Saving the World From Bad Ideas

• “we can still save the arctic.“

  🔍 Episode Summary:What if the bad idea… is thinking we can still save the Arctic?In this sobering but illuminating conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with renowned polar climate scientist Julienne Stroeve to explore one of the most consequential but misunderstood climate tipping points: the melting of the Arctic.Together, they unpack the science behind sea ice loss, permafrost thaw, Greenland melt, and the feedback loops that could push the climate system toward runaway warming. Julienne, who has spent decades conducting fieldwork and analysing satellite data, explains why the idea that we can still "save" the Arctic is, sadly, a myth — and what that means for global sea level rise, extreme weather, and the fate of species like polar bears.From icebreaker expeditions to geoengineering schemes, this episode takes you to the frontlines of a rapidly disappearing world.🧠 Topics Discussed:🧊 Why the Arctic sea ice is already committed to disappearing in summer📉 The science behind Greenland’s melt — and how fast it’s accelerating🌊 Sea level rise: how much, how soon, and where it hits hardest🐻 Polar bears, permafrost, and the myth of adaptation💣 The risk of tipping points and feedback loops (albedo, methane, etc.)❄️ What past interglacial periods tell us about a future without Arctic ice🌍 Why what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic🌀 Jet streams, polar vortexes, and extreme weather in a warming world🧪 Geoengineering: what might work, what probably won’t🛰️ The role of satellites and field data in improving climate models🇺🇸 The growing threat of political interference with science in the US👩‍🔬 Guest Bio:Dr. Julienne Stroeve is a polar climate scientist and professor currently affiliated with the University of Manitoba and University College London. Her work focuses on satellite remote sensing, Arctic sea ice, climate modeling, and the impacts of climate change on polar systems. She has participated in numerous field expeditions, including the landmark MOSAiC expedition, and is one of the world’s leading experts on Arctic cryosphere dynamics.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Why the Arctic Is Already Lost – Science commentary by Julienne Stroeve (via Science.org)MOSAiC Expedition Overview – AWINSIDC – National Snow and Ice Data CenterNASA Earth Observatory – Arctic Sea IceArctic Report Card – NOAAArticle: Why Geoengineering the Arctic is a Bad Idea – The Conversation💬 Quote Highlights:“The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average.” – Julienne Stroeve“The idea that we can still save the Arctic is a bad one. It’s already on a committed trajectory of decline.” — Julienne Stroeve“What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. It reshapes weather patterns across the globe.” — Julienne Stroeve“Greenland is now the largest contributor to sea level rise — and that contribution is accelerating.” — Julienne Stroeve“At 2.7 degrees of global warming, parts of the world will become uninhabitable.” — Julienne Stroeve“I used to be hopeful. But now? I think we’ll wait for disaster — and then act.” — Julienne Stroeve🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement advancing bold, evidence-based solutions for climate, nature, and human development. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Feedback or thoughts? Email: [email protected] 📬 Subscribe for updates: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:04:20
• “Progress is inevitable“

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this powerhouse episode, Mark Lynas is joined by long-time friend and environmental journalist George Monbiot for a brutally honest conversation on where we are — and how we fight back. Together they challenge the idea that environmental progress is automatic or guaranteed, and instead delve into the deep political, economic, and social forces that shape our chances for a better future.Monbiot argues that unless we confront power, capitalism, and the failure of incrementalism, we’re simply sleepwalking into authoritarianism and ecological collapse. From colonialism to neoliberalism, from fascism to the failures of the left, this is a sweeping conversation on what went wrong — and how we can make things right, through a positive politics of belonging.This one pulls no punches.🧠 Topics Discussed:🏛️ Why environmentalism fails without confronting power🛑 The myth of inevitable progress — and how it can be reversed⚡ Technology is not enough: the limits of "techno-fix" thinking💰 A crash course in the real origins of capitalism📉 Why incremental change is a losing strategy📢 What neoliberalism really is — and how it disempowers citizens🧱 Private sufficiency, public luxury: a new vision for the future🧠 Why the left keeps losing — and what must change🎯 Popper’s paradox, politics of belonging, and how to counter fascism📲 How social media is supercharging authoritarianism😤 Can we still win? Yes — but only if we act boldly👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:George Monbiot is a columnist for The Guardian, environmental activist, and author of several books including Regenesis, Out of the Wreckage, and The Invisible Doctrine (with Peter Hutchison). He’s one of the most influential and outspoken voices on the British left — and he’s spent four decades fighting for ecological justice, democratic reform, and systemic change.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:The Invisible Doctrine – George Monbiot & Peter HutchisonRegenesis – George MonbiotOut of the Wreckage – George MonbiotThe Road to Serfdom – Friedrich HayekLand for the Many – Report edited by George MonbiotOur podcast episode with Hannah Ritchie – Why the World Isn’t Ending💬 Quote Highlights:“Progress is not inevitable. And if you don’t confront power, you lose — every time.” — George Monbiot“Capitalism didn’t start with commerce. It started with slavery and extraction.” — George Monbiot“If we fail to offer a positive politics of belonging, the fascists will offer a negative one — and people will choose it.” — George Monbiot“Incrementalism is not a theory of change. It’s an excuse for failure.” — George Monbiot“We need a politics of private sufficiency, public luxury.” — George Monbiot🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement advocating for bold, science-based solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. We fight bad ideas with better ones. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Got thoughts on this episode? Email us: [email protected] 📬 Subscribe for future episodes: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:01:57
• "The global south can skip fossil fuels"

