About this episode

The episode debates whether humans can adapt to climate change or if we should focus on restructuring the global economy to address it.

The dangers of climate change are “no longer over the horizon.” Humanity may soon pass the “point of no return.” These are the phrases U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used to describe what he called an “utterly inadequate” global response to rising temperatures. But if we were to decisively act and restructure our global economy with the climate in mind, who would shoulder the burden? Or should our collective focus orient more toward humans’ capacity for adaptation?  This ethical conundrum is at the crux of this week's debate, originally broadcast in July 2022. Arguing Yes:   Bjorn Lomborg, Author of the Bestsellers "Cool It" and "The Skeptical Environmentalist"; Director of the Copenhagen Consensus Center  Matthew Kahn, Provost Professor of Economics and Spatial Sciences at the University of Southern California  Arguing No:  Michele Wucker, Economic Policy Expert & Founder of Gray Rhino & Company  Kaveh Madani, Environmental Scientist; Former Vice President of the United Nations Environment Assembly Bureau; Former Deputy Head of Iran’s Department of Environment  Emmy award-winning journalist John…

People in this episode

Host: John Donvan

Guests: Bjorn Lomborg, Matthew Kahn, Michele Wucker, Kaveh Madani

Topics covered

• climate change
• adaptation
• global economy
• ethical conundrum
• environmental policy

Keywords

• climate change
• adaptation
• global response
• environmental science
• economic policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Copenhagen Consensus Center, Gray Rhino & Company, United Nations Environment Assembly Bureau, Iran’s Department of Environment

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