Saving the World From Bad Ideas

• We need nuclear weapons to stop nuclear war.

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this urgent and wide-ranging conversation, Mark Lynas is joined by leading climate scientist and nuclear winter expert Alan Robock to confront one of the most dangerous myths of our time: that nuclear weapons keep us safe.Alan lays out why deterrence is a flawed and suicidal strategy, how even a "limited" nuclear war would trigger global famine and societal collapse, and why the existence of nuclear weapons means their eventual use is a matter of when, not if. They also discuss the atmospheric science of nuclear winter, parallels to the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, the threats posed by solar geoengineering, and why total nuclear abolition is not only possible — but urgently necessary.This is a masterclass in existential risk — and why we ignore it at our peril.🧠 Topics Discussed:🚫 Why nuclear deterrence is a myth — and how luck has saved us so far☠️ Nuclear winter: how cities burning would darken and freeze the planet🌾 Nuclear famine: why over a billion people could starve even after a "small" war🔥 From Hiroshima to today: how firestorms drive catastrophic global cooling🌍 The Southern Hemisphere’s relative survival — and why it’s not so simple✊ The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and ICAN’s Nobel Peace Prize🛰️ How volcanic eruptions and wildfire smoke prove the nuclear winter theory🦖 What the dinosaurs can teach us about the end of the world🛑 Geoengineering: why "climate intervention" may be as dangerous as the problem💬 Why humanity must choose: the end of nuclear weapons or the end of us👽 The Drake equation, Fermi paradox — and why advanced civilizations may self-destruct👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:Alan Robock is a Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences at Rutgers University. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on nuclear winter, climate modeling, and the atmospheric consequences of both nuclear war and geoengineering. Alan is a veteran campaigner for nuclear disarmament and an award-winning researcher committed to educating the world about the existential threats we face.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Earth in Flames: Nuclear Winter and How to Prevent It – Alan Robock & Brian Toon (out June 2025)Nature Food (2022) – Global famine after nuclear war paperICAN – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear WeaponsTreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (UN)The Open Philanthropy ProjectFuture of Life Institute💬 Quote Highlights:“Deterrence only works if you’re willing to commit suicide. That’s not a strategy — that’s madness.” — Alan Robock“Nuclear winter is not a theory from the 1980s. It’s physics. Block the sun, and the planet freezes.” — Alan Robock“Even a limited nuclear war could kill two billion people by famine alone.” — Alan Robock“You can dismantle nuclear weapons. We had 70,000 once. Now we have 12,000. We can go to zero.” — Alan Robock“The existence of nuclear weapons guarantees their eventual use — unless we abolish them.” — Alan Robock

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  1:01:39
• We Can't co-exist with wolves

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this compelling conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with world-renowned conservation biologist Luigi Boitani to tackle one of the most polarizing debates in wildlife conservation: whether humans and wolves can truly coexist.Luigi, who has spent over five decades studying wolves across Europe and North America, explains why the return of the wolf is not an ecological anomaly — but a natural recovery. Together, they explore the myths that surround wolves, the emotional bonds humans have forged with them, and the hard compromises needed for real coexistence. From debunking the Yellowstone "miracle" story to examining the politics of wolf conservation across Europe, this episode goes far beyond fairy tales to face the real challenges — and opportunities — of living alongside large carnivores again.🧠 Topics Discussed:🐺 What really defines "wolf habitat" — and why wolves don't need wilderness🌍 How wolves recolonized Europe without reintroductions❤️ Why humans have a deep emotional connection to wolves — and always have📉 Debunking the Yellowstone 'trophic cascade' myth🔀 The true meaning of coexistence — and why compromise is essential🚫 Why political myths about wolves are driving bad policy across Europe🏞️ Why rewilding efforts in places like the UK are emotionally compelling — but complicated🐑 Conflict with livestock: guarding dogs, electric fences, and the limits of compensation🧬 The risks of wolf population fragmentation from border fences👥 How science can inform, but not replace, political decisions👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:Professor Luigi Boitani is Professor Emeritus of Conservation Biology at the University of Rome Sapienza and Chair of the Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (IUCN SSC). He is one of the world's leading experts on wolf conservation, human-wildlife coexistence, and large carnivore management. His research has shaped European policy and global understanding of large predator recovery.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe — IUCN Specialist GroupYellowstone Wolves — book referenced by Luigi BoitaniIUCN Guidelines on Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence💬 Quote Highlights:“The best definition of wolf habitat is anywhere there's something to eat — and where you’re not shot.” — Luigi Boitani“Be honest: the real reason we want wolves back is because we love them, not because of ecosystem services.” — Luigi Boitani“Coexistence means compromise. Without it, we’re just dreaming.” — Luigi Boitani“Even today, most human cultures feel the charisma of the wolf — and build it into their myths and beliefs.” — Luigi Boitani“The Yellowstone story is beautiful, but even the scientists admit: we don’t really know what’s going on.” — Luigi Boitani🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement advancing bold, evidence-based solutions for climate, nature, and human development. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Feedback or thoughts? Email: [email protected]📬 Subscribe for updates: weplanet.org/podcast🐦 Follow us on Twitter/X: @WePlanetOrg

