#1259 - David Wallace-Wells cover

#1259 - David Wallace-Wells

NaN minutesEpisode #1259

David Wallace-Wells is Deputy editor and climate columnist for New York magazine. His book "The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming" is available now.

Watch the full episode of #1259 - David Wallace-Wells.

Episode Timestamps

  • California Fires - Future Apocalypse and Climate Impact

    • Scientific estimates predict California wildfires to increase dramatically by the end of the century.
    • Discussing factors contributing to wildfires such as temperature rise and preventative measures.
    • Exploring challenges in firefighting efforts and the impact on populated areas.
  • Urban Vulnerability to Climate Change - Stakes for Major Cities

    • Evaluation of climate change effects on major cities like Los Angeles and Miami Beach.
    • Highlighting the vulnerability of coastal settlements and wealthy neighborhoods to natural disasters.
    • Exploring the potential future impacts on densely populated urban areas and relocation challenges.
  • Impacts of Climate Change: Bleak Picture and Catastrophic Warming

    • UN warning of catastrophic warming with 2 degrees increase
    • Potential sea level rise of 260 feet with ice sheet collapse
    • Estimate of 200 million to a billion climate refugees
  • Climate Change Threats and Solutions: Global Impact and Possibilities

    • Global GDP projected to shrink by 20-30 percent due to climate change
    • Discussion on technologies to reverse carbon footprint
    • Highlighting the urgency and potential to avert worst-case scenarios
  • Climate Change Reality Check & Cognitive Biases

    • Discussion on global warming and its alarming reality despite visual perception.
    • Exploration of cognitive biases influencing our perception of climate change future.
    • Importance of listening to scientists' projections despite likelihood of revisions.
  • Lessons from Past Prophets & Future Agricultural Crisis

    • Examination of Paul Ehrlich's failed prophecy on overpopulation and Green Revolution.
    • Impact of Norman Borlaug's innovations on agricultural productivity.
    • Foreseen challenges in agriculture with projected grain yield decline and societal impacts of climate change.
  • Sulfur Geoengineering: Impact on Agriculture and Climate

    • Suspending sulfur in the atmosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the Earth.
    • Potential impacts on agriculture and unknown side effects.
    • Concerns about vulnerability to terrorism and abrupt warming if the program is disrupted.
  • Methane Emissions: Cows & Permafrost

    • Issues with methane emissions from cows being a potent greenhouse gas.
    • Possibility of reducing methane emissions by feeding cattle seaweed.
    • Concerns regarding carbon release from melting permafrost and the potential dramatic impact on global warming.
  • Impacts of Climate Change on Human Civilization

    • Global temperature drop led to human population shrinking to 7,000
    • Climate conditions significantly impact human civilization
    • Rapid temperature changes could lead to catastrophic outcomes
  • Global Climate Crisis and Emerging Geopolitical Challenges

    • China's increasing carbon footprint and global infrastructure projects
    • China's investments in creating an alternative global infrastructure
    • The need for a new geopolitical strategy to address climate change
  • Climate Change Impacts & Urgency

    • Discussion on extreme weather events like '500-year storm' and Hurricane Harvey's impact on Houston
    • The increasing alarm and fear around unprecedented climate change
    • Comparisons made to historical events and the need for urgent action
  • Rising Sea Levels & Global Impacts

    • Impacts of rising sea levels on cities like New York, New Jersey, Miami Beach, and Bangladesh
    • Challenges posed by infrastructure projects like building seawalls
    • Potential exodus and relocation due to climate change effects
  • Global Leaders' Climate Policies & Dilemmas

    • Many nations face dilemmas in climate action due to conflicting interests.
    • Leaders like Justin Trudeau and Angela Merkel showcase mixed approaches to climate policy.
    • Global emissions challenge the collective action of nations.
  • Brazil's Deforestation Threat and Global Impact

    • Brazil's President aims to deforest the Amazon, risking major global consequences.
    • His plan could have the impact of adding another China-sized carbon footprint.
    • Potential future scenarios include international actions to address environmental threats.
  • Climate Solutions and Carbon Tax Debate

    • Immediate action needed to reduce emissions by 10% annually
    • Discussion on effectiveness of a global carbon tax up to $5,500 per ton
    • Past missed opportunities for moderate changes now requiring drastic measures
  • Legal Battles and Future Climate Actions

    • Lawsuits against oil companies for climate damages increasing
    • Examples of successful climate-related lawsuits such as in the Netherlands and US
    • Potential impact of court cases on obligating maximalist climate policies
  • Interstellar Arcs and Space Exploration vs. Climate Change

    • Discussion on the need for long-term solutions like interstellar arcs for grand scale threats like the sun burning out
    • Comparison of space exploration (millennia timescale) and climate change (next 30 years timescale) urgency
    • Humorous take on space exploration as a 'big metal dick' and the allure of space for the current generation
  • Jeff Bezos, China's Space Exploration, and the Future Outlook

    • Comparison between private (like Bezos) and government-led (like China) ambitious space exploration efforts
    • Discussion on physical transformation of Jeff Bezos and societal perceptions of billionaires
    • Exploration of futuristic ideas like brain uploading and climate change coping mechanisms
  • Causes of Environmental Crisis and Solutions Discussed

    • Comparison between American and European carbon footprints
    • Impact of wasted food on carbon emissions
    • Importance of addressing wastefulness in electricity consumption
  • Individual vs. Societal Responsibility for Change

    • Positive aspect of recognizing hypocrisy in promoting change
    • Role of policy and taxation in directing behavior towards societal goals
    • Significance of individual awareness in supporting societal shifts
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