Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast Jacinda Ardern and… Is It Time to Talk About Geoengineering?
8 snips
Dec 4, 2025 
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern shares her insights on empathetic leadership and the urgent need for climate action, labeling climate change as New Zealand's 'nuclear-free moment.' Investigative journalist Karl Mathiesen discusses the controversial advancements in solar geoengineering through Stardust, exploring its potential and the significant risks involved. The conversation touches on the precarious balance between technological progress and the slow pace of political response, highlighting the pressing demand for integrity-driven leadership in climate policy.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Longtime Watcher Warns Of Converging Forces
- Paul Dickinson says he first briefed colleagues on geoengineering in 2008 and has tracked the issue for 17 years.
- He frames current developments as the convergence of tech, money, and political pressure pushing SRM into the spotlight.
Investigative Reporting Sparked Wider Alarm
- Tom Rivett-Carnac describes reading Karl Mathiesen's months-long reporting linking Stardust's technology, investors, and strategy.
- That reporting convinced him geoengineering will be a feature of our world and merits public scrutiny.
Geoengineering Moves From Taboo To Venture-Backed Reality
- Karl Mathiesen reports solar radiation management is shifting from science fiction to a real private-sector pursuit backed by serious VC money.
- Stardust claims it can spray aerosols into the stratosphere and investors see it as a potential emergency tool despite big unknowns.