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  51:49
• We can still save the arctic.

  🔍 Episode Summary:What if the bad idea… is thinking we can still save the Arctic?In this sobering but illuminating conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with renowned polar climate scientist Julienne Stroeve to explore one of the most consequential but misunderstood climate tipping points: the melting of the Arctic.Together, they unpack the science behind sea ice loss, permafrost thaw, Greenland melt, and the feedback loops that could push the climate system toward runaway warming. Julienne, who has spent decades conducting fieldwork and analysing satellite data, explains why the idea that we can still "save" the Arctic is, sadly, a myth — and what that means for global sea level rise, extreme weather, and the fate of species like polar bears.From icebreaker expeditions to geoengineering schemes, this episode takes you to the frontlines of a rapidly disappearing world.🧠 Topics Discussed:🧊 Why the Arctic sea ice is already committed to disappearing in summer📉 The science behind Greenland’s melt — and how fast it’s accelerating🌊 Sea level rise: how much, how soon, and where it hits hardest🐻 Polar bears, permafrost, and the myth of adaptation💣 The risk of tipping points and feedback loops (albedo, methane, etc.)❄️ What past interglacial periods tell us about a future without Arctic ice🌍 Why what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic🌀 Jet streams, polar vortexes, and extreme weather in a warming world🧪 Geoengineering: what might work, what probably won’t🛰️ The role of satellites and field data in improving climate models🇺🇸 The growing threat of political interference with science in the US👩‍🔬 Guest Bio:Dr. Julienne Stroeve is a polar climate scientist and professor currently affiliated with the University of Manitoba and University College London. Her work focuses on satellite remote sensing, Arctic sea ice, climate modeling, and the impacts of climate change on polar systems. She has participated in numerous field expeditions, including the landmark MOSAiC expedition, and is one of the world’s leading experts on Arctic cryosphere dynamics.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Why the Arctic Is Already Lost – Science commentary by Julienne Stroeve (via Science.org)MOSAiC Expedition Overview – AWINSIDC – National Snow and Ice Data CenterNASA Earth Observatory – Arctic Sea IceArctic Report Card – NOAAArticle: Why Geoengineering the Arctic is a Bad Idea – The Conversation💬 Quote Highlights:“The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average.” – Julienne Stroeve“The idea that we can still save the Arctic is a bad one. It’s already on a committed trajectory of decline.” — Julienne Stroeve“What happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. It reshapes weather patterns across the globe.” — Julienne Stroeve“Greenland is now the largest contributor to sea level rise — and that contribution is accelerating.” — Julienne Stroeve“At 2.7 degrees of global warming, parts of the world will become uninhabitable.” — Julienne Stroeve“I used to be hopeful. But now? I think we’ll wait for disaster — and then act.” — Julienne Stroeve🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement advancing bold, evidence-based solutions for climate, nature, and human development. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Feedback or thoughts? Email: [email protected] 📬 Subscribe for updates: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:04:20
• Progress is inevitable.

