Stay ConnectedReversing Climate Change is a podcast about carbon removal and climatetech that keeps wandering off into literature, history, philosophy, theology, and geopolitics on the theory that the technical and scientific questions stop making much sense without them. Hosted by Ross Kenyon, who did not go past a year of political philosophy PhD coursework and has visibly not let it go.
Paid subscriptions live on Substack @ https://rosskenyon.com.
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Copyright: © Nori
12 years ago, Nori cofounder and CEO Paul Gambill was a College Republican. And while he wasn’t a climate denier, he didn’t think that humanity’s 1% contribution to global CO2 emissions was a big deal. And then he read Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars Trilogy and began to understand the outsized impact of our actions. Not only did the science fiction novels change Paul’s perspective on climate change, they inspired him to dedicate his life’s work to making it better.
American novelist Kim Stanley Robinson is one of the foremost living writers of science fiction. Many of his books explore how climate change will impact us in the coming decades, including the new release (and self-described mic drop moment) The Ministry for the Future. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Stan joins Ross and Paul to discuss how science fiction can help us make better decisions and share his perspective on the politics of the genre.
Stan explains why central banks play such a prominent role in his most recent work, introducing us to the financial system he imagines in his future history novels and sharing his ‘creeping reformist’ approach to building an economy around carbon removal. Listen in for Stan’s insight on why cryptocurrency is featured in his new book and learn how carbon sequestration might work within the framework of modern monetary theory.
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There are so many things referenced in this show. When Anchor ups its character limit for show descriptions we will go back and add them all. Here's a curated list:
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures by Mark Fisher
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by John Clute and Peter Nicholls
Delton Chen’s Carbon Coin Plan
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e51-kim-stanley-robinson-chats-4bc
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
There is a new pattern emerging in humanity’s long, complicated relationship with nature. Namely, we’re at a point where the problems we’ve caused by intervening in our environment require interventions of their own. But in a world where we can’t fully anticipate the impact of our actions, should we be optimistic about using new technology to solve crises created by the old?
Elizabeth Kolbert is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction. Her latest book is called Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Elizabeth joins Ross and Christophe to explain how a reporting trip to see a super coral project inspired Under a White Sky and describe how the book is structured on a continuum—from small, regional interventions to more controversial, global strategies for solving the problems we’ve caused.
Elizabeth walks us through several of the interventions introduced in the book, including an electrified river in Chicago, efforts to gene edit toxic cane toads, and a promising coral sex engineering project. Listen in for Elizabeth’s insight on the ethical concerns associated with interventions like CRISPR technology and solar radiation management and learn how she thinks about doubling down on our efforts to control the natural world.
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Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
Dr. Klaus Lackner at the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa
David Remnick and Harry Finder on Reversing Climate Change S2EP37
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e50-under-a-white-sky-elizabeth-777
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
Making art about climate is useful in that it reaches a part of the brain that science does not. And climate fiction as a genre gives us a way to get the climate conversation started. Better yet, cli-fi that focuses on solutions might actually help us find a way forward.
Tory Stephens is the New England Network Weaver at Fix, the Grist Solutions Lab. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Tory joins Ross and cohost Jess Miles to discuss the launch of his team’s new climate fiction contest, Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors and explain what differentiates his team’s writing contest from others of its kind.
Tory offers insight around climate fiction and the subgenres of solarpunk and hopepunk, challenging writers to create intersectional, solutions-focused work. Listen in for an overview of Imagine 2200’s submission guidelines and learn how fiction might offer a pathway out of the climate crisis.
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Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors
‘We’re Launching a Fiction Contest’ on Grist
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
‘Hopepunk, the Latest Storytelling Trend, Is All About Weaponized Optimism’ in Vox
Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor
A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/grists-intersectional-climate-fiction-d07
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
In modern society, we’re conditioned to believe that acquiring more stuff makes our lives better. But what if getting back to basics leads to a richer life? What if consuming less and connecting with nature more opens us up to what really matters?
Markus Torgeby is the author of Under the Open Skies: Finding Peace and Health in Nature. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Markus joins Ross to explain how he came to live alone in the forest of Northern Sweden and describe how stripping life down to the basic needs helped him identify what was truly important and heal from trauma.
