Revisited: Weight of the world – the climate scientists who saw the crisis coming

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 January 2024

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Science Weekly revisits episode one of this 2023 mini-series from Full Story. Pioneering Australian scientists Graeme Pearman, Lesley Hughes and Ove Hoegh-Guldberg saw the climate crisis coming. Pearman predicted the increase of carbon dioxide levels, Hughes foresaw the alarming number of species extinctions and Hoegh-Guldberg forecast the mass coral bleaching events we’re seeing today. All three went on to become some of the country’s most respected experts in their fields, travelling the globe, briefing leaders, and assuming the world would take action having heard their alarming findings. In part one of this three-part series, these climate change scientists reveal the moment they realised the planet was heading for certain catastrophe. What did they do when they found out? How did they think the world would respond? And how do they feel today, looking back on that moment of cognisance?. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the Guardian.
0:05.0	Well, if you're not this wall through, you could open plan the living area.
0:11.0	So I'm thinking burnt oka paired with some terracotta times.
0:14.2	Very in season right now.
0:15.6	When it comes to making big decisions for how we improve our homes,
0:18.8	we rely on the advice of experts.
0:20.6	So shouldn't it be the same for the way we heat and power them at EDF
0:23.9	we're specialists in low-carbon technology for homes? We've installed thousands of
0:27.8	air source heat pumps solar panels and batteries across the country and we also
0:31.2	have useful content to help you make the right decision for your home.
0:34.6	Search EDF Energy.com slash Energy Specialist to find out more.
0:38.1	Hi, Ian here.
0:43.0	Science Weekly is having a Christmas break and so this week we're featuring a
0:47.8	mini-series from our Guardian Australia colleagues called Weight of the World.
0:52.0	Today's episode is all about the climate scientists who saw the crisis coming
0:57.0	and what it was like to sound the alarm when no one was listening.
1:01.0	I hope you enjoy it.
1:08.0	I often wonder, you know, where did I go wrong? Why didn't people respond? Is that my responsibility?
1:12.0	If you knew the world was heading for a crisis, what would you do?
1:17.0	The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has reached its highest level in at least 800,000...
1:22.0	Australia has lost more mammal species than any other continent.
1:25.2	We're seeing these mass bleaching events every few years.
	...

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