Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

252 | Hannah Ritchie on Keeping Hope for the Planet Alive

Oct 2, 2023

01:15:35

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Hannah Ritchie discusses the possibility of solving environmental problems and the importance of taking action. The chapter explores the mindset of feeling doomed and the need for cautious optimism. It delves into the political complexities surrounding environmental issues and the potential for solutions to benefit individuals. Highlights the pressing issue of air pollution and the potential consequences of global warming on food security and crop yields. Explores the connection between disastrous events and climate change. Discusses the potential use of nuclear power in developing countries and the decoupling of CO2 emissions from economic growth. Explores challenges and potential solutions for sustainable diets.

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Quick takeaways

Air pollution is responsible for seven million premature deaths annually and is the leading cause of environmental-related deaths.

Transitioning to electric vehicles and investing in renewable technologies are crucial for combatting climate change.

Transforming the way we produce and consume food is necessary to address sustainability challenges and feed a growing global population.

Deep dives

The Importance of Tackling Air Pollution

Air pollution, particularly indoor air pollution caused by burning solid fuel, is responsible for around seven million premature deaths per year. While often overshadowed by climate change, air pollution is the leading cause of environmental-related deaths.

Leading By Example in Climate Change Mitigation

01:48

Pursuing Solutions for a Better World

00:47

Efficiency in Food Utilization

00:49

Key Environmental Problems

00:26

Introduction

5min

The Optimistic Perspective on Solving the Environmental Crisis

11min

Taking Action to Address Environmental Problems

3min

The Global Air Pollution Crisis

18min

The Importance of Food Security and Crop Yields

2min

The Connection Between Disastrous Events and Climate Change

3min

Nuclear Power as a Solution for Developing Countries

12min

Decoupling of CO2 emissions from economic growth and the role of active technologies

10min

Challenges and Potential Solutions for Sustainable Diets

15min

Our planet and its environment are in bad shape, in all sorts of ways. Those of us who want to improve the situation face a dilemma. On the one hand, we have to be forceful and clear-headed about how the bad the situation actually is. On the other, we don't want to give the impression that things are so bad that it's hopeless. That could -- and, empirically, does -- give people the impression that there's no point in working to make things better. Hannah Ritchie is an environmental researcher at Our World in Data who wants to thread this needle: things are bad, but there are ways we can work to make them better.

Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2023/10/02/252-hannah-ritchie-on-keeping-hope-for-the-planet-alive/

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Hannah Ritchie received her Ph.D. in geosciences from the University of Edinburgh. She is currently Senior Researcher and the Head of Research at Our World in Data, and a researcher at the Oxford Martin Programme in Global Development at the University of Oxford. Her upcoming book is Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet.

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