Wednesday 15 January 2025
Climate Change
Speaker: Prof Kevin Anderson
From the beginning, Professor Anderson showed he was a man on a mission. Known for his contributions to the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, BlueSky Social, and Climate Uncensored, his passion for presenting the stark truths about climate change was unmistakable
He began by framing the evening as a 'Red Pill' presentation, invoking the Matrix in which taking a red pill provides a means to confront the harsh truths of reality rather than spending life in a world of comforting illusions.
His mission was to dismantle any ignorance about the climate crisis, using a wealth of data, quotes, and analysis. Fanciful notions, whether they be alt-right hoaxes or moderate beliefs in painless solutions, were also systematically debunked.
What matters most to Professor Anderson are the ever-quickening rates of climate change and the speed at which we are approaching a raft of tipping points. At current rates of Global emissions, we have just four years of our carbon budget left to limit warming to 1.5°C, and 14 years for a 2°C cap.
Achieving even the 2°C target demands annual emission reductions akin to those seen during the COVID-19 lockdown – an immense challenge. While the 2015 Paris Agreement establishes the political framework for our policies, the science makes clear that wealthy nations must eliminate the use of fossil fuels entirely in under a decade to meet our 1.5°C commitment and by 2040 if we're to make our fair contribution to staying 'well below 2°C.'
Kevin warned that inaction will disproportionately harm developing nations, while the wealthy seek to insulate themselves from the realities of climate change. He pointed to how responsibility for emissions is highly skewed to a relative few in society.
The lifestyles of the top 10% of emitters give rise to half of all global emissions. More worryingly, the top 1% have a collective carbon footprint that is twice as big as the bottom half of the world's population. Sadly, policies continue to be designed to protect the privilege of the wealthy high emitters, while ignoring the harm their lifestyles cause to others far less fortunate.
What was Kevin's solution? Nothing short of a 'Marshall Plan on steroids,' involving, for example, a technical and social revolution, the widespread building of passive housing, retrofitting existing buildings, vastly improved public transport, and more equitable access to sustainable energy. All of this, he noted, required a fundamental reallocation of society's productive and capacity, with labour and resources shifted from furnishing the private luxuries of high-emitting individuals and towards the rapid decarbonisation of our physical infrastructure.
Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will
The talk's subtitle, "Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will," echoed Antonio Gramsci's ideas. Kevin guided us through the realm of pessimism – laying bare the grim truths – before offering some long-anticipated optimism through action. Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony, where power is maintained by shaping societal norms, was tied to the need for grassroots action. Kevin stressed the importance of challenging entrenched systems through collective effort from the grassroots upwards, warning that without radical change, violent upheaval will follow.
Ultimately, he left us with a call to action: we need to embrace agency, set examples, have positive conversations with friends and neighbours, demand change, and push leaders – who have been slow to confront reality. He suggested that if we write frequently, and in large numbers to our MPs, they will eventually worry about their majorities enough to reach for the red pills.
Kevin finished with a flourish of rousing statements: it's too late for half-measures; the future depends on a velvet revolution of will and action. The only hope is for us, collectively – personally and politically – to act and drive the change that is so badly needed.
Questions
After that, the questions came thick and fast. Kevin's answers were fascinating. He considered carbon offsetting to be rather like the medieval priests' sale of indulgences.
One of the most frightening tipping points could be the collapse of the AMOC (Atlantic meridional overturning circulation). If that happens, we in Northern Europe would experience unimaginable freezing cold extended winters, for example.
He acknowledged the success of groups like Extinction Rebellion in highlighting the issues, but that it was now time for the rest of to stand up and be counted: we need to be engaged citizens – collaboration is better than competition.
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Many thanks to Roger Gill for this report
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