David Wallace-Wells, a columnist for The New York Times and author of the bestseller "The Uninhabitable Earth," joins for a thought-provoking discussion. They explore the potential fallout from the recent U.S. election on climate policy and shifting global dynamics. Wallace-Wells analyzes the state of climate activism, the perils of communicating climate risks without causing alarm, and highlights Chinaโs pivotal role in green technology. They also answer listener questions, diving into the intricacies of air pollution and the need for innovative climate solutions.
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insights INSIGHT
Liberal Dominance in the U.S.
The Democratic party has held a long period of political and social dominance in the U.S.
This dominance spans various sectors, from media and Hollywood to the corporate world.
insights INSIGHT
Declining Political Urgency of Climate Change
Climate change is becoming less of a central political issue globally.
Market forces drive decarbonization, but political urgency has diminished.
insights INSIGHT
Clean Energy Investments Remain High
Despite decreased attention, clean energy investments remain substantial globally.
China's emissions are projected to peak soon, marking a major turning point.
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The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming is a comprehensive and alarming account of the potential impacts of climate change. The book, inspired by Wallace-Wells' 2017 New York Magazine article of the same name, explores various scenarios of Earth's future under different temperature increases. It discusses a wide range of climate-related disasters, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, extinctions, disease outbreaks, fires, droughts, famines, and increased geopolitical conflict. While the book focuses on the dire consequences rather than solutions, it acknowledges that measures such as a carbon tax, changes in agricultural practices, and investments in green energy and carbon capture could mitigate some of the worst effects. The book is praised for its urgent and detailed portrayal of climate change but has also been criticized for its alarmist tone and lack of concrete solutions[1][2][4].
The Great Derangement
Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh
Amitav Ghosh's "The Great Derangement" is a powerful exploration of the relationship between climate change and literature. Ghosh argues that the dominant narratives of our time have failed to adequately address the climate crisis. He examines how literature, history, and politics have shaped our understanding of the world and contributed to our current predicament. The book challenges readers to rethink our relationship with the environment and consider the ethical implications of climate change. It's a thought-provoking work that blends literary analysis with environmental concerns.
It's a wonderful life
Belinda Gannaway
There is limited information available about the specific content of 'It's a Wonderful Life' by Belinda Gannaway. It is one of her published works, but detailed descriptions or summaries are not provided in the available sources.
The Panda's Thumb
More Reflections in Natural History
Stephen Jay Gould
In 'The Panda's Thumb,' Stephen Jay Gould presents a collection of essays that delve into the peculiarities of evolutionary design, natural history, and the cultural context of science. The book includes discussions on the panda's 'thumb,' which is not a true thumb but an adaptation of the radial sesamoid bone, illustrating the imperfect yet functional nature of evolutionary developments. Gould also explores topics such as the Piltdown Man hoax, Down syndrome, the relationship between dinosaurs and birds, and the concept of punctuated equilibrium. His essays challenge traditional narratives of evolution and highlight the importance of understanding evolution as an imperfect, often arbitrary process driven by environmental pressures, genetic variations, and chance.
๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐ & ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ-๐จ๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฟ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐-๐๐๐ก๐ก๐จ. It's a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from the potential fallout of the US election, shifting global interests and priorities, climate activism, China's role in climate and green energy technology, and as usual - listener questions for our guest.
About Our Guest: David Wallace-Wells is currently a columnist and staff writer at The New York Times, where he writes a weekly newsletter on climate change, technology, the future of the planet and how we live on it. He was previously the Deputy Editor at New YorkMagazine, where he also wrote a column on climate change, including the cover story, โThe Uninhabitable Earth,โ which was expanded into a New York Times bestselling book with the same title.
About Your Hosts: David Keith is Professor and Founding Faculty Director, Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago. He is the founder of Carbon Engineering and was formerly a professor at Harvard University and the University of Calgary. He splits his time between Canmore and Chicago.
Sara Hastings-Simon studies energy transitions at the intersection of policy, business, and technology. Sheโs a policy wonk, a physicist turned management consultant, and a professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Development.
Ed Whittingham is a clean energy policy/finance professional specializing in renewable electricity generation and transmission, carbon capture, carbon removal and low carbon transportation. He is a Public Policy Forum fellow and formerly the executive director of the Pembina Institute, a national clean energy think tank.
Energy vs Climate 
