Challenging Climate Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:46:49 -0400 https://www.challengingclimate.org en-us © 2026 Challenging Climate yes Support this Podcast 2a224a4e-cac1-563f-af54-4ea23d140d1e Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine episodic false Asking tough questions about the science, technology, and politics of climate change, two climate researchers challenge leading experts on one of the defining issues of our age. Every two weeks, they explore how we can fight global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removal, adaptation and solar geoengineering. Dr. Jesse Reynolds and Dr. Pete Irvine consider the roles of computer models and persuasive narratives, economics and public policy, and renewable energy and national security in the climate debate, and look beyond to issues such as biotechnology and international development.

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music by Peter Danilchuk @clambgramb (IG/Twitter).

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3faniimaspimpfp3g9tn4bspq0up?.jpg Challenging Climate Jesse Reynolds Pete Irvine Farewell Farewell Pete and Jesse must bring Challenging Climate to a close. Since starting the podcast almost three years ago, we have each taken on more professional responsibilities and no longer have the time for this volunteer effort. In this short recording, we describe what we are now up to:

We also sincerely thank Gillian Cheong, our producer; our guests; our listeners, especially those who supported us via Patreon; and each other.

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]]> Pete and Jesse must bring Challenging Climate to a close. Since starting the podcast almost three years ago, we have each taken on more professional responsibilities and no longer have the time for this volunteer effort. In this short recording, we describe what we are now up to:

We also sincerely thank Gillian Cheong, our producer; our guests; our listeners, especially those who supported us via Patreon; and each other.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-16160305 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:00:00 +0100 507 full false 50. Maarten Albers on the Nitrogen Crisis in the Netherlands 50. Maarten Albers on the Nitrogen Crisis in the Netherlands Our guest is Maarten Albers, a journalist who reports on agriculture and food for the Volkskrant, one of the Netherlands’ leading newspapers. In today's episode, we draw our attention to the 'nitrogen crisis' in the Netherlands - a major environmental story that has reshaped politics in the Netherlands and societal views on environmental regulation, science and technology, and even international relations.

Listen as we discuss why we should care about nitrogen in the environment, and what lessons we can draw from the nitrogen crisis happening in the Netherlands. 

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]]> Our guest is Maarten Albers, a journalist who reports on agriculture and food for the Volkskrant, one of the Netherlands’ leading newspapers. In today's episode, we draw our attention to the 'nitrogen crisis' in the Netherlands - a major environmental story that has reshaped politics in the Netherlands and societal views on environmental regulation, science and technology, and even international relations.

Listen as we discuss why we should care about nitrogen in the environment, and what lessons we can draw from the nitrogen crisis happening in the Netherlands. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-15568338 Mon, 12 Aug 2024 11:00:00 +0200 2643 50 full false 49. Gwynne Dyer on Intervention Earth: climate mitigation, CDR & SRM 49. Gwynne Dyer on Intervention Earth: climate mitigation, CDR & SRM Our guest is Gwynne Dyer, an author, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs. In this episode, we discuss the key messages from his new book Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World’s Climate Engineers, based on extensive interviews with the world’s top climate scientists. We discuss his insights from these interviews on the state of our climate, and address controversies and concerns over carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM).

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]]> Our guest is Gwynne Dyer, an author, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs. In this episode, we discuss the key messages from his new book Intervention Earth: Life-Saving Ideas from the World’s Climate Engineers, based on extensive interviews with the world’s top climate scientists. We discuss his insights from these interviews on the state of our climate, and address controversies and concerns over carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM).

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-15345157 Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0200 2799 49 full false 48. Jonathan Blake and Nils Gilman on planetary governance 48. Jonathan Blake and Nils Gilman on planetary governance Jonathan Blake is Associate Director at the Berggruen Institute, where he leads the Planetary Program. Nils Gilman is Senior Vice President at the Berggruen Institute and Deputy Editor of Noema magazine. In this episode, we discuss the ideas in their recently published book, Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises. We grapple with ideas of sovereignty, planetary governance and subsidiarity.

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]]> Jonathan Blake is Associate Director at the Berggruen Institute, where he leads the Planetary Program. Nils Gilman is Senior Vice President at the Berggruen Institute and Deputy Editor of Noema magazine. In this episode, we discuss the ideas in their recently published book, Children of a Modest Star: Planetary Thinking for an Age of Crises. We grapple with ideas of sovereignty, planetary governance and subsidiarity.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-15145855 Tue, 28 May 2024 09:00:00 +0200 3067 48 full false 47. Shuchi Talati on ethics and governance of solar geoengineering 47. Shuchi Talati on ethics and governance of solar geoengineering Today’s guest is Dr. Shuchi Talati, a climate technology and governance expert and the founder of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering. In this episode, we discuss ethics and governance of solar geoengineering, the formal cancellation of Harvard’s SCoPEx experiment, and the UN Environment Assembly deliberations on Solar Radiation Modification.

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]]> Today’s guest is Dr. Shuchi Talati, a climate technology and governance expert and the founder of The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering. In this episode, we discuss ethics and governance of solar geoengineering, the formal cancellation of Harvard’s SCoPEx experiment, and the UN Environment Assembly deliberations on Solar Radiation Modification.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14809487 Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0200 3091 full false 46. Ulrike Lohmann on clouds, aerosols and solar radiation modification 46. Ulrike Lohmann on clouds, aerosols and solar radiation modification Today’s guest is Ulrike Lohmann, Professor of Experimental Atmospheric Physics in the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich. Lohmann is also the Principal Investigator of the CLOUDLAB project, a multi-year project to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions in wintertime stratus clouds over the Alps. 

In this episode, we discuss the role of clouds and aerosols in our climate. We dive deep into aerosol-cloud interactions to uncover the science behind solar radiation modification (SRM) techniques like marine cloud brightening, and discuss a novel proposed SRM technique - Mixed Phase Cloud Thinning.

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]]> Today’s guest is Ulrike Lohmann, Professor of Experimental Atmospheric Physics in the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich. Lohmann is also the Principal Investigator of the CLOUDLAB project, a multi-year project to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions in wintertime stratus clouds over the Alps. 

In this episode, we discuss the role of clouds and aerosols in our climate. We dive deep into aerosol-cloud interactions to uncover the science behind solar radiation modification (SRM) techniques like marine cloud brightening, and discuss a novel proposed SRM technique - Mixed Phase Cloud Thinning.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14809266 Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:00:00 +0200 2720 46 full false 45. Benjamin Sovacool and Chad Baum on global trends in public perceptions of climate technologies 45. Benjamin Sovacool and Chad Baum on global trends in public perceptions of climate technologies In this episode, we speak with Dr. Benjamin Sovacool and Dr. Chad Baum, about their newly published, high-impact paper, “Public Perceptions and Support of Climate Intervention Technologies across the Global North and Global South”. Join us as we discuss the key findings of their work, and how these findings can and should influence policy and governance methods.

Dr. Benjamin Sovacool is a professor with affiliations at Aarhus University, the University of Sussex and Boston University.  Dr. Chad Baum is Assistant Professor at the Department of Business Development and Technology of Aarhus University.

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]]> In this episode, we speak with Dr. Benjamin Sovacool and Dr. Chad Baum, about their newly published, high-impact paper, “Public Perceptions and Support of Climate Intervention Technologies across the Global North and Global South”. Join us as we discuss the key findings of their work, and how these findings can and should influence policy and governance methods.

Dr. Benjamin Sovacool is a professor with affiliations at Aarhus University, the University of Sussex and Boston University.  Dr. Chad Baum is Assistant Professor at the Department of Business Development and Technology of Aarhus University.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14582132 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0100 3234 45 full false 44. George Monbiot on environmentalism and climate activism 44. George Monbiot on environmentalism and climate activism George Monbiot is a renowned British author, The Guardian Columnist and environmental activist. George is the author of more than a dozen books, the most recent of which is Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet, and he was awarded the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2022. 