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this searing and deeply compelling conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with Vijaya Ramachandran, economist and Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute, to unpack what she calls one of the worst “bad ideas” shaping today’s climate discourse: the blanket opposition to fossil fuel development in the Global South.From indoor air pollution to energy inequality, and from misguided climate justice campaigns to blatant geopolitical hypocrisy, Vijaya takes aim at the idea that development must be sacrificed for the climate. She explains why poor countries need more energy — including some fossil fuels — in order to fight poverty, save lives, and build resilience to climate shocks.If you think climate justice means banning gas in Africa, you might want to listen to this first.🧠 Topics Discussed:🔥 Why LPG (liquified petroleum gas) is clean cooking, not dirty energy🫁 3.8 million deaths a year from household air pollution🌲 How clean fossil fuels can save forests and reduce emissions🧮 The carbon math: Germany’s LNG expansion vs all of Africa’s LPG🤯 The World Bank’s fossil fuel financing ban — who it really affects💸 Hypocrisy in action: Norway, Germany, and the United States⚖️ Why energy inequality is a moral and not just technical issue🧱 Fossil fuels for fertiliser, cement, steel, and climate adaptation🚫 The limits of leapfrogging: why renewables alone aren’t enough🧬 What real climate justice would look like for developing nations🌍 Could “green colonialism” break the Paris climate consensus?👩‍🏫 Guest Bio:Vijaya Ramachandran is Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute and an economist who has written for Nature, Foreign Policy, and The Economist. Her research focuses on energy access, development, and the geopolitics of climate finance. She's a fierce advocate for energy equity and pragmatic climate solutions rooted in the needs of the world’s poorest.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Foreign Policy – The Green Colonialism Essay by Vijaya RamachandranHow the West Is Pushing Africa Away from Gas – Breakthrough InstituteWhy LPG Is Good for the Climate – WePlanet article by Mark LynasOur World in Data – Energy AccessIEA Clean Cooking Investment TrackerEnergy for Growth HubWorld Bank report on Indoor Air Pollution💬 Quote Highlights:“LPG saves lives. It’s better for women, better for children, and even better for the climate when you look at the alternatives.” — Vijaya Ramachandran“You can’t cook with wind and solar. That’s the reality for hundreds of millions of people.” — Vijaya Ramachandran“The World Bank’s fossil fuel financing ban only hurts the poorest — and it won’t solve climate change.” — Mark Lynas“Climate justice has become what Western NGOs want, not what poor people actually need.” — Vijaya Ramachandran🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement dedicated to bold, science-based solutions for climate and development. We believe in energy abundance, food security, and global prosperity — without environmental collapse. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Email feedback: [email protected] 📬 Sign up for updates: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:02:25
• "We shouldn’t even talk about geoengineering!"

