Latest Interviews
Showing 16–20 of 20 transcripts.
Clear all filters- The Economist7 min
How scientists calculate climate change
Vilhelm Bjerknes, Oliver Morton
Building on Wilhelm Bjerknes' 19th-century formulas, modern atmospheric computers now operate 25 trillion times faster than early models to simulate global climate behavior through complex grid systems. Although technical limitations regarding small-scale cloud dynamics create divergent warming projections, historical data confirms these tools accurately forecast observed trends when paired with economic scenarios that link human policy to temperature outcomes. Ultimately, while these models cannot predict human decisions, they remain the essential instrument for quantifying carbon dioxide's impact and guiding the stringent emission reductions necessary to meet Paris Agreement targets.
- The Economist9 min
Why politicians have failed to tackle climate change
Following James Hansen's 1988 congressional testimony, global climate diplomacy progressed through the binding yet flawed 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 2015 Paris Agreement, which replaced mandatory targets with voluntary commitments. While fossil fuel interests historically obstructed regulation and developing nations like China initially grew emissions unchecked, strategic shifts now drive a transition toward renewable leadership despite emissions doubling since the 1970s. Current international strategy relies on a ratcheting mechanism to incrementally raise ambition, though avoiding effective inaction requires breaking a half-century of political compromise to meet temperature thresholds.
- The Economist33 min
Climate Change: The Economist live Q&A
Oliver Morton, Sarah Collinson
*The Economist* launches its inaugural issue dedicated entirely to climate change, integrating analysis from all fourteen sections to cover diverse impacts ranging from Panama Canal droughts to Arctic permafrost thaw. Senior writer Oliver Morton and contributors argue that while individual lifestyle changes are insufficient, systemic solutions like decarbonized grids, targeted solar deployment, and liberal democratic reform offer the most viable path to mitigating long-term economic and ecological damage. Ultimately, the publication urges a strategic balance of intellectual pessimism regarding rapid reversals of the crisis with practical optimism focused on adaptation and gradual emission reductions to prevent the worst global outcomes.
- The Economist11 min
Climate Change: can nature repair the planet?
Tom Crowther, Oliver Morton, Simon Lewis
Recent research from ETH Zurich reveals that while global reforestation could theoretically sequester 200 gigatons of carbon, this process spans over two centuries and requires careful geographic calibration to avoid warming effects in boreal regions. Experts including Professor Tom Crowther warn against media narratives positioning tree planting as a standalone solution, emphasizing instead the urgent need for rapid fossil fuel reductions alongside natural regeneration strategies that outperform commercial plantations. Case studies in Uganda and the UK demonstrate that allowing land to regenerate naturally yields superior carbon storage, reinforcing a scientific consensus that effective climate action demands a holistic mix of approaches rather than a single technological fix.
- The Economist8 min
Who owns the Moon?
Dennis Hope, Vicky Jeong, Oliver Morton, Anna
Driven by geopolitical rivalry and plummeting launch costs, the international community is preparing for a surge of lunar missions targeting the South Pole to secure water and strategic minerals. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits national ownership of the Moon, it leaves the legal status of resource extraction ambiguous, creating a landscape where nations like the US favor "finders keepers" principles over existing international precedents. This legal uncertainty and the potential for disputes mirroring terrestrial conflicts will likely persist until commercial operations, such as mining or tourism, become physically established on the surface.