In this episode, we discuss topics of his insightful and provocative articles such as de-throning GDP, radical climate activism, the ‘wealth curse’ and contentious technologies such as nuclear energy, GMO and SRM.

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]]> George Monbiot is a renowned British author, The Guardian Columnist and environmental activist. George is the author of more than a dozen books, the most recent of which is Regenesis: Feeding the World without Devouring the Planet, and he was awarded the Orwell Prize for Journalism in 2022. 

In this episode, we discuss topics of his insightful and provocative articles such as de-throning GDP, radical climate activism, the ‘wealth curse’ and contentious technologies such as nuclear energy, GMO and SRM.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14625975 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0100 2908 44 full false 43. Janos Pasztor on global climate policy and geoengineering 43. Janos Pasztor on global climate policy and geoengineering This episode’s guest is Janos Pasztor. He has four decades of work experience in the areas of energy, environment, climate change, and sustainable development, including roles as Executive Director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change. 

In this episode, we explore the political lens of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM), discussing the progress of CDR and SRM discourse, as well as its challenges and controversies.

CORRECTION: Jesse suggested that the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) had a dozen or so members, but Janos pointed out that in fact it has universal membership, i.e., every UN member state is a member.

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]]> This episode’s guest is Janos Pasztor. He has four decades of work experience in the areas of energy, environment, climate change, and sustainable development, including roles as Executive Director of the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) and UN Assistant Secretary-General for Climate Change. 

In this episode, we explore the political lens of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and solar radiation management (SRM), discussing the progress of CDR and SRM discourse, as well as its challenges and controversies.

CORRECTION: Jesse suggested that the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) had a dozen or so members, but Janos pointed out that in fact it has universal membership, i.e., every UN member state is a member.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14206978 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0100 3064 full false 42. David Stainforth on climate models and uncertainty 42. David Stainforth on climate models and uncertainty David Stainforth is a Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics. David has had a long career studying the climate problem and the challenges of making predictions of future climate change. His research spans the philosophy of climate science, climate economics, climate modelling, and decision-making under deep uncertainty.

In this episode, we discuss David’s new book ‘Predicting our climate future’, exploring the challenges of making predictions about future climate change, and navigating this uncertainty to address climate problems.

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]]> David Stainforth is a Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics. David has had a long career studying the climate problem and the challenges of making predictions of future climate change. His research spans the philosophy of climate science, climate economics, climate modelling, and decision-making under deep uncertainty.

In this episode, we discuss David’s new book ‘Predicting our climate future’, exploring the challenges of making predictions about future climate change, and navigating this uncertainty to address climate problems.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14207065 Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0100 2534 42 full false 41. David Keith on Climate Systems Engineering 41. David Keith on Climate Systems Engineering David Keith is a Professor in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and the Founding Faculty Director of the Climate Systems Engineering initiative. Keith previously led the development of Harvard’s Solar Geoengineering Research Program.

In this episode, we discuss Keith’s Climate Systems Engineering initiatives, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and geoengineering techniques. Drawing on David’s decades of expertise, we dive deep into topics such as CDR, solar geoengineering, ice sheet geoengineering.

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]]> David Keith is a Professor in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago and the Founding Faculty Director of the Climate Systems Engineering initiative. Keith previously led the development of Harvard’s Solar Geoengineering Research Program.

In this episode, we discuss Keith’s Climate Systems Engineering initiatives, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and geoengineering techniques. Drawing on David’s decades of expertise, we dive deep into topics such as CDR, solar geoengineering, ice sheet geoengineering.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-14123088 Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0100 2581 full false 40. Jennifer Allan on global climate governance and the COP28 agenda 40. Jennifer Allan on global climate governance and the COP28 agenda Jennifer Allan is a Strategic Adviser and Team Leader with Earth Negotiations Bulletin, and Lecturer at Cardiff University. Jen has attended roughly 40 UN conferences where states negotiate the rules of global climate governance. Her work explores how global rules are made and remade, and currently focuses on the politics of ecosystem services and green recovery. In this episode, we discuss with Jen key agenda themes in the forthcoming COP28, the social inequality of climate change and whether COPs deliver useful outcomes - or is it just fanfare?

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]]> Jennifer Allan is a Strategic Adviser and Team Leader with Earth Negotiations Bulletin, and Lecturer at Cardiff University. Jen has attended roughly 40 UN conferences where states negotiate the rules of global climate governance. Her work explores how global rules are made and remade, and currently focuses on the politics of ecosystem services and green recovery. In this episode, we discuss with Jen key agenda themes in the forthcoming COP28, the social inequality of climate change and whether COPs deliver useful outcomes - or is it just fanfare?

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-13951927 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0100 3149 40 full false 39. Greg Nemet on how solar became cheap (with Energy vs Climate) 39. Greg Nemet on how solar became cheap (with Energy vs Climate) Today’s episode is brought to you in collaboration with our friends at the Energy vs Climate podcast. Energy vs Climate breaks down the trade-offs and hard truths of the energy transition in Alberta, Canada, and beyond with energy experts David Keith, Sara Hastings-Simon and Ed Whittingham.  

In this episode, they speak with Greg Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on technological change in energy and the ways in which public policy can affect it. Listen as they discuss the trajectory of solar energy, coming down the cost curve and the energy supply chain.

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Topic links: 

Originally published on The Energy vs Climate show on 24 Feb 2022.

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]]> Today’s episode is brought to you in collaboration with our friends at the Energy vs Climate podcast. Energy vs Climate breaks down the trade-offs and hard truths of the energy transition in Alberta, Canada, and beyond with energy experts David Keith, Sara Hastings-Simon and Ed Whittingham.  

In this episode, they speak with Greg Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on technological change in energy and the ways in which public policy can affect it. Listen as they discuss the trajectory of solar energy, coming down the cost curve and the energy supply chain.

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Originally published on The Energy vs Climate show on 24 Feb 2022.

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]]> Buzzsprout-13776415 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0200 3394 full false A brief podcast review and update A brief podcast review and update As we break for the summer, listen here for some highlights of our previous episodes and catch up on the ones you've missed. See you in October!

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]]> As we break for the summer, listen here for some highlights of our previous episodes and catch up on the ones you've missed. See you in October!

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-13113165 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0200 532 39 full false 38. Richard Tol on Climate Economics: the cost of carbon, geoengineering & IPCC 38. Richard Tol on Climate Economics: the cost of carbon, geoengineering & IPCC Richard S.J. Tol is a Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Sussex and the Professor of the Economics of Climate Change, Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Spatial Economics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is also the author of Climate Economics: Economic Analysis of Climate, Climate Change and Climate Policy. In this episode, Tol breaks down climate economics – the economic and social costs and benefits of carbon. We also discuss the case for geoengineering and his criticisms on IPCC. 

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]]> Richard S.J. Tol is a Professor at the Department of Economics, University of Sussex and the Professor of the Economics of Climate Change, Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Spatial Economics, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is also the author of Climate Economics: Economic Analysis of Climate, Climate Change and Climate Policy. In this episode, Tol breaks down climate economics – the economic and social costs and benefits of carbon. We also discuss the case for geoengineering and his criticisms on IPCC. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-13028741 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0200 3389 38 full false 37. Emma Marris on our rambunctious garden: wilderness and human influence on nature 37. Emma Marris on our rambunctious garden: wilderness and human influence on nature Emma Marris is an environmental writer and Institute Fellow at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. She has also written for National Geographic, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Wired, and other publications. In this episode, we dive into the concepts introduced in her book Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World, such as wilderness and nature purity. We discuss the relationship between nature and humans, from assisted migration to climate change, and how we can re-envision it. 

 

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]]> Emma Marris is an environmental writer and Institute Fellow at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. She has also written for National Geographic, the Atlantic, the New York Times, Wired, and other publications. In this episode, we dive into the concepts introduced in her book Rambunctious Garden: Saving Nature in a Post-Wild World, such as wilderness and nature purity. We discuss the relationship between nature and humans, from assisted migration to climate change, and how we can re-envision it. 

