Inside the mind of a climate change scientist | Corinne Le Quéré | TEDxWarwick

Summary

In this engaging talk, the speaker humorously shares their personal journey with climate science, from the discovery of an anomaly in Southern Ocean CO2 levels to the realization of human-induced global warming. They candidly discuss their moments of doubt and anxiety, yet remain hopeful about the future, urging listeners to take personal action on climate change. The speaker emphasizes the importance of individual choices and actions, from recycling to reducing meat consumption, as a collective force for change.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The speaker shares a story about finding an anomaly in carbon cycle data in the Southern Ocean, challenging expectations of rising CO2 levels.
• 🌍 Despite the overwhelming evidence of climate change, including rising global temperatures and melting ice, the speaker admits to occasional doubts, but each time reconfirms the science.
• 📊 The speaker emphasizes that all climate models show human activities as the primary cause of the current warming trend, dismissing other explanations.
• 😂 The speaker uses humor to highlight their passion for science, such as when they dramatically proclaimed 'the end of the world is coming' after finding an anomaly.
• 🧊 A memorable moment involves sharing 100,000-year-old ice with family, breathing in ancient air, and using it for a gin and tonic—a symbolic connection to climate history.
• 🏛️ The speaker recalls being summoned to explain their findings to the future Prime Minister, highlighting the significance of scientific discoveries on a political level.
• 🚗 The speaker argues that technology alone, such as electric cars, won’t solve climate change if societal habits and attitudes don't change.
• 📶 A humorous reflection on how they initially overlooked the importance of Wi-Fi, drawing a parallel to society’s underestimation of the urgency of climate action.
• 📢 The speaker encourages people to broadcast their environmentally friendly actions, such as recycling or eating meat-free meals, to normalize sustainable behavior.
• 🌱 The speaker expresses hope that within their lifetime, humanity will end environmental destruction, shift to a plant-based diet, and breathe clean air in cities.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial quest in the Southern Ocean?

The speaker was on a quest to find the signature of the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave in their carbon cycle data in the Southern Ocean.

What anomaly did the speaker discover in the Southern Ocean's CO2 levels?

The anomaly was that the Southern Ocean was not taking up CO2 the way it should, contrary to expectations due to increased CO2 emissions.

How does the speaker react to the annual global temperature records and extreme weather events?

The speaker admits to feeling a sense of validation, even excitement, when global temperature records are broken or extreme weather events occur, as these are seen as evidence of climate change.

What does the speaker do when faced with doubts about climate change?

When faced with doubts, the speaker re-examines the data, including warming trends, melting ice, and other indicators, to reaffirm the evidence supporting human-induced climate change.

Why does the speaker mention the Antarctic ice and its significance?

The speaker mentions Antarctic ice to illustrate how scientists measure past CO2 levels and to highlight the unusual state of today's atmosphere, which is significantly different from the past.

What was the unique experience the speaker had with the 100,000-year-old ice?

The speaker brought home a piece of 100,000-year-old Antarctic ice, which they and their family breathed in and used to make gin and tonic, symbolizing a direct connection to the past.

What is the speaker's view on the role of technology in solving climate change?

The speaker believes that technology alone will not save us from climate change; it is already available, but people need to be smart enough to see and use it effectively.

Why does the speaker mention Wi-Fi in the context of climate change?

The speaker uses Wi-Fi as an example of a technological advancement that they initially failed to recognize the potential of, illustrating the point that we may not always see the solutions to climate change even when they are right in front of us.

What action does the speaker suggest individuals take regarding climate change?

The speaker encourages individuals to not only act on climate change but also to broadcast these actions to raise awareness and normalize sustainable practices.

What is the speaker's ultimate message about the responsibility for addressing climate change?

The speaker's ultimate message is that the responsibility for addressing climate change lies with individuals, and they rely on the audience to take action and make a difference.