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this thought-provoking episode, Mark Lynas is joined by science writer and The Planet Remade author Oliver Morton for a candid conversation about geoengineering — the controversial set of technologies that could help us cool the planet.Oliver argues that not talking about solar geoengineering might itself be a bad idea, especially as climate change accelerates and overshoot scenarios become more likely. They explore how stratospheric aerosols, inspired by volcanic eruptions, could reflect sunlight and reduce warming, and why such solutions are currently taboo in many environmental circles.The episode tackles moral hazard, global equity, the politics of climate action, and why global South leadership is essential for legitimate discussion. Mark even finds himself inching toward changing his own mind — again.🧠 Topics Discussed:🌍 Why the conversation around geoengineering has barely moved since The Planet Remade (2015)🌡️ Solar vs. carbon dioxide removal (CDR) geoengineering🌋 Volcanoes, aerosols, and the science behind reflecting sunlight🤐 The dangers of not talking about solar geoengineering🎭 Climate discourse, moral hazard, and the “technofix” taboo⚖️ Why global South voices are critical to the legitimacy of the debate🔥 Whether the current warming justifies reconsidering “unthinkable” options💣 Nuclear weapons, termination shock, and existential risk🎵 Meatloaf, billiards, and asteroid jokes (yes, really)🧑‍🔬 Guest Bio: Oliver Morton is a senior editor at The Economist, former science writer for Nature, and author of The Planet Remade: How Geoengineering Could Change the World. He has an asteroid named after him — and no, it's not headed toward Earth.📚 Recommended ReadingThe Planet Remade – Oliver MortonPaul Crutzen’s 2006 paper on stratospheric aerosolsIPCC Special Report on 1.5°CReports by the Degrees Initiative📝 Quote Highlights:“If we have to wait until everyone agrees on how to act in order to address climate change, we are not going to address climate change.” — Oliver Morton“People say the world is burning but refuse to even consider options that might stop it from burning. That’s a hard position to defend.” — Mark Lynas🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a citizen and science movement that challenges conventional thinking to defend evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges. Learn more at ⁠weplanet.org⁠.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Got thoughts on geoengineering? Email us: ⁠[email protected]⁠📬 Sign up for updates: weplanet.org/podcast

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  59:27
• "No such thing as progress"

  🔍 Episode Summary:In the inaugural episode of Saving the World from Bad Ideas, Mark Lynas is joined by renowned psychologist and best-selling author Steven Pinker to challenge the pervasive myth that the world is in terminal decline.Steven makes the case for progress as a measurable, empirical reality, highlighting how improvements in health, literacy, poverty, and safety have transformed human life — even if we rarely hear about them. Together, they explore the psychological biases behind pessimism, the rise of reactionary politics, the dangers of nuclear weapons, and the pitfalls of modern progressive movements.From Enlightenment ideals to eco-modernism, it's a wide-ranging conversation on how to make the world better — rationally.🧠 Topics Discussed:📈 What progress really means — and how we can measure it📰 Why the media distorts our sense of reality⚙️ The Enlightenment roots of knowledge-driven human improvement🧨 Why nuclear weapons remain an existential threat🧠 How to rebuild a rational, empirical environmental movement🧵 The rise of wokeism and internal collapse of progressive institutions🇺🇸 Trumpism, authoritarianism, and global democratic backsliding🌿 Is eco-modernism the future of environmentalism?👥 How to lead change without tribalism or culture war👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:Steven Pinker is Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of numerous influential books, including:Rationality: What It Is, Why It Seems Scarce, Why It MattersEnlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and ProgressThe Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has DeclinedHe’s a prominent public intellectual, defender of Enlightenment values, and an optimist — but not the naive kind.📚 Recommended Reading:Enlightenment Now – Steven PinkerThe Better Angels of Our Nature – Steven PinkerWhole Earth Discipline – Stewart BrandApocalypse Never – Michael Shellenberger🎵 Tom Lehrer’s song "We Will All Go Together When We Go"💬 Quote Highlights:“The news by its very nature is bound to oversample bad things and neglect good things.” — Steven Pinker“Not all cultures are going to agree with the latest cause from elite left-wing urban American universities.” — Steven Pinker“Nuclear weapons can end civilization in a matter of hours. It’s astonishing that literally the end of the world is not an issue.” — Steven Pinker“Let's treat environmental problems as challenges to be solved, not moral failings to be punished.” — Mark Lynas🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global movement of citizens and scientists dedicated to defending the science and solutions we need to protect our environment and civilisation. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Got thoughts? Email us: [email protected] 📬 Join our podcast mailing list: weplanet.org/podcast

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  44:08

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