 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12898563 Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:00 +0200 2586 37 full false 36. John Moore on the melting cryosphere and glacier geoengineering 36. John Moore on the melting cryosphere and glacier geoengineering Dr John Moore is a Research Professor at University of Lapland, Finland and Chief Scientist of GCESS at Beijing Normal University. His research focuses on geoengineering, sea level change, and ice sheet dynamics. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the cryosphere – the state and future of glaciers, sea ice and permafrost, as well as consider marine glacier geoengineering. John also shares his unique experience as a leader of a major geoengineering research program in China. 

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]]> Dr John Moore is a Research Professor at University of Lapland, Finland and Chief Scientist of GCESS at Beijing Normal University. His research focuses on geoengineering, sea level change, and ice sheet dynamics. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the cryosphere – the state and future of glaciers, sea ice and permafrost, as well as consider marine glacier geoengineering. John also shares his unique experience as a leader of a major geoengineering research program in China. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12855040 Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:00 +0200 3055 36 full false 35. Steve Smith on net zero pledges and CDR strategies & tech 35. Steve Smith on net zero pledges and CDR strategies & tech Dr Steve Smith is the Executive Director of CO2RE, as well as Executive Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, based at the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. He also previously co-led the Climate Science Team at the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In this episode, we take a holistic deep dive into Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and discuss his expertise on net zero pledges, the political and economic strategies for CDR, and technology readiness. 

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]]> Dr Steve Smith is the Executive Director of CO2RE, as well as Executive Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, based at the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment. He also previously co-led the Climate Science Team at the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In this episode, we take a holistic deep dive into Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and discuss his expertise on net zero pledges, the political and economic strategies for CDR, and technology readiness. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12752990 Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:00 +0200 3737 35 full false 34. Heleen de Coninck on the IPCC, climate tech & a just Net Zero transition 34. Heleen de Coninck on the IPCC, climate tech & a just Net Zero transition Dr Heleen de Coninck is a Professor of Socio-Technical Innovation and Climate Change at Eindhoven University of Technology, and Associate Professor in Innovation Studies and Sustainability at Radboud University. She is also the newly appointed deputy chair of the Dutch Scientific Climate Council. 

In this episode, we discuss the four Net Zero transitions set out in the 2018 IPCC 1.5ºC report, and specifically how to facilitate a just transition. Towards the end, we debate on how much focus on geoengineering technologies is healthy. 

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]]> Dr Heleen de Coninck is a Professor of Socio-Technical Innovation and Climate Change at Eindhoven University of Technology, and Associate Professor in Innovation Studies and Sustainability at Radboud University. She is also the newly appointed deputy chair of the Dutch Scientific Climate Council. 

In this episode, we discuss the four Net Zero transitions set out in the 2018 IPCC 1.5ºC report, and specifically how to facilitate a just transition. Towards the end, we debate on how much focus on geoengineering technologies is healthy. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12658596 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0200 2626 34 full true 33. David Fahey on the Montreal Protocol, ozone depletion and SRM 33. David Fahey on the Montreal Protocol, ozone depletion and SRM Dr David Fahey is the Director of the Chemical Sciences Laboratory in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and he also serves as a Co-Chair of its the Montreal Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel, which produces the quadrennial assessments of stratospheric ozone depletion. In this episode, we discuss flying planes into the stratosphere to conduct experiments on ozone depletion, the success of the Montreal Protocol, and solar radiation modification (SRM) - potential impacts, future for research and deployment regulation.

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]]> Dr David Fahey is the Director of the Chemical Sciences Laboratory in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and he also serves as a Co-Chair of its the Montreal Protocol’s Scientific Assessment Panel, which produces the quadrennial assessments of stratospheric ozone depletion. In this episode, we discuss flying planes into the stratosphere to conduct experiments on ozone depletion, the success of the Montreal Protocol, and solar radiation modification (SRM) - potential impacts, future for research and deployment regulation.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12580672 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:00:00 +0200 3156 33 full false 32. Chris Stark on the UK’s Climate Change Committee 32. Chris Stark on the UK’s Climate Change Committee Chris Stark is the Chief Executive of the UK‘s Climate Change Committee. Previously, he worked as the Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government. In this episode, Chris breaks down the role of the CCC in UK’s climate policy. We then take a close look at how UK has done so far in cutting emissions, what else needs to be done, and the challenges that lie ahead. We end off with a discussion of where geoengineering techniques like SAI sit on the UKCCC’s radar.

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]]> Chris Stark is the Chief Executive of the UK‘s Climate Change Committee. Previously, he worked as the Director of Energy and Climate Change in the Scottish Government. In this episode, Chris breaks down the role of the CCC in UK’s climate policy. We then take a close look at how UK has done so far in cutting emissions, what else needs to be done, and the challenges that lie ahead. We end off with a discussion of where geoengineering techniques like SAI sit on the UKCCC’s radar.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12433360 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0100 3310 32 full false 31. Ken Caldeira on politics in research and the feasibility of the energy transition 31. Ken Caldeira on politics in research and the feasibility of the energy transition Ken Caldeira is a senior scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science and is also a senior scientist at Breakthrough Energy. Ken has a wide-spectrum approach to analyzing the world’s climate systems - with particular interests in modeling the Earth system and the energy transition, and in using experiments and observation to study our changing coasts and coral reefs. 

In this episode, Ken takes us through his fascinating journey into environmental and climate science. We dive deep into navigating political influences on environmental research, the technical and social feasibility of the energy transition, and his views on wider underrepresented climate issues.  

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]]> Ken Caldeira is a senior scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science and is also a senior scientist at Breakthrough Energy. Ken has a wide-spectrum approach to analyzing the world’s climate systems - with particular interests in modeling the Earth system and the energy transition, and in using experiments and observation to study our changing coasts and coral reefs. 

In this episode, Ken takes us through his fascinating journey into environmental and climate science. We dive deep into navigating political influences on environmental research, the technical and social feasibility of the energy transition, and his views on wider underrepresented climate issues.  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12376202 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0100 2967 31 full false 30. Andrew Revkin on climate journalism - its evolution, perils and narrative capture 30. Andrew Revkin on climate journalism - its evolution, perils and narrative capture Andrew Revkin is one of the world's leading science and environmental journalists, with over 30 years' experience thinking and writing about climate change and sustainability. He has written at The New York Times and ProPublica, and his current outlet is “Sustain What?” at Substack. He is also the founding director of the new Initiative on Communication and Sustainability at Columbia University's Earth Institute. 

In this episode, Revkin shares his remarkable journalistic experiences, such as reporting from the Arctic, and how media and the climate discussion have evolved throughout his career. Our discussion is dynamic and wide-ranging, from extreme weather, to narrative capture, to tackling questions posed in previous episodes like climate doomism and ‘Is 1.5ºC still alive?’ 

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]]> Andrew Revkin is one of the world's leading science and environmental journalists, with over 30 years' experience thinking and writing about climate change and sustainability. He has written at The New York Times and ProPublica, and his current outlet is “Sustain What?” at Substack. He is also the founding director of the new Initiative on Communication and Sustainability at Columbia University's Earth Institute. 

In this episode, Revkin shares his remarkable journalistic experiences, such as reporting from the Arctic, and how media and the climate discussion have evolved throughout his career. Our discussion is dynamic and wide-ranging, from extreme weather, to narrative capture, to tackling questions posed in previous episodes like climate doomism and ‘Is 1.5ºC still alive?’ 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12262471 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:00:00 +0100 2962 30 full false 29. Daniel Harrison on Marine Cloud Brightening and the RRAP 29. Daniel Harrison on Marine Cloud Brightening and the RRAP Dr Daniel Harrison is an oceanographer at Southern Cross University in Australia. His research focuses on how engineering intervention in marine systems can be used to improve ecological, environmental, or societal outcomes. In this episode, we explore Daniel’s work in applying Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) to protect the Great Barrier Reef against global warming. We find out what MCB is, discuss how it can be implemented responsibly and effectively to save the Great Barrier Reef, and other potential applications.  
 
