Daniel Schrag talks with Jim about global collective action, climate models & data collection, geoengineering, long-term thinking, our uncertain future, and much more...

Professor Daniel Schrag talks with Jim about Geology’s connection to climate change, the dynamics & scope of abrupt climate changes, global collective action, the value & limits of climate models, thermal inertia in the ocean, the potential impacts of ocean acidification, climate data collection, pros & cons of geoengineering, short-term vs long-term thinking & action, hyperbolic discounting, Dan’s view on sustainable energy generation & storage, the challenges & cost of building a decarbonized infrastructure, our uncertain future, and more.

Episode Transcript

Mentions & Recommendations

Daniel Shrag’s Harvard Website

The Logic of Collective Action by Mancur Olson

Argo, Global Climate Observing System

Murray Gell-Mann

Daniel Schrag is the Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology, Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University, and Director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment. He also co-directs the Program on Science, Technology and Public Policy at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. Dan’s interests include climate change, energy technology, energy policy, and digital technology policy. He is currently working on understanding how tropical ocean dynamics relates to decadal climate variability and climate prediction.