About this episode

Kevin Anderson discusses the urgent realities of climate change and the challenges posed by the fossil fuel industry.

The summer of 2026 will go down in history books as the hottest, driest and most deadly set of heatwaves Britain has ever experienced. This weather isn’t normal – but it is predictable according to a global consensus of scientists. And yet this summer, according to the science, will be one of the coolest summers we ever have again. Things will only get hotter from here. Beginning his career as an oil-rig engineer before retraining as a climate scientist, Kevin Anderson’s career has been an extraordinary journey. On Downstream this week, Aaron Bastani sat down with him to discuss what has become his life’s work: sounding the alarm on man-made climate change, and on the fossil fuel industry that gave him his start. Just how much has the planet heated, and why? Is the Paris Agreement’s aim of keeping heating to beneath 1.5°C still achievable, or delusional cope? What are the political obstacles to tackling the issue? Having worked with Andy Burnham in Manchester, what does Kevin think he will do on climate, as PM? Is avoiding catastrophe still possible, and if so, how much time have we got to act, before it’s too late?

People in this episode

Host: Aaron Bastani

Guest: Kevin Anderson

Topics covered

• climate change
• fossil fuels
• political obstacles
• heatwaves
• Paris Agreement
• environmental science

Keywords

• climate crisis
• heatwaves
• fossil fuel industry
• Paris Agreement
• political action
• environmental impact

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Paris Agreement

Places: Britain, Manchester

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• ACFM Microdose: How Britain’s Coastal Communities are Reclaiming Power w/ Hazel Sheffield · August 16, 2026 · 53 min
• ACFM 62: The Beach · August 9, 2026 · 2h 2m

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