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]]> Dr Daniel Harrison is an oceanographer at Southern Cross University in Australia. His research focuses on how engineering intervention in marine systems can be used to improve ecological, environmental, or societal outcomes. In this episode, we explore Daniel’s work in applying Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) to protect the Great Barrier Reef against global warming. We find out what MCB is, discuss how it can be implemented responsibly and effectively to save the Great Barrier Reef, and other potential applications.  
 
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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12165823 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:00:00 +0100 3066 29 full false 28. Erica Thompson on escaping Model Land 28. Erica Thompson on escaping Model Land Dr Erica Thompson is a Senior Policy Fellow in Ethics of Modelling and Simulation at the LSE Data Science Institute. Erica's research involves the appropriate use of mathematical and computational modelling to inform real-world decision-making. In this episode, we discuss Erica’s recent book, Escape from Model Land and tackle issues such as bias, disillusioning science communication to help us get out of the ‘Model Land’ worldview and into the real world. 

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]]> Dr Erica Thompson is a Senior Policy Fellow in Ethics of Modelling and Simulation at the LSE Data Science Institute. Erica's research involves the appropriate use of mathematical and computational modelling to inform real-world decision-making. In this episode, we discuss Erica’s recent book, Escape from Model Land and tackle issues such as bias, disillusioning science communication to help us get out of the ‘Model Land’ worldview and into the real world. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12060247 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 09:00:00 +0100 2901 full false 27. Luke Iseman on his for-profit solar geoengineering venture - Make Sunsets 27. Luke Iseman on his for-profit solar geoengineering venture - Make Sunsets Luke Iseman is the founder of Make Sunsets, a recently launched startup that is selling “cooling credits” on the promise that they will release sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere using weather balloons. In this episode, we discuss Make Sunset’s mission to “substantially lower global temperatures,” the details of their offering, the technical challenges for verifying their cooling credits, and the potential political repercussions of their efforts

Links: 

Make Sunsets official website: https://makesunsets.com/ 

Make Sunsets contested cooling calculations: https://makesunsets.com/blogs/news/calculating-cooling 

Luke’s blog post from just before he launched this effort, “Geoengineering Now”: https://www.dirtnail.com/2022/04/04/geoengineering-now/ 


Some reactions to Make Sunsets: 

Ted Parson’s essay on Make Sunsets, “A Dangerous Disruption”: https://legal-planet.org/2023/01/02/a-dangerous-disruption/ 

David Keith on why not to commercialize geoengineering: https://twitter.com/DKeithClimate/status/1608085360927457281 

Gwynne Dyer’s comment in Stuff: https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130909204/balloon-goes-up-on-geoengineering-sulfur-scam 


Another podcast interview with Luke Iseman by Reviewer 2 Does Geoengineering: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Fr15fdX20qyyfVX8VCF3Q 

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]]> Luke Iseman is the founder of Make Sunsets, a recently launched startup that is selling “cooling credits” on the promise that they will release sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere using weather balloons. In this episode, we discuss Make Sunset’s mission to “substantially lower global temperatures,” the details of their offering, the technical challenges for verifying their cooling credits, and the potential political repercussions of their efforts

Links: 

Make Sunsets official website: https://makesunsets.com/ 

Make Sunsets contested cooling calculations: https://makesunsets.com/blogs/news/calculating-cooling 

Luke’s blog post from just before he launched this effort, “Geoengineering Now”: https://www.dirtnail.com/2022/04/04/geoengineering-now/ 


Some reactions to Make Sunsets: 

Ted Parson’s essay on Make Sunsets, “A Dangerous Disruption”: https://legal-planet.org/2023/01/02/a-dangerous-disruption/ 

David Keith on why not to commercialize geoengineering: https://twitter.com/DKeithClimate/status/1608085360927457281 

Gwynne Dyer’s comment in Stuff: https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130909204/balloon-goes-up-on-geoengineering-sulfur-scam 


Another podcast interview with Luke Iseman by Reviewer 2 Does Geoengineering: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Fr15fdX20qyyfVX8VCF3Q 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-12000987 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0100 3638 27 full false 26. The Anniversary Special 26. The Anniversary Special Our year-end special celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Challenging Climate podcast. In this episode, Pete and Jesse reflect on the past 25 episodes, whether we achieved our vision for the podcast thus far, how we’ve navigated controversial guest speakers and learning to balance diversity of thought. 

Looking forward into 2023, we discuss new topics we want to explore, and old topics we hope to dive into at greater depths and different angles. Have any ideas for future topics or guest speakers? 

Drop us an email at info@challengingclimate.org 

Links:

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]]> Our year-end special celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Challenging Climate podcast. In this episode, Pete and Jesse reflect on the past 25 episodes, whether we achieved our vision for the podcast thus far, how we’ve navigated controversial guest speakers and learning to balance diversity of thought. 

Looking forward into 2023, we discuss new topics we want to explore, and old topics we hope to dive into at greater depths and different angles. Have any ideas for future topics or guest speakers? 

Drop us an email at info@challengingclimate.org 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11932718 Tue, 27 Dec 2022 09:00:00 +0100 2366 full false 25. Patrick Brown on extreme weather and the obvious climate strategy 25. Patrick Brown on extreme weather and the obvious climate strategy Dr Patrick Brown is the Co-director of the Climate & Energy group at the Breakthrough Institute and Adjunct lecturer in Energy Policy & Climate at Johns Hopkins University. In this episode, we discuss Patrick’s expertise on the economic impacts of extreme weather, and unpack trends and attributable risk. We then venture into a broader scope based on his essay, ‘The obvious climate strategy nobody will talk about’, which carries the rest of the discussion into climate targets and bias in climate communication. 

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]]> Dr Patrick Brown is the Co-director of the Climate & Energy group at the Breakthrough Institute and Adjunct lecturer in Energy Policy & Climate at Johns Hopkins University. In this episode, we discuss Patrick’s expertise on the economic impacts of extreme weather, and unpack trends and attributable risk. We then venture into a broader scope based on his essay, ‘The obvious climate strategy nobody will talk about’, which carries the rest of the discussion into climate targets and bias in climate communication. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11851857 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:00:00 +0100 2934 full false 24. Glen Peters and Linda Steg on the Paris Agreement, the feasibility and psychology of the 1.5ºC target 24. Glen Peters and Linda Steg on the Paris Agreement, the feasibility and psychology of the 1.5ºC target Our guests are Dr Glen Peters, the research director for the Climate Mitigation group at Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), and Dr Linda Steg, Professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Groningen.  

In light of the recent COP27 hosted in Sharm el Sheikh, we pose the question: is the 1.5 Celsius goal still alive? In this episode, we dissect this complex question from the model-driven approach of Peters’ research, as well as from the angle of societal and behavioural change — Steg’s expertise. Covering climate anxiety, venture capitalists and CDR, this episode’s got it all. 


Links: 

Glen's articles:

Linda's articles:

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]]> Our guests are Dr Glen Peters, the research director for the Climate Mitigation group at Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), and Dr Linda Steg, Professor of Environmental Psychology at the University of Groningen.  

In light of the recent COP27 hosted in Sharm el Sheikh, we pose the question: is the 1.5 Celsius goal still alive? In this episode, we dissect this complex question from the model-driven approach of Peters’ research, as well as from the angle of societal and behavioural change — Steg’s expertise. Covering climate anxiety, venture capitalists and CDR, this episode’s got it all. 


Links: 

Glen's articles:

Linda's articles:

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11769954 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0100 2725 24 full false 23. Luke Kemp on defining, evaluating and managing catastrophic climate risk 23. Luke Kemp on defining, evaluating and managing catastrophic climate risk Dr Luke Kemp is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge. He has a PhD in international relations from the ANU and previous experience as a senior economist at Vivid Economics. In this episode, Luke sheds light on a surprisingly understudied and overlooked topic – catastrophic climate risk. This episode explores catastrophic and extinction risk, why the topic is understudied, and how we can weigh out the catastrophic risks of climate change and solar geo-engineering. 

