Latest Interviews

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.

Covid-19: why the economy could fare worse than you think

Callum Williams

Analysis of global economic data reveals that the pandemic has created a persistent "90% economy" driven by both government mandates and voluntary consumer caution, resulting in severe job losses for low-income sectors in China, Europe, and the US. While unprecedented state subsidies, such as the 750 billion euros deployed in Europe, currently mask underlying insolvency risks, the eventual withdrawal of this support threatens a cascade of business failures and heightened unemployment. The duration of this structural instability remains inextricably linked to the timeline for vaccine distribution, with delays expected to exacerbate disparities for vulnerable workers and reshape future political agendas.

Why politicians have failed to tackle climate change

Oliver Morton

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.

Covid-19: Britain's chief of the defence staff talks about the military challenges

General Sir Nick Carter, Anne McElvoy

General Sir Nick Carter characterizes the UK's military mobilization for the pandemic as his career's greatest logistical challenge while directing the 77 Brigade to identify domestic misinformation without engaging in propaganda or managing specific topics like 5G claims. He rejects conspiracy theories regarding the virus's origin, asserts that US commitment to NATO remains unwavered despite political shifts, and warns that authoritarian actors continue exploiting the crisis to target pharmaceutical intellectual property and deepen societal divides. Despite these geopolitical tensions, Carter forecasts a united Western front for vaccine distribution and notes that Russian military activity, including frequent aircraft intercepts, continues at normal levels alongside the global health emergency.

Can sea creatures adapt to climate change?

Dr. Purnasloki Bahadri, Claire

Dr. Purnasloki Bahadri reports that horseshoe crabs in the Bay of Bengal are facing existential threats from climate change, pollution, and commercial bleeding for medical products, which now account for roughly 50,000 annual deaths. While these ancient species attempt to adapt by migrating to new habitats like Sundarbans mangroves, their evolutionary pace cannot match the speed of current environmental degradation. In response, Bahadri is advocating for government-established Marine Protected Areas along the Indian coast to halt human activities and ensure the survival of this keystone species and its broader ecosystem.

How covid-19 could change the financial world order

Mathieu Favas

The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in US financial hegemony, prompting China to leverage its robust banking assets and pandemic relief efforts to expand global influence. Beijing is actively bypassing US-dominated payment networks by deploying mobile wallet ecosystems that processed $49 trillion annually while securing contracts for yuan-denominated trade. Although deep-seated distrust regarding China's transparency persists, the crisis has accelerated a trajectory toward a potentially fragmented global financial system where American and Chinese spheres increasingly compete.

Covid-19: how it will change the world

Edward Carr, Callum Williams

In an analysis of the pandemic's intersection with geopolitical shifts, The Economist's Edward Carr and Callum Williams argue that the crisis accelerates the decline of the post-WWII order by reinforcing de-globalization and reducing US willingness to lead. The discussion highlights how state power is expanding through unprecedented interventions to prevent bankruptcies and address healthcare vulnerabilities, while simultaneously threatening scientific innovation and the green energy transition due to economic uncertainty. Furthermore, the speakers note that while supply chains face diversification pressures and oil-dependent nations confront a potential structural collapse, emerging market adaptations and persistent unemployment underscore a complex economic landscape where recovery to pre-2020 levels remains unlikely.

Covid-19: what the world has learned during lockdown

Ed Carr, Callum Williams, Edward Carr

A comprehensive review of the pandemic examines uncertain long-term immunity, the divergent economic impacts of lockdowns on wealthy versus emerging markets, and the tension between national self-interest and global vaccine distribution. Epidemiological case studies from Sweden, India, and various Asian nations highlight the varying effectiveness of voluntary versus enforced social distancing amidst constraints like school safety and informal labor. The discussion concludes by urging institutional reforms for the World Health Organization and mandatory domestic production audits to ensure nations can better withstand future viral threats.

