TED Talks Daily Climate progress isn't a sprint — it's a marathon | Greg De Temmerman
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Jan 22, 2025 
Greg De Temmerman, an energy expert and ultramarathon runner, draws fascinating parallels between long-distance running and climate action. He discusses how both journeys are complex, filled with obstacles, and require constant adaptation. De Temmerman emphasizes that real climate progress is a marathon, not a sprint, stressing resilience and urgent action amidst challenges. He advocates embracing the imperfections of sustainable solutions while highlighting the mental and emotional endurance needed to tackle the climate crisis head-on.
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Climate Change as an Ultramarathon
- Greg De Temmerman compares fighting climate change to ultramarathon running.
- Both involve complex, long-term challenges requiring constant adaptation and compromise.
Root Cause and Solution
- Climate change is caused by greenhouse gas accumulation, primarily from fossil fuels.
- We must rapidly develop a new energy system and reduce emissions to zero.
Coal Consumption Scale
- The world burns a volume of coal equivalent to the Great Pyramid of Giza every five hours.
- This illustrates the immense scale of fossil fuel consumption.