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]]> Dr Luke Kemp is a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge. He has a PhD in international relations from the ANU and previous experience as a senior economist at Vivid Economics. In this episode, Luke sheds light on a surprisingly understudied and overlooked topic – catastrophic climate risk. This episode explores catastrophic and extinction risk, why the topic is understudied, and how we can weigh out the catastrophic risks of climate change and solar geo-engineering. 

 Links: 

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]]> Buzzsprout-11680133 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0100 2712 23 full false 22. Oliver Morton on reaching net zero, and the feasibility and politics of geoengineering 22. Oliver Morton on reaching net zero, and the feasibility and politics of geoengineering Oliver Morton is The Economist’s briefings editor, specializing in the energy business, climate science and policy, and other green issues. He is the author of The Planet Remade: How Geoengineering Could Change the World and most recently The Moon: A History for the Future. In this episode, we discuss ideas from The Planet Remade on climate change and how recent events have influenced our prospects of reaching net zero emissions, as well as tackle serious questions on deploying geoengineering to combat climate change.

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]]> Oliver Morton is The Economist’s briefings editor, specializing in the energy business, climate science and policy, and other green issues. He is the author of The Planet Remade: How Geoengineering Could Change the World and most recently The Moon: A History for the Future. In this episode, we discuss ideas from The Planet Remade on climate change and how recent events have influenced our prospects of reaching net zero emissions, as well as tackle serious questions on deploying geoengineering to combat climate change.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11590663 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100 3153 22 full false 21. Ben Novak on Revive & Restore: leveraging biotechnology for de-extinction 21. Ben Novak on Revive & Restore: leveraging biotechnology for de-extinction Ben Novak is lead scientist at Revive & Restore, where he leads the de-extinction efforts – especially the group’s restoration of the extinct passenger pigeon. He is also the lead coordinator for its conservation cloning projects and Program Manager for Revive & Restore’s new Biotechnology for Bird Conservation. In this episode, we dive deep into the applications of biotechnology in de-extinction, genetic modification for climate adaptation, and the ethical arguments for and against biotechnology for conservation.  

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]]> Ben Novak is lead scientist at Revive & Restore, where he leads the de-extinction efforts – especially the group’s restoration of the extinct passenger pigeon. He is also the lead coordinator for its conservation cloning projects and Program Manager for Revive & Restore’s new Biotechnology for Bird Conservation. In this episode, we dive deep into the applications of biotechnology in de-extinction, genetic modification for climate adaptation, and the ethical arguments for and against biotechnology for conservation.  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11504518 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3157 21 full false 20. Gaia Vince on Nomad Century: migration, food and geo-engineering 20. Gaia Vince on Nomad Century: migration, food and geo-engineering Gaia Vince is an award-winning science journalist, author, broadcaster and speaker. In this episode, we discuss her new book Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval. Vince gives insight on how humanity can plan for and manage an unavoidable climate migration. We also explore methods to restore the planet to a fully habitable state, such as stratospheric sulfate aerosol injection and iron fertilization of the oceans. 

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]]> Gaia Vince is an award-winning science journalist, author, broadcaster and speaker. In this episode, we discuss her new book Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval. Vince gives insight on how humanity can plan for and manage an unavoidable climate migration. We also explore methods to restore the planet to a fully habitable state, such as stratospheric sulfate aerosol injection and iron fertilization of the oceans. 

Links:  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11402150 Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3131 20 full false 19. Kerry Emanuel on hurricanes and hypercanes in a warming world 19. Kerry Emanuel on hurricanes and hypercanes in a warming world Professor Kerry Emanuel is a prominent meteorologist and climate scientist working at the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. His research focuses on tropical meteorology and climate, with a specialty in hurricane physics. In this episode, we spoke with Kerry about what distinguishes a hurricane from tropical storms and tornadoes, and the dangers these natural hazards pose to societies. We also cover how these threats will evolve in an increasingly warming world, and what a hypercane is.

Links:  

Further information on hurricane impacts

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]]> Professor Kerry Emanuel is a prominent meteorologist and climate scientist working at the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT. His research focuses on tropical meteorology and climate, with a specialty in hurricane physics. In this episode, we spoke with Kerry about what distinguishes a hurricane from tropical storms and tornadoes, and the dangers these natural hazards pose to societies. We also cover how these threats will evolve in an increasingly warming world, and what a hypercane is.

Links:  

Further information on hurricane impacts

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11342971 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0200 2812 19 full false 18. Arunabha Ghosh on CEEW and India's environmental challenges 18. Arunabha Ghosh on CEEW and India's environmental challenges Dr Arunabha Ghosh is the founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, and has led CEEW to the top ranks as one of Asia's leading policy research institutions and among the world’s 20 best climate think-tanks. In this episode, we discuss the work that CEEW is involved in and dive deep into the environmental challenges that developing countries, such as India, face.   

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]]> Dr Arunabha Ghosh is the founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, and has led CEEW to the top ranks as one of Asia's leading policy research institutions and among the world’s 20 best climate think-tanks. In this episode, we discuss the work that CEEW is involved in and dive deep into the environmental challenges that developing countries, such as India, face.   

Links:  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11267841 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0200 2560 18 full false 17. Tom Matthews on tropical glaciers and extreme heat 17. Tom Matthews on tropical glaciers and extreme heat Dr Tom Matthews is a climate scientist at King’s College London, specialising in glacier-climate interactions and extreme weather. In Episode 17, we discuss Tom’s exciting fieldwork on Mt. Everest co-installing the highest-altitude weather stations in the world, as well as extreme heat and its impacts on society. 

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]]> Dr Tom Matthews is a climate scientist at King’s College London, specialising in glacier-climate interactions and extreme weather. In Episode 17, we discuss Tom’s exciting fieldwork on Mt. Everest co-installing the highest-altitude weather stations in the world, as well as extreme heat and its impacts on society. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11171252 Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3682 17 full false 16. Hannah Ritchie on Our World in Data and some of the world's biggest problems 16. Hannah Ritchie on Our World in Data and some of the world's biggest problems Dr Hannah Ritchie is a Senior Researcher at the Oxford Martin Programme in Global Development and the Head of Research at Our World in Data. In this episode, we spoke with Hannah about her work at Our World in Data and her article, "Stop Telling Kids They’ll Die From Climate Change". We discuss her thoughts on what some of the world's most pressing problems are, touching on topics such as agriculture, the link between meat consumption and poverty, education and more.

Links:


Definitely check out these Our World In Data articles as well:  

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]]> Dr Hannah Ritchie is a Senior Researcher at the Oxford Martin Programme in Global Development and the Head of Research at Our World in Data. In this episode, we spoke with Hannah about her work at Our World in Data and her article, "Stop Telling Kids They’ll Die From Climate Change". We discuss her thoughts on what some of the world's most pressing problems are, touching on topics such as agriculture, the link between meat consumption and poverty, education and more.

Links:


Definitely check out these Our World In Data articles as well:  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-11064200 Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3078 16 full false 15. Dagomar Degroot on Historical Climatology and the Frigid Golden Age 15. Dagomar Degroot on Historical Climatology and the Frigid Golden Age Dagomar Degroot is an associate professor of environmental history at Georgetown University. In this episode, we spoke with Dagomar about historical climatology and how the past can inform us about contemporary climate change. We cover his book, The Frigid Golden Age, and why societies like the Dutch and Thule thrived while the Norse suffered when the climate changed. Dagomar also addresses existing biases in the field of historical climatology. 

Links: 

  • Dagomar Degroot’s profile  
  • Historical climatology website 
  • Dagomar’s book, The Frigid Golden Age  
  • The Nature article outlining the baises in History of Climate and Society 
  • Another article by Dagomar on The Washington Post, “Our planet is not doomed. That means we can, and must, act.”  