Markus shares his take on technology, discussing how to gauge how much screen time is right for you (and help your kids do the same). Listen in for insight on living a richer life by consuming less and get Markus’ advice on taking small steps to build your own deep relationship with nature.
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Under the Open Skies: Finding Peace and Health in Nature by Markus Torgeby and Frida Torgeby
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e49-at-the-feet-of-a-modern-hermitw-758
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
Did you know that Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citi are among the biggest funders of fossil fuel projects in the world? Would you rather leverage your money to fight climate change? What if you could move your money to an entity that builds its lending portfolio around things like clean energy, regenerative agriculture, and direct air capture?
Ravi Mikkelsen is the Cofounder of ATMOS Financial, a digital banking solution dedicated to funding a rapid transition to the clean economy. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Ravi joins Ross to discuss the growing cohort of impact companies at the intersection of climate and FinTech and explain how neobanks like ATMOS fit into the ecosystem.
Ravi shares the market research around why consumers choose a bank, challenging us to consider what kinds of projects our financial institution funds and how big banks might transition their lending portfolios away from fossil fuels. Listen in for insight around the benefits of banking with ATMOS and find out why you don’t have to sacrifice user experience or pay more to do the right thing. George Bailey for the win!
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Email ravi@joinatmos.com
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/climate-fintech-neobanks-and-banking-85b
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
The climate conversation is riddled with ideological battles. There are those who think climate change is the most pressing issue of our time pitted against those who don’t think it’s a big deal (if it’s even real). There are fights over ecological versus industrial forms of carbon removal. And there are those who believe that climate change can be reversed, while others have little hope that humanity will stick the landing. So, how do we move past these absolutist views and inspire action to solve the problem?
Jeffrey Howard is the Editor-in-Chief at Erraticus and the host of theDamn the Absolute! podcast. Both platforms take a pragmatic approach to ideas, challenging dogma, fundamentalism and ideological hubris. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Jeffrey joins Ross to introduce the principles of pragmatism as a discrete philosophical school of thought, describing the intellectual context from which it emerged and how the philosophy seeks to reconcile the competing camps of Rationalism and Empiricism.
Jeffrey explores how a pragmatic approach might break logjams in the climate conversation, explaining how pragmatists balance building an inclusive community of inquirers with taking action to solve problems in the real world. Listen in to understand how a pragmatist thinks about a climate solution like carbon capture and learn how pragmatism addresses our lived challenges, encouraging us to hold our views with humility as we work to improve life for all people.
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Too many things referenced for this episode! Will fix this in the future. In the meantime, here is a truncated portion:
Sick Souls, Healthy Minds: How William James Can Save Your Life by John Kaag
Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking by William James
Subsistence Agriculture in the US: Reconnecting to Work, Nature and Community by Ashley Colby
On Richard Rorty on Damn the Absolute! EP001
Toward a Politics of Uncertainty on Damn the Absolute! EP002
David O’Hara on Damn the Absolute! EP007
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e48-damn-the-absolute-on-pragmatism-df7
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
What does it mean to be a witnessing professional in the climate crisis?
What responsibility do scientists, doctors, journalists, lawyers, military officers and public health officials have to speak out and share their message of truth with the world? How does the religious concept of bearing witness translate to this secular context? And what can you and I do to become constructive witnesses for climate change?
Dr. Evan Kuehn is an Assistant Professor of Informational Literacy at North Park University and the author of Troeltsch’s Eschatological Absoluteand Theology Compromised: Schleiermacher, Troeltsch, and the Possibility of a Sociological Theology. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Dr. Kuehn joins Ross to discuss the recent Dædalus issue on Witnessing Climate Change, describing what it means to be a witness, how the concept shifts from a sacred to a secular context, and what risks are associated with witnessing in public as a professional.
Dr. Kuehn explores Robert Socolow’s idea of witnessing for the middle to depolarize the climate conversation, explaining what it looks like to engage in situational ethics and sharing how he deals with extreme views and guillotine memes. Listen in for Dr. Kuehn’s insight around the Jewish tradition of preserving social criticism and learn what you can do to be a middle builder and serve as a constructive witness for climate change.
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There are so many things referenced in this episode and not much space to add them all here unfortunately. If Anchor ups their character cap we will add them all back in.
N.B. Ross couldn't remember at the time of recording which scholar provided that insight about Jewish scripture preserving social criticism in this episode, but is pretty sure it came from Amy-Jill Levine, and most likely her Great Courses lecture series on the Old Testament.
