT

Climate Change in the Sierra Nevada

Climate change is evident in the Sierra Nevada with altered summer weather, severe droughts, and vanishing glaciers.
The glaciers' disappearance serves as undeniable proof of the accelerating climate change.

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Kim Stanley Robinson, renowned science fiction author, is our guest on this episode of MCJ. He is the author of the Ministry for the Future, a novel which outlines humanity's attempts to navigate climate change in the coming decades.

Former President Barack Obama named the Ministry for the Future as one of his favorite books of 2020. The work has been cited by numerous entrepreneurs and builders in the MCJ member community as having had a significant impact on their interest in working on climate and decarbonization solutions. The subject of climate change shows up in many of Kim Stanley Robinson's works from his Mars trilogy, written in the 1990s about humans terraforming Mars, to his science in the capital Series from the mid 2000s, to his 2017 novel, New York 2140, which is set in a Lower Manhattan that is submerged due to sea level rise.

And it shows up in many of his other works as well. Stan, as he goes by, has won numerous awards including the Hugo Award for best novel for both Green Mars and Blue Mars, and the Nebula Award for best novel for Red Mars and his book 2312. The Atlantic has called his work the gold standard of realistic and highly literary science fiction writing. And according to an article in the New Yorker, he is generally acknowledged as one of the greatest living science fiction writers. Stan and Cody have a wide-ranging conversation about his relationship with nature, his views on capitalism, society, government and technology, and of course his writings and his views on climate change and the path ahead for us all.

In this episode, we cover:

[03:04]: Stan's early life, finding solace in nature on the California coast
[06:40]: Writing "The High Sierra: A Love Story" during the pandemic
[08:57]: Noticing climate change impacts in the Sierra Nevada
[12:08]: Climate change awareness sparked by a 1995 trip to Antarctica
[14:13]: Mixing dread and hope in climate change discussions
[17:36]: Viewing technology as both hardware and software
[21:19]: Critiquing capitalism's role in power dynamics
[26:58]: Majority's desire for a sustainable world despite hurdles
[28:00]: Individual actions within broader societal efforts
[30:14]: Civil disobedience as a response to failed representation
[34:18]: The UN and other international governance's role in global challenges
[39:18]: The potential of international treaties in climate action
[42:11]: The concept of sudden societal change in climate action
[48:06]: Ministry for the Future and "following the money" in climate change narratives
[55:59]: Overview of Stan's works and current projects on Antarctica

Episode recorded on Feb 7, 2024 (Published on Mar 11, 2024)

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant