The Climate Question Will the switch to green technology become unstoppable?
Sep 15, 2025
Tim Lenton, a leading Professor of Climate Change at the University of Exeter and author of *Positive Tipping Points*, discusses the concept of positive tipping points in climate solutions. He reveals how the surge in renewable energy and electric vehicles is already reshaping the market. Lenton shares a fascinating story about how the band A-Ha helped popularize electric vehicles in Norway. The conversation also touches on the impact of social movements and changing dietary habits, highlighting pathways to a sustainable future.
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How Tipping Points Work
- Tipping points occur when small nudges trigger self‑propelling change via amplifiers inside a system.
- Once underway the transition becomes hard to reverse because reinforcing feedbacks take over.
Learning And Scale Drive Adoption
- Learning‑by‑doing and economies of scale make technologies cheaper and more attractive as production grows.
- That combination creates a critical mass where each new adopter triggers many more to follow.
A‑Ha Helped Kickstart Norway’s EV Push
- Members of the 80s band A‑Ha campaigned in Norway for EV incentives from 1990 onward.
- They imported an electric Fiat Panda and pressured authorities until taxes and toll exemptions were granted.