Dr. Evan Kuehn on Reversing Climate Change Bonus Episode
We’re Doomed. Now What? Essays on War and Climate Change by Roy Scranton
‘What is the Social Responsibility of Climate Scientists?’ by Naomi Oreskes
‘Witnessing for the Middle to Depolarize the Climate Change Conversation’ by Robert H. Socolow
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e47-being-a-witness-to-climate-ef2
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
How do you restore an entire ecosystem at scale? Eroded desertified landscapes: can they be healed?
Journalist, filmmaker, and environmental educator John D. Liu is the Ecosystem Ambassador for the Commonland Foundation and Founder of the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Movement. He is best-known for his documentaries on the restoration of the Loess Plateau, like Hope in a Changing Climateand Green Gold. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, John joins Ross to explain how human activity caused the degradation of the Loess Plateau, describing how it went from being one of the most beautiful places on Earth to a barren landscape where the poorest Chinese people lived.
John discusses what made the Loess Plateau restoration so successful, offering insight around how the Chinese government engaged the people there and how the project design balances functional space for agriculture with land dedicated to natural regeneration. Listen in to understand how John thinks about restoring inherently complex ecosystems and learn how you can get involved in John’s work to transform our economy and facilitate ecosystem restoration all over the world.
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Resources:
‘The Holy Grail of Restoration: Mending the Sinai Peninsula’ in Kosmos Journal
The Great Work of Our Time Documentary on Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration
World Bank Story on the Loess Plateau Restoration
International Union for the Conservation of Nature
University of the West of England
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e46-ecosystem-restoration-on-a-c77
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
Much of agriculture depends upon synthetic fertilizer. But the production of that fertilizer is responsible for 3% of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why innovators in the emerging field of synthetic biology are attempting to disrupt the status quo in agriculture and engineer new ways for growers to achieve the same yields with less fertilizer—and less environmental impact.
Mike Miille is the CEO of Joyn Bio, a biotech company that is using synthetic biology to try to make agriculture more sustainable. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Mike joins Ross and Rebekah to explain how his team is engineering microbes to address unmet needs in agriculture and what differentiates synthetic biology from classical breeding or GMOs.
Mike introduces us to Joyn Bio’s work in designing nitrogen-fixing corn (the potential holy grail), responding to the argument that our system of monoculture isn’t worth saving and the concerns around scaling innovations in synthetic biology. Listen in to understand how Mike thinks about the unknowns of designing new organisms and learn about the other potentially game-changing advancements in ag that Mike’s team is working on right now.
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This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e45-synthetic-biology-and-the-holy-bac
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
We have destroyed or severely disrupted many of the perennial ecosystems that were here in favor of annual crops. Crops that require the use of herbicide and mulch year after year until, eventually, the soil is depleted and we move on. So, how can we use the design principles of permaculture to restore the ecology of the planet, provide ourselves with all the food, fuels and fibers we need, and make money while we’re at it? And at scale no less!
Agroforestry farmer and permaculturist Mark Shepard is the CEO of Forest Agriculture Enterprises, Founder of Restoration Agriculture Development, and award-winning author of Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers. On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Mark joins Ross and Christophe to share his understanding of permaculture, explaining how he applies its principles in a way that allows for scale and designs practical systems around the individual farmer’s machinery.
Mark introduces us to his idea of STUN agriculture (Strategic Total Utter Neglect), describing how nature solves every problem farmers have—at no cost and with very little effort. Listen in for insight on where science falls short in supporting the transition to restoration agriculture and learn how we can leverage permaculture to build economies around ecologically-designed systems.
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Resources
Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers by Mark Shepard
Water for Any Farm by Mark Shepard
Forest Agriculture Enterprises
Restoration and Agriculture Development
Tree Crops: A Permanent Agriculture by J. Russell Smith
The One-Straw Revolution: An Introduction to Natural Farming by Masanobu Fukuoka
Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit by Andrew Moore
Resources
This episode's page on the web: https://www.rosskenyon.com/p/s2e44-can-permaculture-scalew-mark-141
Subscribe to the Reversing Climate Change Substack: https://www.rosskenyon.com/subscribe
Books from the show, at Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/reversing-climate-change
My other show, Climate Workers Anonymous: https://www.climateworkersanonymous.com
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