Why This Climate Activist Is Partnering With Billionaires To Save The Planet

Key Concepts:

• Planetary Boundaries: Nine boundaries defining the safe operating space for humanity.
• Intersectional Systems Thinking: Approaching problems by considering interconnected factors.
• AI in Climate Action: Utilizing artificial intelligence for climate modeling, waste management, and early warning systems.
• Climate Polarization: The division of opinions on climate change, particularly high in the United States.
• Systemic Solutions: Holistic approaches addressing the root causes of climate change.
• Intergenerational Collaboration: Cooperation between different generations to solve the climate crisis.

1. Planetary Boundaries and Richard Branson Collaboration

• Jier Bastida discusses her work with Richard Branson on planetary boundary science.
• Planetary boundary science involves measuring the health of the planet across nine boundaries, including ocean biodiversity, CO2 emissions, and phosphorus levels.
• Seven of the nine planetary boundaries have been breached, indicating that we are outside the safe operating zone.
• The initiative aims to bring together experts as ambassadors to raise awareness about the issue and bring the world back into the safe operating zone.
• The group includes figures like Jeno, Sylvia Earl, David Suzuki, former presidents Juan Manuel Santos and Mary Robinson, and former head of the IMF.
• The goal is to agree on the health of the planet as a baseline for thriving, not just surviving.
• Bastida emphasizes the importance of changing the narrative in science to be more intersectional and focused on systems.

2. AI and Environmental Opportunities

• AI presents both challenges (energy consumption) and opportunities for environmental work.
• AI can be used for waste management, climate modeling, and early warning systems.
• Example: AI could have provided early warnings for the Pakistan floods, potentially reducing displacement.
• AI should not be powered by new fossil fuel infrastructure.
• Companies with net-zero targets are reconsidering them due to AI's energy demands.
• The pattern recognition power of AI can be valuable for climate goals.
• Balancing AI's potential with its energy use is crucial for climate conversations.

3. Climate Polarization and Solutions

• The United States has a high climate polarization rate (45%), hindering progress.
• Other countries have much lower polarization rates (5-6%).
• Climate is interconnected with everything (food, clothing, energy, etc.).
• A systemic, holistic approach is needed to address climate change.
• Band-aid solutions, like building walls for flooding, can displace problems to other communities (e.g., New York City displacing water to East Harlem).
• True systemic solutions are necessary.

4. Intergenerational Collaboration and Systemic Change

• Bastida emphasizes the need for an intergenerational cooperative movement.
• Radical collaboration is essential to solve the climate crisis.
• The younger generation is sounding the alarm for systemic change.
• Example: Jakarta's rising sea levels are forcing Indonesia to consider moving its capital.
• Example: Pacific Island nations may become digital nations due to rising sea levels.

5. Notable Quotes

• "We need to agree on the health of the planet. We need to agree what the baseline is and that we have to come into a place where we can thrive, not just survive as humans, but thrive." - Jier Bastida
• "Climate is everything that we eat, everything that we wear, how we move, what we see, like how we turn on our lights and turn them off. It's everything." - Jier Bastida

6. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Planetary Boundaries: Scientific framework outlining the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate.
• Net-Zero Targets: Commitments to balance greenhouse gas emissions with removals.
• Climate Modeling: Using computer simulations to predict future climate conditions.
• Systemic Change: Fundamental shifts in systems and structures to address root causes.
• Intersectional: Recognizing the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

7. Logical Connections

• The discussion moves from planetary boundaries to AI, highlighting the interconnectedness of environmental issues and technological solutions.
• The conversation then shifts to climate polarization, emphasizing the need for collaboration and systemic change.
• The examples of Jakarta and Pacific Island nations illustrate the urgency of addressing climate change with holistic solutions.

8. Data and Statistics

• Seven of nine planetary boundaries have been breached.
• Climate polarization in the United States is 45%.
• Climate polarization in other countries is 5-6%.
• The Pakistan floods displaced 30 million people.

9. Synthesis/Conclusion

The interview with Jier Bastida underscores the urgency of addressing climate change through a combination of scientific understanding (planetary boundaries), technological innovation (AI), collaborative action (intergenerational cooperation), and systemic solutions. Overcoming climate polarization and embracing intersectional thinking are crucial for creating a sustainable future where both humans and the planet can thrive.