Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations cover image

Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations

Climate "Realism" = Giving Up - Jeremy Wallace

May 15, 2025
50:22

Extended show notes and bonus content at wickedproblems.earth.


In this episode of 'Wicked Problems,' host Richard Delevan discusses the shift from climate optimism to defeatism with Jeremy Wallace, a China and climate policy expert at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The discussion covers various factors influencing this shift, including the influence of political figures like Donald Trump and Tony Blair, and initiatives such as the Council on Foreign Relations' Climate Realism Initiative. Wallace critiques the initiative's approach, examining its reliance on lifeboat ethics and the fallacies it presents. The episode also touches on the historical context of climate debates, the role of China in clean technology, and the political complexities surrounding climate action. Additionally, the episode features a new intro track from the awesome up and coming UK band Suncharmer.


00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:24 The Shift from Optimism to Defeatism

02:22 Council on Foreign Relations' Climate Realism Initiative

03:31 Interview with Jeremy Wallace

22:13 The Lifeboat Ethics Debate

26:35 Debating Consumption and Population Growth

27:07 The Vision of Clean Abundance

28:04 Scarcity vs. Sustainable Abundance

29:41 Climate Realism and Technological Beliefs

31:07 Challenges and Politics of Climate Action


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