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this powerhouse episode, Mark Lynas is joined by long-time friend and environmental journalist George Monbiot for a brutally honest conversation on where we are — and how we fight back. Together they challenge the idea that environmental progress is automatic or guaranteed, and instead delve into the deep political, economic, and social forces that shape our chances for a better future.Monbiot argues that unless we confront power, capitalism, and the failure of incrementalism, we’re simply sleepwalking into authoritarianism and ecological collapse. From colonialism to neoliberalism, from fascism to the failures of the left, this is a sweeping conversation on what went wrong — and how we can make things right, through a positive politics of belonging.This one pulls no punches.🧠 Topics Discussed:🏛️ Why environmentalism fails without confronting power🛑 The myth of inevitable progress — and how it can be reversed⚡ Technology is not enough: the limits of "techno-fix" thinking💰 A crash course in the real origins of capitalism📉 Why incremental change is a losing strategy📢 What neoliberalism really is — and how it disempowers citizens🧱 Private sufficiency, public luxury: a new vision for the future🧠 Why the left keeps losing — and what must change🎯 Popper’s paradox, politics of belonging, and how to counter fascism📲 How social media is supercharging authoritarianism😤 Can we still win? Yes — but only if we act boldly👨‍🏫 Guest Bio:George Monbiot is a columnist for The Guardian, environmental activist, and author of several books including Regenesis, Out of the Wreckage, and The Invisible Doctrine (with Peter Hutchison). He’s one of the most influential and outspoken voices on the British left — and he’s spent four decades fighting for ecological justice, democratic reform, and systemic change.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:The Invisible Doctrine – George Monbiot & Peter HutchisonRegenesis – George MonbiotOut of the Wreckage – George MonbiotThe Road to Serfdom – Friedrich HayekLand for the Many – Report edited by George MonbiotOur podcast episode with Hannah Ritchie – Why the World Isn’t Ending💬 Quote Highlights:“Progress is not inevitable. And if you don’t confront power, you lose — every time.” — George Monbiot“Capitalism didn’t start with commerce. It started with slavery and extraction.” — George Monbiot“If we fail to offer a positive politics of belonging, the fascists will offer a negative one — and people will choose it.” — George Monbiot“Incrementalism is not a theory of change. It’s an excuse for failure.” — George Monbiot“We need a politics of private sufficiency, public luxury.” — George Monbiot🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement advocating for bold, science-based solutions to the world’s greatest challenges. We fight bad ideas with better ones. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Got thoughts on this episode? Email us: [email protected] 📬 Subscribe for future episodes: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:01:57
• The global south can skip fossil fuels.

  🔍 Episode Summary:In this searing and deeply compelling conversation, Mark Lynas speaks with Vijaya Ramachandran, economist and Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute, to unpack what she calls one of the worst “bad ideas” shaping today’s climate discourse: the blanket opposition to fossil fuel development in the Global South.From indoor air pollution to energy inequality, and from misguided climate justice campaigns to blatant geopolitical hypocrisy, Vijaya takes aim at the idea that development must be sacrificed for the climate. She explains why poor countries need more energy — including some fossil fuels — in order to fight poverty, save lives, and build resilience to climate shocks.If you think climate justice means banning gas in Africa, you might want to listen to this first.🧠 Topics Discussed:🔥 Why LPG (liquified petroleum gas) is clean cooking, not dirty energy🫁 3.8 million deaths a year from household air pollution🌲 How clean fossil fuels can save forests and reduce emissions🧮 The carbon math: Germany’s LNG expansion vs all of Africa’s LPG🤯 The World Bank’s fossil fuel financing ban — who it really affects💸 Hypocrisy in action: Norway, Germany, and the United States⚖️ Why energy inequality is a moral and not just technical issue🧱 Fossil fuels for fertiliser, cement, steel, and climate adaptation🚫 The limits of leapfrogging: why renewables alone aren’t enough🧬 What real climate justice would look like for developing nations🌍 Could “green colonialism” break the Paris climate consensus?👩‍🏫 Guest Bio:Vijaya Ramachandran is Director for Energy and Development at the Breakthrough Institute and an economist who has written for Nature, Foreign Policy, and The Economist. Her research focuses on energy access, development, and the geopolitics of climate finance. She's a fierce advocate for energy equity and pragmatic climate solutions rooted in the needs of the world’s poorest.📚 Recommended Reading & Resources:Foreign Policy – The Green Colonialism Essay by Vijaya RamachandranHow the West Is Pushing Africa Away from Gas – Breakthrough InstituteWhy LPG Is Good for the Climate – WePlanet article by Mark LynasOur World in Data – Energy AccessIEA Clean Cooking Investment TrackerEnergy for Growth HubWorld Bank report on Indoor Air Pollution💬 Quote Highlights:“LPG saves lives. It’s better for women, better for children, and even better for the climate when you look at the alternatives.” — Vijaya Ramachandran“You can’t cook with wind and solar. That’s the reality for hundreds of millions of people.” — Vijaya Ramachandran“The World Bank’s fossil fuel financing ban only hurts the poorest — and it won’t solve climate change.” — Mark Lynas“Climate justice has become what Western NGOs want, not what poor people actually need.” — Vijaya Ramachandran🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a global citizen and science movement dedicated to bold, science-based solutions for climate and development. We believe in energy abundance, food security, and global prosperity — without environmental collapse. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Email feedback: [email protected] 📬 Sign up for updates: weplanet.org/podcast

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  1:02:25

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