Sir David King: "Global Heating: The Science and the Response”
Oct 25, 2023
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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.
Deeply reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Repairing ecological damage and valuing ecosystems are vital in building resilience for a sustainable future.
Global cooperation, overcoming vested interests, and sustainable economic models are necessary for effective climate action.
Deep dives
Reducing Emissions and Removing Greenhouse Gases
One of the key strategies in addressing the climate crisis is to deeply and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, the world emits around 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year, primarily carbon dioxide. It is crucial to reduce these emissions significantly to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, efforts must be made to remove excess greenhouse gases already present in the atmosphere. This includes exploring innovative approaches such as marine biomass regeneration, which involves restocking the oceans with fish and marine animals that, in turn, contribute to drawing in CO2 and supporting a thriving ecosystem. Through these measures, billions of tons of greenhouse gases could potentially be removed from the atmosphere each year.
Repairing Damage and Building Resilience
Another important aspect of addressing the climate crisis is to repair the damage caused by climate change and build resilience for the future. This involves adapting to the current and future impacts of climate change and developing strategies to mitigate its effects. Furthermore, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the role they play in sustaining life on Earth is crucial. By valuing and protecting ecosystems, we can create a more resilient and sustainable future for both humans and the natural world.
Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Global Cooperation
While the task of addressing the climate crisis is complex, it requires global cooperation and concerted efforts. Overcoming challenges such as vested interests and ensuring political will are essential. The influence of fossil fuel lobbies and economic growth models that prioritize consumption must be counteracted. A transition towards a more sustainable economic model that values equality, diversity, and the well-being of both people and the planet is needed. Additionally, leadership from major countries like the United States and China is crucial in driving international action and fostering global collaboration.
The Urgency of Action
The urgency of taking action on climate change cannot be understated. The current trajectory of greenhouse gas emissions and the associated impacts, such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss, pose significant threats to the future of humanity and the planet. In order to avoid catastrophic consequences, it is imperative to deeply reduce emissions, remove excess greenhouse gases, repair ecological damage, and build resilience. By implementing comprehensive strategies that address these challenges, we can work towards a sustainable and equitable future.
Increasing balean whale population to sequester carbon
One of the solutions discussed in the podcast is the need to increase the population of balean whales, which have blubber that effectively sequesters carbon dioxide. By allowing the whale population to recover and thrive for the next 40-50 years, their natural carbon sequestration abilities could play a significant role in mitigating climate change. The podcast highlights the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of different species within Earth's ecosystem and the urgent need to recognize their role in addressing the global climate crisis.
The potential of using Greenland's ice as 'artificial well poo'
The podcast presents an innovative solution to increase soil carbon content by utilizing the fine powder produced from the crushing of geological materials under Greenland's ice. This powdered material can potentially be used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer, transforming farming practices on a global scale. By distributing this 'artificial well poo' in the oceans using rice husks as floats, it could provide the necessary nutrients for marine ecosystems and contribute to carbon sequestration. The podcast emphasizes the need for continued research and experimentation to ensure the effectiveness and safety of these geoengineering methods.
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.
