Rerun: #171: Mark Lynas meets Sustainababble

No Babble again this week due to a last minute production cock-up, so it's re-run time again. As the impacts of climate change are very much top of everyone's mind right now, we thought you might appreciate our chat about all things 'how buggered could the climate get anyway', with Mark Lynas (original broadcast: April 2020).

Disclaimer: climate science moves fast, and there's dicussion in here about the potential for the gulf stream to slow down, which the news recently reported scientists are increasingly worried may be happening. Back in early 2020 Mark wasn't that worried about it. Bear in mind that that was then, when you listen to that bit.

If the global pandemic is leaving you wanting more on the existential angst front, try dipping into chapter 6 of journalist and former activist Mark Lynas' new book, 'Our Final Warning', where you'll read that at six degrees of global heating "a wave of mass extinctions threatens life on earth". Theeeeeeere we go, that's the good stuff.The book, to an extent an updated version of 2007's groundbreaking 'Six Degrees', describes the most recent scientific understanding of what we can expect if carbon emissions don’t fall rapidly and temperatures continue to rise. Or, in other words, the civilisation-ending shitstorm that's in the post if humanity doesn't get its act together PDQ.We chat to Mark about what's changed - good and bad - in the twelve years between the two books, what Covid-19 might mean for global emissions, and why, despite it all, he retains a sense of optimism.Sustainababble is your friendly environment podcast, out weekly. Theme music by the legendary Dicky Moore – @dickymoo. Sustainababble logo by the splendid Arthur Stovell. Ecoguff read out by Arabella.

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