#1896 - Bjørn Lomborg

Episode Timestamps

• 00:01:30

  The Problem of Plastic in Oceans

  • Plastic is a huge problem, especially in oceans and landfills
  • Plastics were sent to China to be recycled but often ended up in the ocean
  • Burning plastics is a possible solution
• 00:07:15

  Negative Impacts of Plastics on Human Health

  • The petrochemical plastics we use daily have negative effects on reproductive health
  • Receiving chemicals from plastics affects development cycles of human babies
  • Living longer doesn't mean everything is perfect, concern and investigation are necessary.
• 00:16:15

  Starting time

  • Most of the change in climate over the last 150 years is due to carbon and methane emissions from fossil fuels
  • Climate change is causing problems for cities built around certain temperatures
  • The UN climate panel estimates that between half to all of the change is due to us
  • Fossil fuels have made the Industrial Revolution possible and helped make society safer
  • To combat climate change, we need to find ways to produce everyday items without the negative impact of fossil fuels
  • Nuclear energy could be part of the solution
• 00:21:01

  Starting time

  • Nuclear energy is one of the safest ways to produce energy
  • All technologies have risks
  • Solar panels are also safe, but occupational hazards like falling off roofs can occur
  • Chernobyl was a terrible accident and killed around 100-200 people.
• 00:22:28

  The Catastrophic Harm of Nuclear Power, Coal Power, and Indoor Air Pollution

  • Nuclear power is the biggest catastrophe with power sources, but coal power kills millions of people with its pollution
  • Lack of scrubbers on smokestacks in developing countries causes excessive pollution, as seen in New Delhi
  • Wood-burning fires are terrible for air quality, and indoor air pollution is worse than outdoor pollution in some areas
  • Three billion people cook and keep warm with dirty fuels like dung and cardboard indoors
  • Burning candles and fireplaces pollutes indoor air quality
• 00:23:30

  The Indoor Air Pollution Crisis and Its Health Effects

  • Many people in poverty cook and keep warm with dirty fuels like dung and cardboard indoors, leading to indoor air pollution worse than outdoor pollution in some areas
  • The World Health Organization estimates this indoor air pollution is equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day for each person, with three billion people affected
  • An experiment in Denmark found that even lighting candles can cause dangerous spikes in indoor air pollution levels
  • Encouraging healthy habits like exercise and a better diet can improve healthcare worldwide
• 00:33:48

  Heat wave and cold deaths

  • A huge heat wave killed 700 people and got a lot of media coverage.
  • However, there are 170,000 deaths from cold every year in the US according to The Lancet.
  • The EPA reports that 19,000 Americans have died from cold-related causes since 1979.
• 00:41:36

  The impact of global warming

  • Global warming is a problem but is slightly impeding progress.
  • A graph shows how climate-related deaths decreased from half a million to 30,000 a year.
  • Global warming is putting a small brake on the progress towards fewer deaths.
• 00:44:45

  Burden of disease.

  • Explains how burden of disease quantifies the impact of factors such as obesity, pollution, and poor healthcare on longevity.
• 00:48:10

  Hurricane-resistant homes and better regulation.

  • Discussion about a Florida community with hurricane-resistant homes powered by a solar field, and the need for better regulation to prevent hurricane damage.
• 00:55:04

  Cost of Nuclear Power

  • Nuclear power is expensive, and more expensive than wind and solar
  • New nuclear power plants have ended up being two to four times more expensive than planned
  • The total cost of electricity produced by nuclear power could be two to three times more expensive than other sources
  • The high cost is one reason why there is not a lot of nuclear energy
• 00:58:32

  Innovation vs. Environment

  • Telling people to stop using fossil fuels is not a practical solution
  • Innovation, like the catalytic converter, is a better solution to environmental issues
  • We need to seek smart solutions that balance cost and benefit
• 01:05:30

  The Cost and Benefit of Fracking

  • A study estimates the total damage from fracking to be around $25 billion, mainly from air pollution.
  • The benefit of fracking for the US is estimated to be around $180 billion in increased growth.
  • Regulation and mitigation of environmental damage can be done, but it's a trade-off between economic gain and environmental cost.
• 01:06:50

  Pollution from Fracking

  • Fracking causes mostly air pollution, but there is also some water pollution involved.
  • The polluted waterways can cause catastrophic consequences, and it's a terrifying thought for people who love outdoor activities.
  • Better regulation and containment is necessary to avoid unnecessary environmental damage.
• 01:16:34

  Managing Wastewater

  • The process of managing wastewater is simple and regulated by the EPA.
  • Follow-up is essential to prevent cheating and ensure compliance with standard procedures.
  • Bigger companies are more efficient in managing this process.
  • The documentary Gasland was misleading and alarmist, although it raised a real issue.
  • The water pollution caused by fracking is a concern, and we need to maintain unspoiled natural habitats.
• 01:19:09

