Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice welcome Katharine Hayhoe back to StarTalk to discuss climate change solutions. "Because no one else is going to save us, we got to save ourselves and it ain't going to be the aliens."

Katharine Hayhoe's Background and the Nature Conservancy

Katharine Hayhoe's impressive background is highlighted: atmospheric scientist, professor of political science, director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech, and former chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy. She discusses her role at the Nature Conservancy and how climate change is a top priority for the organization, calling it "a threat multiplier...what stands between us and a better future."

Industry's Role in Climate Change

The conversation shifts to the role of industries in climate change. While acknowledging the significant contribution of corporations, Hayhoe emphasizes that "corporations are made up of people who have the same interest as we do." However, she also points out that the current system incentivizes short-sightedness, prioritizing short-term profits over long-term well-being. "We created the rules...and now we're gonna complain that they're doing what the sandbox was intended to do."

Individual vs. Systemic Change

Hayhoe stresses the importance of systemic change, arguing that individual actions alone, such as recycling and reducing personal carbon footprint, won't solve the problem. "Even if all of us who are worried did everything we could...that wouldn't even be twenty percent of the problem." However, she emphasizes that individual action is crucial for advocating for broader change: "Individual action is really the only way we have seen our industrialized society change in the past...through using our voices to advocate for change."

Economic Solutions

The discussion turns to economic solutions. Tyson brings up the example of the whaling industry's decline, suggesting that economic incentives are key to driving change. Hayhoe agrees, pointing out that solar energy is now cheaper than ever and that the economic argument for clean energy is already present. She highlights the significant fossil fuel subsidies, estimating that the US subsidizes fossil fuel use to the tune of "over 600 billion dollars, which exceeds the Pentagon's budget."

Cosmic Queries: Past Climate Change vs. Present

A listener question addresses the misconception that past climate changes negate the threat of current human-driven change. Hayhoe explains that the current warming is happening much faster than any time in human history and that the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere is unprecedented. "We are truly conducting an unprecedented experiment with the only home we have...the potential for some very nasty surprises increases with every single year that we don't turn this thing around."

Human Contribution to Global Warming

Hayhoe explains that humans are responsible for "more than a hundred percent of the observed warming" because natural factors should be causing cooling, not warming. She further details the increase in CO2 and methane levels in the atmosphere, using the analogy of smoking and lung damage to illustrate the impact. "We're giving Earth lung cancer."

Solutions: Nature-Based and Technological

Hayhoe discusses various solutions, including nature-based solutions like restoring ecosystems and improving farming practices, and technological solutions like direct air and water capture. She highlights the potential of turning captured carbon into liquid fuel, creating a carbon-neutral fuel source. "If you could take the carbon out of the atmosphere...and then when you re-burn it...you're creating essentially carbon-neutral fuel."

Addressing Lifestyle Changes and Greenwashing

A listener question focuses on the resistance to lifestyle changes and the issue of greenwashing. Hayhoe emphasizes the importance of focusing on real solutions, such as reducing waste and transitioning to clean energy. She also addresses the criticism that climate action messaging often focuses on sacrifice, suggesting a shift towards framing it as a positive and beneficial change. "The messaging...doesn't appeal to most people."

Katharine Hayhoe's Approach to Communication

The conversation touches upon Hayhoe's unique communication style, emphasizing her ability to connect with people and encourage action without resorting to scolding. She encourages listeners to use their unique skills and backgrounds to engage in conversations about climate change within their own communities. "The first most trusted messengers are people you know."

Food Waste and Factory Farming

A listener question addresses the paradox of food abundance alongside widespread hunger. Hayhoe points out that the problem isn't a lack of food but rather issues with distribution and waste. She also highlights the significant contribution of industrial agriculture to greenhouse gas emissions. "In high-income countries we waste 50% of the food that we produce."

The Future of Nuclear Power

The discussion explores the future of nuclear power as a clean energy source. Hayhoe discusses the challenges of traditional nuclear power plants and the potential of smaller, modular reactors. She emphasizes that a variety of solutions are needed, not just one silver bullet. "We don't need a silver bullet, we need silver buckshot."

Addressing Skepticism and the Eco-Modernist Movement

The final question addresses skepticism about climate change and the eco-modernist movement. Hayhoe counters the argument that progress for developing nations should take precedence over climate concerns, highlighting the inherent unfairness of such a perspective and the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations. "It is the most colonialistic and patronizing perspective that you could possibly imagine."

Conclusion

The show concludes with a powerful message from a climate scientist in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for resilience and action in the face of climate change. "Just as we will not surrender, we must not surrender to building a climate-resilient future as well."