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TED Talks Daily

Climate progress isn't a sprint — it's a marathon | Greg De Temmerman

TED Talks Daily

TED

Creativity, Ted Podcast, Ted Talks Daily, Business, Design, Inspiration, Society & Culture, Science, Technology, Education, Tech Demo, Ted Talks, Ted, Entertainment, Tedtalks

4.111.9K Ratings

🗓️ 22 January 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Fighting climate change is much like long-distance running: a complex journey filled with obstacles, fast-changing conditions and the need for constant adaptation. Drawing on his own experience as an ultramarathon runner, energy expert Greg de Temmerman charts a path for climate action that balances difficult choices and imperfect solutions with the need for urgent progress.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

It's a Sunweb holiday.

0:02.2

Hi there, we're Sunweb and we love ski holidays.

0:05.6

That feeling of cruising down beautiful slopes.

0:08.5

It's a feeling we want to share.

0:10.1

We want you to get the most out of your ski holiday.

0:12.9

That's why with Sunweb, your lift pass is always included, which saves you serious money.

0:18.5

That's money for a rounder drinks at the aprae, treating yourself at the spa,

0:22.2

or maybe to just put in your piggy bank. Discover how bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day.

0:45.0

I'm your host, Elise Hugh. Even if you're not a long-distance runner, you can picture it.

0:51.8

Ups and downs over many miles, running over challenging terrain.

0:57.6

And scientist Greg Detemmerman says this discipline serves as a strong metaphor for the battle against climate change.

1:04.8

In his 2024 talk, he lays out a path for climate action that's inspired by the lessons from endurance runners.

1:16.9

What do long-distance running and our fight against climate change have in common?

1:23.1

What does the fact of running very long distances across mountains, typically over 20 to 30 hours,

1:29.3

have anything to do with climate?

1:31.3

What quite a lot in turns out, they are both very complex and long affairs,

1:36.3

and both will mainly require you to deal with setbacks, trade-offs and compromises along the way

1:42.3

if you want to have a chance to see the finish line.

1:49.3

And I should know, because not only do I like that sport and I know how it sounds,

1:54.4

I also happen to be a physicist with a longstanding interesting complex issues like energy,

1:56.4

nuclear fusion or climate change.

2:01.3

When you prepare for a race and you look at the map, you have to go from start to finish.

...

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