Outrage + Optimism / Special Series
Coronavirus and Climate Change
The COVID-19 crisis exposed how poor preparation creates deep fault lines in the face of profound shocks. With the far larger climate crisis looming, Outrage + Optimism examined the spiritual, economic, social, scientific and health considerations for emerging stronger and more resilient in recovering from the pandemic.
About this series
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on public health and has re-shaped not only our work life, but our societies, even precipitating political shifts. The impact of closing borders and re- wiring economies to accommodate the health crisis will be felt for at least the next decade, as public recovery finance floods the global economy in eye-watering figures we will not likely see again in our lifetime.
The pandemic’s effects will no doubt merit analysis for years ahead. It laid bare how deeply interconnected the human family truly is and exposed the tragedy that some groups among us are disproportionately vulnerable and suffer more than others. It is no surprise that during global lockdown, the pervasive undercurrent of inequality came to the fore, including persistent racial injustice, reflecting that the historical pains through which racial, economic, age and gender inequities came into being have yet to be healed.
In any challenge we must find the opportunities to build forward. For those of us who were spared the direct health impacts of the Coronavirus crisis, two silver linings became evident. Firstly, we were awed by the speed and solidarity with which people can change their lives in response to expert advice. This augurs well for our capacity to respond to the scientific demand that global emissions be cut in half by 2030. Secondly, we witnessed just how quickly nature is capable of regenerating when pollution is halted. Abundance, clean air and fresh water provided inspiration for considering the new economic models consistent with tackling climate change in a new light and made us feel ever more determined to transform energy, transportation, finance and more.
This mini-series on Coronavirus and Climate Change is a real time assessment of how the COVID-19 crisis unfolded. Outrage + Optimism investigated the spiritual, economic, social, scientific and health considerations of the pandemic with a view to energising our listeners to understand how to face the far larger climate crisis that looms ahead. Enjoy hearing from the people leading the charge in defining what’s changing and what we must do to emerge even stronger and more resilient.
49: The Third Mass Bleaching Event with Emma Johnston (COVID and Climate #5)
24 April 2020
This week we celebrate Earth Day with a return cameo from High Level Climate Action Champion, Nigel Topping.
48: It's a GZERO World with Ian Bremmer (COVID and Climate #4)
17 April 2020
There’s a leadership vacuum in the world, and Ian Bremmer, creator of the term “GZERO” has been telling us for years.
47: Solidarity and Self-Interest with Professor Joseph Stiglitz (COVID and Climate #3)
10 April 2020
Tom, Christiana, and Paul are back together (in their separate homes) and we continue our series, searching for how to emerge from the COVID-19 Pandemic better prepared to combat the climate crisis!
46: Corona and Climate (2): Let's Get Ethical with Dr. Fatih Birol
03 April 2020
Week 2 of our series on emerging stronger and better equipped from the coronavirus is here!
45: Corona and Climate (1): Coming Back Stronger with the Teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh
27 March 2020
We’re doing something new! This is the first episode on a multiple week journey to discover how we can come back from the crisis of COVID-19 better and stronger in our fight against climate change.
44: Caring in the Times of Corona
20 March 2020
As the news rolls in everyday from COVID-19, we take a pause to reflect on this past week.
