The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens

Sir David King: "Global Heating: The Science and the Response”

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Oct 25, 2023

Climate scientist and policy ambassador Sir David King joins Nate Hagens to discuss the current state of Earth's climate system and our response to global heating. They explore the basic science behind the atmosphere, potential geoengineering solutions, and the implications of global heating. They also touch on the power of the fossil fuel lobby, the need for a sustainable economic model, and the role of science advisors in the UK government.

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Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Understanding the Urgency of Climate Change

02:19 • 6min

The Role of Greenhouse Gases in Earth's Temperature

08:27 • 30min

Salination, El Nino, and Temperature Predictions

38:51 • 3min

Exploring the Ocean's Capacity to Absorb CO2 and its Impact on Climate Change and Biodiversity

41:47 • 3min

The Power of the Fossil Fuel Lobby and Climate Change

45:00 • 6min

Moving Towards a Sustainable Economic Model

50:31 • 6min

Climate Change Action and Opposition: The Role of Science Advisors in the UK Government

56:07 • 26min

Renewable Energy and Global Emissions

01:21:55 • 28min

On this episode, Nate is joined by climate scientist and policy ambassador Sir David King to unpack the current situation regarding Earth’s climate system and human response (or lack thereof) to the accelerating heating of the atmosphere. While there are many uncertainties this field still grapples with, the fundamentals of the rising average global temperature as a response to increasing man-made greenhouse emissions are widely recognized by the global scientific community. Yet - especially in the United States - climate change remains a contentious issue, making it an even tougher political topic with no easy solutions. What is the basic science behind our understanding of the atmosphere? Will we resort to geoengineering to avert the worst climate outcomes - and which plans look the most promising? What are the implications of global heating for the coming decades and beyond?

About Sir. David King

Sir David King is an Emeritus Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. He is the Chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, Founder of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, and an Affiliate Partner of SYSTEMIQ Limited. He was the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2000-2007 and the Foreign Secretary's Special Representative on Climate Change from 2013-2017. He also spearheaded a collaborative program called Mission Innovation, which involved 25 countries and the EU to create a publicly funded £23bn pa research and development international exercise aimed at delivering all technologies needed to complete the transition into a fossil-fuel-free world economy. He has been a Fellow of the Royal Society since 1991 and a Foreign Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2002. Sir Dave was knighted in 2003 and made "Officier dans l'ordre national de la Légion d'Honneur" in 2009. Recently, he was also named The American Association for the Advancement of Science 2022 Hamburg Awardee for Science Diplomacy.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u7jETRJrkmk

Show Notes & Links to Learn More: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/95-sir-david-king