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]]> Dagomar Degroot is an associate professor of environmental history at Georgetown University. In this episode, we spoke with Dagomar about historical climatology and how the past can inform us about contemporary climate change. We cover his book, The Frigid Golden Age, and why societies like the Dutch and Thule thrived while the Norse suffered when the climate changed. Dagomar also addresses existing biases in the field of historical climatology. 

Links: 

  • Dagomar Degroot’s profile  
  • Historical climatology website 
  • Dagomar’s book, The Frigid Golden Age  
  • The Nature article outlining the baises in History of Climate and Society 
  • Another article by Dagomar on The Washington Post, “Our planet is not doomed. That means we can, and must, act.”  

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10939428 Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3695 15 full false 14. Nils Gilman on avocado politics and climate security 14. Nils Gilman on avocado politics and climate security Dr. Nils Gilman is the Senior Vice President of Programs at the Berggruen Institute and the deputy editor of Noema Magazine. We speak with Nils about two of his popular articles, "The Coming Avocado Politics" and "The Guns of Warming".  We first discuss avocado politics, what it is and how it manifests in the United States and Europe. The second half of the episode takes a look at climate change and security on global and national scales, and what it really means to prioritize climate change on the political agenda. 

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]]> Dr. Nils Gilman is the Senior Vice President of Programs at the Berggruen Institute and the deputy editor of Noema Magazine. We speak with Nils about two of his popular articles, "The Coming Avocado Politics" and "The Guns of Warming".  We first discuss avocado politics, what it is and how it manifests in the United States and Europe. The second half of the episode takes a look at climate change and security on global and national scales, and what it really means to prioritize climate change on the political agenda. 

Links: 


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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10885721 Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3003 14 full false 13. Britt Wray on Generation Dread and the rise of eco-anxiety 13. Britt Wray on Generation Dread and the rise of eco-anxiety Dr Britt Wray is an author and researcher working at the forefront of climate change and mental health. She is currently a Human and Planetary Health Fellow at Stanford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Britt’s research focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis and has published popular books such as Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics and Risks of De-Extinction, and Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis. 

In this episode, we spoke with Britt about eco-anxiety, how it can affect our mental health and daily lives, and how we can cope and find optimism. We began by diving into the trends in eco-anxiety across demographics and over time. We also discussed the role of media in propelling eco-anxiety and why sentiments of the general public differ from climate experts. 

 Links: 

  • Britt Wray’s website 
  • Britt's books: Generation Dread and Rise of the Necrofauna
  • Gen Dread newsletter (free subscription!)
  • The Hickman et al. (2021) paper on a global survey on climate anxiety in children and youth and their perception of government responses to climate change

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]]> Dr Britt Wray is an author and researcher working at the forefront of climate change and mental health. She is currently a Human and Planetary Health Fellow at Stanford University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Britt’s research focuses on the mental health impacts of the climate crisis and has published popular books such as Rise of the Necrofauna: The Science, Ethics and Risks of De-Extinction, and Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis. 

In this episode, we spoke with Britt about eco-anxiety, how it can affect our mental health and daily lives, and how we can cope and find optimism. We began by diving into the trends in eco-anxiety across demographics and over time. We also discussed the role of media in propelling eco-anxiety and why sentiments of the general public differ from climate experts. 

 Links: 

  • Britt Wray’s website 
  • Britt's books: Generation Dread and Rise of the Necrofauna
  • Gen Dread newsletter (free subscription!)
  • The Hickman et al. (2021) paper on a global survey on climate anxiety in children and youth and their perception of government responses to climate change

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10847997 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0200 3280 13 full false 12. Mark Maslin on Human Evolution and the Anthropocene 12. Mark Maslin on Human Evolution and the Anthropocene Mark Maslin is a professor of Earth System Science at University College London and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit scholar. Mark is a leading scientist in past global and regional climatic change and its links to human evolution, and has written dozens of popular science articles and popular books, including The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene (with Simon Lewis) – just out in paperback. 


In this episode, we spoke with Mark about the link between human evolution and climate change, and the debate surrounding the Anthropocene epoch. In discussing human evolution, we touch on topics such as the development of bipedalism and human intelligence. Mark explains the extent of human impact on the Earth, hence creating the Anthropocene. We also cover the political debate on defining the Anthropocene and the evolution of international and national politics surrounding climate change. 

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]]> Mark Maslin is a professor of Earth System Science at University College London and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit scholar. Mark is a leading scientist in past global and regional climatic change and its links to human evolution, and has written dozens of popular science articles and popular books, including The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene (with Simon Lewis) – just out in paperback. 


In this episode, we spoke with Mark about the link between human evolution and climate change, and the debate surrounding the Anthropocene epoch. In discussing human evolution, we touch on topics such as the development of bipedalism and human intelligence. Mark explains the extent of human impact on the Earth, hence creating the Anthropocene. We also cover the political debate on defining the Anthropocene and the evolution of international and national politics surrounding climate change. 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10754123 Tue, 14 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3686 12 full false 11. Jesse and Pete interview each other 11. Jesse and Pete interview each other In this episode Jesse and Pete interview each other and look back on the first 10 episodes of Challenging Climate. They discuss their backgrounds, research, and Jesse's new job as Executive Secretary of the Climate Overshoot Commission. They also reflect on how the podcast has been going and look ahead to the future.

Jesse Reynolds is an expert in international environmental policy. He researches and advises on how rules, procedures, and institutions can help manage environmental opportunities and challenges, particularly those involving emerging technologies.


Pete Irvine is a lecturer (assistant professor) at UCL Earth Sciences where he teaches climate science and researches the climate response to solar geoengineering as well as its broader implications.

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]]> In this episode Jesse and Pete interview each other and look back on the first 10 episodes of Challenging Climate. They discuss their backgrounds, research, and Jesse's new job as Executive Secretary of the Climate Overshoot Commission. They also reflect on how the podcast has been going and look ahead to the future.

Jesse Reynolds is an expert in international environmental policy. He researches and advises on how rules, procedures, and institutions can help manage environmental opportunities and challenges, particularly those involving emerging technologies.


Pete Irvine is a lecturer (assistant professor) at UCL Earth Sciences where he teaches climate science and researches the climate response to solar geoengineering as well as its broader implications.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10705063 Tue, 31 May 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3291 11 full false 10. Wake Smith on Pandora's toolbox and the feasibility of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering 10. Wake Smith on Pandora's toolbox and the feasibility of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering Wake Smith is a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School, writing scholarly articles on the feasibility, costs and governance of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering. Wake also teaches an undergraduate course on climate intervention at Yale University, the syllabus of which forms the basis of his new book “Pandora’s Toolbox – The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention.” Prior to his academic career, Smith served in several executive roles in the commercial aviation industry, including as the President of the flight training division of Boeing and the COO of Atlas Air.  

We spoke with Wake about his new book and why he believes that our ancestors will demand climate intervention. We cover the climate context, and the tools in Pandora’s toolbox: carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management. Wake explains why high-flying jets offer a feasible means of deploying stratospheric aerosol geoengineering, and why the scenario of a billionaire “Greenfinger” implementing this is unlikely. We also touch on the international governance challenges that solar radiation management poses. 
 
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]]> Wake Smith is a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government at Harvard Kennedy School, writing scholarly articles on the feasibility, costs and governance of stratospheric aerosol geoengineering. Wake also teaches an undergraduate course on climate intervention at Yale University, the syllabus of which forms the basis of his new book “Pandora’s Toolbox – The Hopes and Hazards of Climate Intervention.” Prior to his academic career, Smith served in several executive roles in the commercial aviation industry, including as the President of the flight training division of Boeing and the COO of Atlas Air.  

