Everybody in the Pool Bonus: Processing climate change through fiction
Jul 4, 2025
Naomi Oreskes, a Harvard professor and climate change activist, dives into the intersection of climate fiction and science. She discusses how storytelling can inspire hope and engagement in the face of a worsening climate crisis. Oreskes critiques societal reactions to climate science, emphasizing the influence of capitalism on our understanding and action. She explores how dystopian narratives can illustrate potential futures, and how fiction sometimes conveys complex truths more effectively than traditional science can.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Science Meets Denialism Surprise
- Stronger scientific evidence often triggers deeper denial instead of action.
- Society hasn't responded to climate predictions as scientists expected.
Fiction's Unexpected Birth
- The Collapse of Western Civilization book voice came unexpectedly like a "psychotic break."
- The first draft was written in two weeks, surprising co-author Eric Conway.
Perils of Overcautious Science
- Excessive scientific caution on climate attribution risks inaction.
- The 95% confidence standard is arbitrary and can hinder urgent decision-making.
