Instant Genius The positive tipping points that can help us solve the climate crisis
Sep 7, 2025
Tim Lenton, Chair in Climate Change and Earth System Science at the University of Exeter and author of Positive Tipping Points, shares his insights on transformative strategies for combating climate change. He discusses how cultural movements, like A-ha's influence on Norway's electric vehicle adoption, can catalyze significant shifts. Lenton emphasizes the interplay between government policies and grassroots activism, and how interconnected positive tipping points can pave the way for a greener future. It's a hopeful take on tackling the climate crisis!
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Definition Of Positive Tipping Points
- A positive tipping point is when a needed zero-emission behaviour or technology becomes self-propelling and hard to reverse.
- Tim Lenton frames these as the constructive flip side of climate tipping points he studied for decades.
How A-ha Kickstarted Norway's EV Market
- Members of the pop band A-ha campaigned from 1989 to push Norway toward electric vehicles using publicity and direct action.
- Their nine policy demands and stunts helped secure tax and toll exemptions that began Norway's EV market transformation.
Policy Plus Experience Creates Rapid EV Adoption
- Policy changes gave early EV drivers practical benefits like bus-lane access, which spread adoption by example.
- When manufacturers offered affordable mainstream EVs, Norway's market share exploded into an S-curve toward near 100% sales.