We spoke with Wake about his new book and why he believes that our ancestors will demand climate intervention. We cover the climate context, and the tools in Pandora’s toolbox: carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management. Wake explains why high-flying jets offer a feasible means of deploying stratospheric aerosol geoengineering, and why the scenario of a billionaire “Greenfinger” implementing this is unlikely. We also touch on the international governance challenges that solar radiation management poses. 
 
Links: 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10615836 Tue, 17 May 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3921 10 full false 9. Sir David King on science advice, climate politics, and climate repair 9. Sir David King on science advice, climate politics, and climate repair Sir David King is the founder and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University and the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. Previously he held the positions of the UK's permanent Special Representative for Climate Change. He was also the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor from 2000 to 2007, during which time he raised awareness of the need for governments to act on climate change and was instrumental in creating the Energy Technologies Institute.

We speak with Sir David about science advice for the government and communication with the public, foresight, the domestic and international politics of climate change, his relatively new endeavors -- the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge and the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the importance of carbon dioxide removal.

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]]> Sir David King is the founder and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University and the Climate Crisis Advisory Group. Previously he held the positions of the UK's permanent Special Representative for Climate Change. He was also the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor from 2000 to 2007, during which time he raised awareness of the need for governments to act on climate change and was instrumental in creating the Energy Technologies Institute.

We speak with Sir David about science advice for the government and communication with the public, foresight, the domestic and international politics of climate change, his relatively new endeavors -- the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge and the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the importance of carbon dioxide removal.

Links:

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10531701 Tue, 03 May 2022 05:00:00 +0200 4259 9 full false 8. Jan Minx on the IPCC's latest report on mitigation 8. Jan Minx on the IPCC's latest report on mitigation We speak with Jan Minx, Head of Applied Sustainability Science at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, and a visiting Professor of Climate Change and Public Policy at The Priestley Centre at the University of Leeds. Jan has published widely on climate and sustainability issues and has a keen interest in evidence synthesis which he developed through his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Jan was a coordinating lead author on the latest IPCC assessment report on mitigation and in this episode, he shares his take-aways from the report. We discuss the roles of individual choice, technological development, and carbon dioxide removal in meeting our climate goals. Jan also explains how thinking systematically about evidence synthesis can lead to better reviews of the literature and better research overall.

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]]> We speak with Jan Minx, Head of Applied Sustainability Science at the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, and a visiting Professor of Climate Change and Public Policy at The Priestley Centre at the University of Leeds. Jan has published widely on climate and sustainability issues and has a keen interest in evidence synthesis which he developed through his work with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Jan was a coordinating lead author on the latest IPCC assessment report on mitigation and in this episode, he shares his take-aways from the report. We discuss the roles of individual choice, technological development, and carbon dioxide removal in meeting our climate goals. Jan also explains how thinking systematically about evidence synthesis can lead to better reviews of the literature and better research overall.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10444549 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3982 8 full false 7. Gavin Schmidt on observing, attributing and communicating climate change 7. Gavin Schmidt on observing, attributing and communicating climate change We speak with Dr. Gavin Schmidt, climate scientist, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and co-founder of the RealClimate climate science blog. Gavin’s research focuses on understanding the past, present and future of the climate system and the impacts of the various drivers of climate change. In this episode we take a deep dive on the science of climate change covering how it is observed, detected and attributed. Along the way Gavin debunks several climate skeptic talking points and discusses the changing challenges of climate communication.

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]]> We speak with Dr. Gavin Schmidt, climate scientist, director of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and co-founder of the RealClimate climate science blog. Gavin’s research focuses on understanding the past, present and future of the climate system and the impacts of the various drivers of climate change. In this episode we take a deep dive on the science of climate change covering how it is observed, detected and attributed. Along the way Gavin debunks several climate skeptic talking points and discusses the changing challenges of climate communication.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10377514 Tue, 05 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0200 3880 7 full false 6. Elizabeth Kolbert on climate change, extinctions, and life Under a White Sky 6. Elizabeth Kolbert on climate change, extinctions, and life Under a White Sky We speak with Elizabeth Kolbert, a journalist of politics and the environment. She has been at The New Yorker for more than 20 years and is the author of Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction), and Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change. We dive into how the climate change discourse has changed, mass extinctions and new speciation, and international large-scale interventions in natural systems.

At The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/elizabeth-kolbert
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizKolbert
Under a White Sky: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617060/under-a-white-sky-by-elizabeth-kolbert/
The Sixth Extinction: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250062185/thesixthextinction
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/field-notes-from-a-catastrophe-9781620409886/

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]]> We speak with Elizabeth Kolbert, a journalist of politics and the environment. She has been at The New Yorker for more than 20 years and is the author of Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction), and Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change. We dive into how the climate change discourse has changed, mass extinctions and new speciation, and international large-scale interventions in natural systems.

At The New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/elizabeth-kolbert
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElizKolbert
Under a White Sky: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/617060/under-a-white-sky-by-elizabeth-kolbert/
The Sixth Extinction: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250062185/thesixthextinction
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/field-notes-from-a-catastrophe-9781620409886/

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10272506 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 16:00:00 +0100 2849 6 full false 5. Robert Lempert on climate impacts in the IPCC and deep uncertainty 5. Robert Lempert on climate impacts in the IPCC and deep uncertainty Robert Lempert is a principal researcher at the RAND Corporation and director of the Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition. His research focuses on risk management and decision-making under conditions of deep uncertainty. He was also a coordinating lead author on Chapter 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report on climate impacts. We discuss how the IPCC works and how it has evolved in response to criticism, the key concepts needed to understand climate impacts, the challenges of adapting to climate change, decision-making under deep uncertainty, and the peculiar nature of climate scenarios.

Links:

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]]> Robert Lempert is a principal researcher at the RAND Corporation and director of the Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition. His research focuses on risk management and decision-making under conditions of deep uncertainty. He was also a coordinating lead author on Chapter 1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report on climate impacts. We discuss how the IPCC works and how it has evolved in response to criticism, the key concepts needed to understand climate impacts, the challenges of adapting to climate change, decision-making under deep uncertainty, and the peculiar nature of climate scenarios.

Links:

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10206187 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 02:00:00 +0100 2776 Climate Change, IPCC, Uncertainty, Climate Impacts, Adaptation 5 full false 4. Zion Lights on nuclear energy, technology, and climate change 4. Zion Lights on nuclear energy, technology, and climate change Zion Lights is an environmental activist and author. She founded Emergency Reactor, which calls for greater use of nuclear power, alongside renewables, in order to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.  Her books include "The Ultimate Guide to Green Parenting" and "Only a Moment." She was previously spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. We discuss her transition from Extinction Rebellion to nuclear advocate, nuclear energy's roles in reducing emissions, its challenges to expansion, the politics of nuclear energy, ecomodernism, and the dark side of environmentalism. 

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]]> Zion Lights is an environmental activist and author. She founded Emergency Reactor, which calls for greater use of nuclear power, alongside renewables, in order to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.  Her books include "The Ultimate Guide to Green Parenting" and "Only a Moment." She was previously spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion. We discuss her transition from Extinction Rebellion to nuclear advocate, nuclear energy's roles in reducing emissions, its challenges to expansion, the politics of nuclear energy, ecomodernism, and the dark side of environmentalism. 

Links:

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10091876 Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:00:00 +0100 3088 4 full false 3. Roger Pielke on the politics of climate change, scenarios, and extreme weather 3. Roger Pielke on the politics of climate change, scenarios, and extreme weather Roger Pielke Jr. is a political scientist who writes on a diverse range of policy and governance issues related to science, technology, environment, innovation and sports. He is most famous (or infamous?) for his work on climate change. We cover his Iron Law of climate policy, his views on the problems with business-as-usual climate scenarios, and the challenges of attributing extreme weather. We also touch on the extent of his relationships with climate change skeptics and the efforts to discredit him, including the congressional investigation into his funding.

Roger is a Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He is the author of The Climate Fix: What Scientists and Politicians Won’t Tell you About Global Warming, The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics, and The Rightful Place of Science: Disasters & Climate Change .