  Fracking and Pollution

  • Fracking has significant disbenefits, including elevated levels of air and water pollutants.
  • Pollution can have lasting and unfixable impacts, costing more in the long run.
  • Delaware's rivers and streams were once polluted due to fracking but have since been cleaned up.
  • The conversation needs to focus on reducing impacts rather than accepting any damage.
• 01:33:54

  An Emphasis on Technology Over Climate Fear

  • The solution to climate change is not halting the use of fossil fuels immediately.
  • Technology can solve climate change, provided it is cheaper than coal and gas, and does not emit CO2.
  • Quick and immediate reactions to climate fear will devastate the economy.
  • The switch to technology requires a focus on communicating the trade-offs and economic impacts.
• 01:38:06

  The High Cost of Reducing Emissions

  • The US going net zero or even 80% towards it will have a high cost per person per year.
  • The cost of reducing emissions by 80% towards the Biden promise would cost more than $5,000 per person per year.
  • The estimated cost of reducing emissions by mid-century is $11,000 per person per year.
  • People are not willing to pay that amount of money for reducing emissions.
• 01:40:05

  Innovating to Solve Global Warming

  • Investing in innovation is a cheap way to solve global warming
  • Craig Venture has an idea to grow algae that could solve the problem
  • Algae could keep our fossil fuel economy going while being CO2 neutral
• 01:47:29

  Invest in Green Energy Research

  • The best and smartest investment for combating climate change is green energy research and development
  • Innovation and breakthroughs are necessary to fix the problem for good
  • Without innovation, we will only make a small impact at high cost
• 01:53:21

  Effects of sea level rise and adaptation

  • Worst-case scenario in 2100: 187 million people flooded and 5% of global GDP lost
  • However, adaptation will significantly decrease this number to about 15,000 people flooded by the end of the century
  • Technological breakthroughs are necessary for adaptation and fixing climate change
  • Poverty is a significant factor in the impact of climate events, and improving living conditions is essential in helping the world's poor
• 01:58:42

  Climate change and lifting people out of poverty

  • Helping the world's poor improve their living conditions is necessary to mitigate the impact of climate change on them
  • Finding technological breakthroughs can help adaptation and fixing climate change
  • It is unrealistic to expect countries like China, India, and Africa to reduce their emissions significantly
  • Natural storms like hurricanes can impact the world's poor more significantly due to poverty, malnutrition, bad education, and diseases Note: The chapters are merely suggested based on the content and are open to interpretation.
• 02:06:34

  How to reduce hurricane damage

  • Total cost of hurricane impacts and other climate impacts is decreasing as we get better at dealing with them
  • Better prediction and moving items out of harm's way reduces damage
  • Building better houses for greater resilience is also effective
  • However, the effects of global warming make damage reduction slightly slower than before, without it being the end of the world
• 02:10:31

  Looking beyond climate change and prioritizing development

  • Climate change is one of the many problems facing the world
  • Elevating the economy is the most important step towards improving quality of life for most of the world's population
  • Malnutrition has decreased dramatically, and more people have access to better agriculture
  • There are still many pressing issues that need to be addressed, such as tuberculosis, still the leading infectious disease killer
  • Curbing climate change and developing other areas must come together to solve global problems.
• 02:14:07

  Climate Change Fear Mongering and Distorted Perceptions

  • Author promotes a balanced message
  • Questions motivations of fear mongering and distorted perceptions regarding climate change
  • Highlights that media and politicians fuel catastrophic agendas
  • Polarization is unhelpful for effective policy-making
  • Urges for innovation and sensible middle-ground arguments
• 02:17:51

  Destructive Policies and Perception Issues

  • Fear mongering in the media can lead to destructive policies
  • Growth rates have slowed due to concerns about the environment, limiting productivity
  • Education is a fundamental issue, particularly in developing countries
  • Teaching to individual student levels can revolutionize education
• 02:25:12

  Introduction to Prioritizing development

  • Discusses controlled trial studies on the effectiveness of giving tablets to children
  • Highlights the importance of prioritizing development for future productivity
  • Introduces the book "Prioritizing Development" which outlines the findings of 50 teams of economists and Nobel laureates
  • One pager "Smartest Targets for the World" provides an overview of prioritized development
• 02:29:54

  Climate Change Panic and Prioritizing Development

  • Addresses panic over climate change and its cost to the world
  • Talks about the need for balance in addressing multiple issues, not just climate change
  • Highlights the importance of prioritizing development for the benefit of the world
  • Discusses the book "Prioritizing Development" and its detailed analysis of sustainable development goals