Lesley Hughes

Lesley Hughes, a renowned climate expert, discusses the alarming effects of extreme weather on biodiversity and human life. She highlights the feedback loops of rising temperatures, focusing on Sydney's increasing heat and its implications for global warming. The conversation delves into the urgent need for effective climate action as species face extinction and ecosystems decline. Lesley offers insights on the importance of renewable energy and how fostering public engagement can drive meaningful change amidst the climate crisis.

Australian climate scientists Lesley Hughes, Ove Høegh-Guldberg, and Graeme Pearman reflect on their life's work and the burden of knowing about the climate crisis. They discuss the urgent need for action on climate change, the impact on coral reefs, frustrations with politicians' insufficient actions, and the concept of assisted colonization to save species. They also highlight the fear of runaway climate change and the power of renewable energy.

Three Australian climate scientists, Lesley Hughes, Graeme Pearman, and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, talk about the professional and personal toll of their climate change predictions. They discuss the axing of Australia's Climate Commission, pushback from government and industry, personal attacks and death threats they faced, skepticism towards climate science, the importance of being scientist advocates, and the responsibility to find solutions for climate change.

Science Weekly revisits episode one of this 2023 mini-series from Full Story. Pioneering Australian scientists Graeme Pearman, Lesley Hughes and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg saw the climate crisis coming. Pearman predicted the increase of carbon dioxide levels, Hughes foresaw the alarming number of species extinctions and Hoegh-Guldberg forecast the mass coral bleaching events we’re seeing today. All three went on to become some of the country’s most respected experts in their fields, travelling the globe, briefing leaders, and assuming the world would take action having heard their alarming findings. In part one of this three-part series, these climate change scientists reveal the moment they realised the planet was heading for certain catastrophe. What did they do when they found out? How did they think the world would respond? And how do they feel today, looking back on that moment of cognisance?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Graeme Pearman, Lesley Hughes, and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, pioneering Australian scientists, discuss the climate crisis. They predicted increased carbon dioxide levels, species extinctions, and mass coral bleaching events. They reveal their moment of realization, their actions afterward, and their thoughts on the world's response. The podcast also explores challenges faced by climate scientists and journalists, the biodiversity of coral reefs, and the devastating impact of coral bleaching.