How to stop plastic getting into the ocean

Claire

Ocean Clean-up founder Boyan Slat leads an organization deploying Interceptor boats across Asia, Africa, and South America to intercept an estimated two-thirds of river-borne plastic before it reaches the ocean. These vessels collect approximately 50,000 kilograms of waste daily, utilizing data from advanced camera systems to quantify debris and inform policies targeting the 1,000 waterways responsible for 80% of global ocean pollution. To ensure long-term viability and mitigate the projected 2050 crisis where marine plastic could outweigh fish, the group is scaling its fleet while transitioning collected waste into sellable products to achieve operational self-sufficiency.

Covid-19: the right way to leave lockdown

Edward Carr

Governments worldwide are navigating a complex, non-linear path to reopen economies by balancing staggered social distancing measures with the deployment of digital contact-tracing tools like those pioneered by Apple, Google, and China. While nations such as Germany and Denmark implement strict school and business protocols, experts warn that effective recovery depends on massive investments in testing infrastructure, PPE, and a workforce of 100,000 tracers to avoid costly lockdowns. Simultaneously, the global health community is racing to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks for three vaccine candidates to prevent "vaccine nationalism" and ensure equitable distribution to healthcare workers in developing nations.

Covid-19: Why is America's death toll so high?

Idrees Colun

On April 11, the United States surpassed Italy as the global leader in coronavirus fatalities with over 20,500 deaths, a crisis exacerbated by early federal inaction and delayed testing rollout. A disjointed national response driven by structural federalism and deep partisan polarization resulted in divergent state policies, from New York's strict lockdowns to Florida's prolonged delays, which allowed unchecked viral transmission across borders. Compounded by a fragmented healthcare system lacking universal coverage and adequate ICU capacity, analysts attribute the mounting death toll to this combination of erratic leadership, systemic fragmentation, and low public compliance in certain regions.

How to treat covid-19

In response to the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, scientists are repurposing existing antivirals like Remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine to target the viral replicase system while the World Health Organization launches a global megatrial to evaluate their efficacy. Although President Donald Trump championed hydroxychloroquine as an immediate solution, rigorous clinical data remains limited compared to laboratory findings, prompting the trial to seek evidence of marginal therapeutic benefits. This strategy aims to rapidly reduce hospital stays and alleviate health system strain while the definitive long-term vaccine solution continues to develop over the estimated 1.5 to 2 years.

How Africa could one day rival China

Ida, Emabet Tesfaye, Asifa Mengesha, Bashadou

Projections indicate Africa's population will reach 4.5 billion by 2100, yet studies suggest that expanding female education could peak and subsequently reduce this demographic while unlocking a 10% GDP boost through equal workforce participation. As Ethiopia leads industrialization via the Eastern Industry Zone and high-value horticulture, experts warn that diversifying into service sectors and modernizing agriculture with smart technologies are essential to overcome low productivity and chronic infrastructure deficits. Despite facing climate vulnerabilities and recent pandemic disruptions, the continent's transition toward democratic governance and strategic investment in energy and education positions it to become a primary global growth engine.

Covid-19: how bad will it be for the economy?

Philip Coggan

Global markets have plummeted due to the pandemic-induced collapse of commodity prices and a historic surge in unemployment, triggering the fastest bear market decline on record as investors rapidly devalued future profit projections. Governments worldwide have deployed over $2.2 trillion in fiscal relief to balance economic survival against strict lockdowns that aim to prevent a spike in mortality rates, even though models warn that prolonged restrictions could slash U.S. and Eurozone GDP by one-third. While early indicators from China suggest a V-shaped recovery is possible, economists caution that restoring global supply chains and achieving economic stability will require a slow, cautious approach as nations navigate the trade-off between public health and financial contraction.

Covid-19: more questions about coronavirus, answered

Ed Carr, Alok Jha, Edward Carr

Policymakers and economic analysts are addressing the severe trade-off between strict disease containment and deepening economic contraction, with US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin warning that unemployment could reach 20% without intervention. The event evaluates the likely L-shaped recession trajectory while examining how global aid, healthcare disparities, and the virus's seasonal mutation patterns will shape long-term recovery. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes the necessity of international cooperation to restore scientific trust and accelerate vaccine development within an 18-to-24-month window despite rising nationalistic trends.