New Books Network Susannah Fisher, "Sink Or Swim: How the World Needs to Adapt to a Changing Climate" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
Oct 7, 2025
In this engaging discussion, climate researcher Susannah Fisher from University College London dives into the urgent need for global adaptation to climate change, highlighted in her book Sink or Swim. She addresses pressing issues like the impact of heatwaves and flooding, challenges in food systems, and the role of military responses to disasters. Fisher explores complex topics like climate migration and geopolitical tensions over water resources, urging listeners to consider the tough choices ahead for a livable planet.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Think In Systems, Not Isolated Risks
- Climate impacts ripple through systems like mobility, food, nature, and international relations.
- Thinking in systems exposes political and practical trade-offs adaptation must resolve.
Match Adaptation To Projected Impacts
- Match the scale of adaptation to the scale of expected impacts instead of assuming small fixes suffice.
- Assess whether responses reach natural limits where living safely becomes impossible despite investment.
Funding Alone Won't Fix Adaptation
- Money shortages and misaligned incentives block adaptation even where funds exist.
- Political structures and sectoral silos keep adaptation low priority compared to economic goals.
