Today, Explained The case for climate optimism
Apr 20, 2021
David Wallace-Wells, author of 'The Uninhabitable Earth' and a writer for New York Magazine, shares his evolving views on climate change. He discusses the surprising optimism surrounding global climate initiatives led by major polluters. Wallace-Wells emphasizes the urgency of decarbonization, drawing parallels between COVID-19 impacts and fossil fuel pollution. He highlights innovative solutions, the importance of collective action, and the potential of electric vehicles to drive progress. Global cooperation is key to addressing disparities and fostering a sustainable future.
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grim outlook on climate change
- Three degrees Celsius of warming by 2100 could lead to hundreds of millions of deaths and mass migration.
- At 1.2 degrees, we already live in a hotter world than ever before in human history.
Hope from biggest polluters
- Despite the grim outlook, the world's two biggest polluters, China and the US, offer a glimmer of hope.
- Pledges to reduce carbon emissions may help us stay below 2.5 degrees of warming, a better outcome than previously predicted.
Renewables are getting cheaper
- Renewable energy is becoming increasingly cheap, making it economically logical to switch.
- Though pledges are not always met, the changing economic landscape provides new incentives for change.
