Big Think Hannah Ritchie: We can solve our biggest environmental problems | Full Interview
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Oct 15, 2025 
Hannah Ritchie, a researcher at the University of Oxford and deputy editor of Our World in Data, shares her insights on climate change and sustainability. She transitions from pessimism to optimism, revealing real solutions obtainable through data analysis. Ritchie highlights the critical sectors—energy, transport, food, and construction—that need transformation to combat climate change. Addressing climate inequality and advocating for innovative agricultural practices, she emphasizes that meaningful progress is achievable, making her discussion both enlightening and actionable.
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From Doomer to Optimist
- Hannah Ritchie transformed from a climate doomer to an urgent optimist by analyzing data across centuries.
- She emphasizes that big environmental problems, like the ozone layer recovery, can be solved.
Drivers of Climate Change
- Human emissions from energy, industry, and food cause most climate change.
- Emissions per person peaked a decade ago; rich countries' reductions are real even after adjusting for offshoring.
Paris Agreement Targets Reality
- The 1.5°C Paris target is very unlikely, but staying below 2°C remains possible with ambitious action.
- Meeting existing national targets could nearly keep warming under 2°C.