Links:
- the report detailing the campaign to discredit Pielke https://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2021/11/Laframboise-Pielke.pdf [PDF]
- his chart in The Climate Fix showing the historical change in the proportion of carbon-free energy and how it will need to change in future https://theclimatefix.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/bp-2017-3.jpg
- the IPCC's latest report on the physical science of climate change https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
- two blog posts by Pielke on this recent report https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/how-to-understand-the-new-ipcc-report and https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/how-to-understand-the-new-ipcc-report-1e3
- Pielke's academic paper on scenarios with Justin Ritchie  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629620304655 and a popular article summarizing their work https://issues.org/climate-change-scenarios-lost-touch-reality-pielke-ritchie/
- The Climate Fix https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/roger-pielke/the-climate-fix/9780465025190/
- The Honest Broker https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/honest-broker/A41AD4D7D14077165807DBE057B5FAF9
- The Rightful Place of Science: Disasters & Climate Change https://cspo.org/publication/the-rightful-place-of-science-disasters-and-climate-change/

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]]> Roger Pielke Jr. is a political scientist who writes on a diverse range of policy and governance issues related to science, technology, environment, innovation and sports. He is most famous (or infamous?) for his work on climate change. We cover his Iron Law of climate policy, his views on the problems with business-as-usual climate scenarios, and the challenges of attributing extreme weather. We also touch on the extent of his relationships with climate change skeptics and the efforts to discredit him, including the congressional investigation into his funding.

Roger is a Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He is the author of The Climate Fix: What Scientists and Politicians Won’t Tell you About Global Warming, The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics, and The Rightful Place of Science: Disasters & Climate Change .

Links:
- the report detailing the campaign to discredit Pielke https://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2021/11/Laframboise-Pielke.pdf [PDF]
- his chart in The Climate Fix showing the historical change in the proportion of carbon-free energy and how it will need to change in future https://theclimatefix.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/bp-2017-3.jpg
- the IPCC's latest report on the physical science of climate change https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
- two blog posts by Pielke on this recent report https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/how-to-understand-the-new-ipcc-report and https://rogerpielkejr.substack.com/p/how-to-understand-the-new-ipcc-report-1e3
- Pielke's academic paper on scenarios with Justin Ritchie  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214629620304655 and a popular article summarizing their work https://issues.org/climate-change-scenarios-lost-touch-reality-pielke-ritchie/
- The Climate Fix https://www.basicbooks.com/titles/roger-pielke/the-climate-fix/9780465025190/
- The Honest Broker https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/honest-broker/A41AD4D7D14077165807DBE057B5FAF9
- The Rightful Place of Science: Disasters & Climate Change https://cspo.org/publication/the-rightful-place-of-science-disasters-and-climate-change/

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-10026164 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:00:00 +0100 3634 3 full false 2. Holly Buck on ending fossil fuels 2. Holly Buck on ending fossil fuels Holly Jean Buck is an expert on the social and political dimensions of environmental policies, and of strategies and technologies for preventing and adapting to climate change. Our conversation focuses on her new book, Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough. Holly, Pete, and Jesse discuss why we should strive for a future of no fossil fuels, the challenges to ending fossil fuels, the role of carbon dioxide removal, whether the alternatives could be worse, how to deal with legacy firms and stranded assets, the collective action problem, and practical next steps. We also touch on the whether to shrink the global economy through degrowth, public participation and engagement, bridging technological and social change, and reasons for optimism.

Holly is Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo and also the author of After Geoengineering: Climate Tragedy, Repair, and Restoration and co-editor of Has It Come to This? The Promise and Peril of Geoengineering on the Brink.

https://twitter.com/hollyjeanbuck
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/environment-sustainability/faculty/faculty-directory/holly-buck.html
https://www.versobooks.com/books/3879-ending-fossil-fuels
https://fossilfueltreaty.org/ 

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]]> Holly Jean Buck is an expert on the social and political dimensions of environmental policies, and of strategies and technologies for preventing and adapting to climate change. Our conversation focuses on her new book, Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough. Holly, Pete, and Jesse discuss why we should strive for a future of no fossil fuels, the challenges to ending fossil fuels, the role of carbon dioxide removal, whether the alternatives could be worse, how to deal with legacy firms and stranded assets, the collective action problem, and practical next steps. We also touch on the whether to shrink the global economy through degrowth, public participation and engagement, bridging technological and social change, and reasons for optimism.

Holly is Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo and also the author of After Geoengineering: Climate Tragedy, Repair, and Restoration and co-editor of Has It Come to This? The Promise and Peril of Geoengineering on the Brink.

https://twitter.com/hollyjeanbuck
https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/environment-sustainability/faculty/faculty-directory/holly-buck.html
https://www.versobooks.com/books/3879-ending-fossil-fuels
https://fossilfueltreaty.org/ 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-9941018 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0100 2714 2 full false 1. Neal Stephenson on solar geoengineering and Termination Shock 1. Neal Stephenson on solar geoengineering and Termination Shock Neal Stephenson is a leading author of science- and speculative fiction and is a recipient of the Hugo and Prometheus Awards. His most recent novel Termination Shock is an eco-thriller that explores the political fallout from the use of solar geoengineering to counter climate change. Neal, Pete, and Jesse discuss reducing greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide removal, his research process, climate impacts, public perception, billionaires in innovation vis-à-vis  the government, the roles of models in decision-making, technocracy, planetary management, social media, biotechnology, and of course, solar geoengineering.

Neal Stephenson’s webpage: https://nealstephenson.com/

His latest book, Termination Shock: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/termination-shock-neal-stephenson

Neal in conversation with David Keith: https://www.facebook.com/112608362085830/videos/628795261609239/ 

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]]> Neal Stephenson is a leading author of science- and speculative fiction and is a recipient of the Hugo and Prometheus Awards. His most recent novel Termination Shock is an eco-thriller that explores the political fallout from the use of solar geoengineering to counter climate change. Neal, Pete, and Jesse discuss reducing greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide removal, his research process, climate impacts, public perception, billionaires in innovation vis-à-vis  the government, the roles of models in decision-making, technocracy, planetary management, social media, biotechnology, and of course, solar geoengineering.

Neal Stephenson’s webpage: https://nealstephenson.com/

His latest book, Termination Shock: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/termination-shock-neal-stephenson

Neal in conversation with David Keith: https://www.facebook.com/112608362085830/videos/628795261609239/ 

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-9859141 Tue, 11 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +0100 3292 1 full false Trailer: Launching in January 2022 Trailer: Launching in January 2022 We are Jesse Reynolds, an expert on environmental policy, and Peter Irvine, a climate scientist. We're launching a new podcast, Challenging Climate, in January 2022. With episodes every two weeks, we'll be challenging leading experts with tough questions about the science, technology and politics of climate change. 
We'll explore how we can fight global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removal, adaptation, and solar geoengineering. We will also consider the roles of computer models and persuasive narratives, economics and public policy, renewable energy, and national security in the climate debate. And we’ll look beyond to issues such as biotechnology and international development.
Subscribe now to follow these conversations, as we try to make clear the challenges and trade-offs of tackling climate change.

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]]> We are Jesse Reynolds, an expert on environmental policy, and Peter Irvine, a climate scientist. We're launching a new podcast, Challenging Climate, in January 2022. With episodes every two weeks, we'll be challenging leading experts with tough questions about the science, technology and politics of climate change. 
We'll explore how we can fight global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, carbon removal, adaptation, and solar geoengineering. We will also consider the roles of computer models and persuasive narratives, economics and public policy, renewable energy, and national security in the climate debate. And we’ll look beyond to issues such as biotechnology and international development.
Subscribe now to follow these conversations, as we try to make clear the challenges and trade-offs of tackling climate change.

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]]> Jesse Reynolds and Pete Irvine Buzzsprout-9418726 Sat, 23 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +0200 298 0 trailer false