One Planet Podcast · Climate Change, Politics, Sustainability, Environmental Solutions, Renewable Energy, Activism, Biodiversity, Carbon Footprint, Wildlife, Regenerative Agriculture, Circular Economy, Extinction, Net-Zero

How can journalism make people care about environmental crises & create solutions? - Highlights - NICHOLAS KRISTOF

Aug 26, 2024

Nicholas Kristof, an influential journalist dedicated to raising awareness about environmental crises, shares his insights on how storytelling can ignite change. He discusses the emotional toll of reporting on climate issues and highlights advancements in renewable energy, like China’s progress in battery technology. Kristof emphasizes the role of journalism in uniting local and global narratives. He believes that while challenges in sustainable reporting exist, there is hope in innovative solutions that could steer us toward a green future.

16:39

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Episode guests

NICHOLAS KRISTOF

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Quick takeaways

Journalism must amplify diverse voices and personal stories to foster meaningful connections with audiences on environmental crises.

Recent advancements in renewable energy and carbon capture technologies present hopeful paths for reducing global carbon emissions effectively.

Deep dives

The Impact of Small Town Background on Journalism

Growing up in a small town shapes one's perspective, influencing the understanding of national issues often overlooked by mainstream media. The speaker notes that important topics, such as addiction leading to over 100,000 overdose deaths annually, affect close communities but are frequently neglected in broader discussions. This disconnection urges a deeper exploration beyond capital cities, advocating for engagement with everyday people to capture a comprehensive view of societal challenges. Acknowledging this gap, the speaker emphasizes the importance of bringing diverse voices and experiences into journalism to enhance its relevance and impact.

Intro

4min

The Intersection of Renewable Energy Progress and Historical Resistance

3min

The Emotional Toll of Journalism and the Decline of Local News

4min

Navigating the Future of Journalism and Community Challenges

3min

The Role of Education and Storytelling in Addressing Societal Challenges

4min

"I'm trying to get people to care about a crisis in ways that may bring solutions to it. And that's also how I deal with the terror and the fear to find a sense of purpose in what I do. It's incredibly heartbreaking to see some of the things and hear some of the stories, but at the end of the day, it feels like–inconsistently here and there–you can shine a light on problems, and by shining that light, you actually make a difference.

The fundamental impediment is that 10 years ago, it just seemed really hard to see how we were going to get out of climate change and disastrous consequences, but right now, if you squint a little bit, you can maybe see a path through this period where we reduce carbon emissions enough to figure out how to navigate our way to a future in which things work and we pay a price, but one that is manageable. Green energy is becoming much cheaper because of a revolution in battery technology, and now there are possibilities for a field-like energy generated by waves or fusion nuclear power to remove carbon from the air with direct air capture. We're not sure that these will work, but they may, and they would really be revolutionary. China is an interesting example of a country that has made remarkable progress on electrification and battery technology. It is still pushing out a ton of carbon, but it has done this for practical reasons—it understands that those are key technologies for the future and whoever figures out how to get electric vehicles done right, whoever figures out how to get battery technology right, the world is going to benefit from their progress in battery technology, just as the world has benefited by having solar panels made in China go up all over the world.”

Nicholas D. Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer-winning journalist and Op-ed columnist for The New York Times, where he was previously bureau chief in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. Kristof is a regular CNN contributor and has covered, among many other events and crises, the Tiananmen Square protests, the Darfur genocide, the Yemeni civil war, and the U.S. opioid crisis. He is the author of the memoir Chasing Hope, A Reporter's Life, and coauthor, with his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, of five previous books: Tightrope, A Path Appears, Half the Sky, Thunder from the East, and China Wakes.