TED Climate

TED

We get it. You care about the climate crisis—but sometimes thinking about it is just too overwhelming. Well, we’re here to help with that. Host Dan Kwartler unpacks the problems and solutions behind big systemic issues in bite-sized episodes. You’ll find out which bag is best for the planet, imagine our world without humans, and follow the international journey of the very shirt on your back. Yes, we’re going to talk about the bleak stuff—it’s a crisis after all—but we’ll also share little ways you can make changes in your daily life, in your towns and cities, and at your workplaces to help change climate change. Ultimately we’re aiming for some HOPE through a focus on solutions, instead of just, you know, tumbling towards inevitable doom.

You can also get involved by joining Countdown, TED’s global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis in collaboration with Future Stewards. Find out more at countdown.ted.com

read less

Our Editor's Take

How concerned should people be about climate change? TED Climate focuses on answering this question. The podcast does this by looking at the dangers of Earth's changing ecosystem.

The TED Climate podcast, hosted by Dan Kwartler, includes a long list of experts on climate change. These experts discuss critical topics in the fight against climate change. Al Gore, Dawn Lippert, Carlos Moreno, and Gabrielle Walker are some examples of featured guests.

In under 30 minutes, they share their knowledge on essential topics. Such educational and sometimes troubling lectures expose hard truths about the climate crisis. The effects it has on the air, the weather, and the ecosystem may surprise many listeners.

While some of these truths may seem scary, there is still hope for the future. For every conversation on the dangers of air pollution, there is one on the benefits of wind energy. Other podcast topics include sustainability, carbon emissions, and clean electricity.

Each insightful conversation provides listeners with what they need to know. They can find out what scientific breakthroughs might benefit the future. Whether tracking carbon emissions with AI or decarbonizing fossil fuels, Ted Climate promises to discuss it. Along the way, the audience can gain perspective on what they can do to help better the world in the process.

TED Climate is one of many podcast series from TED. This non-profit organization focuses on spreading knowledge and fostering curiosity. They produce many podcasts and television programs, including TED Talks and Ted-Ed Lessons. Through their Countdown initiative, they are focusing on climate change. This podcast serves as the result of this initiative. Regular listeners of TED's other shows will enjoy listening to these lectures. They are informative, enlightening, and engaging. If fans want to understand the topic better, this show is a great listen.

read less

ScienceScience

Start Here

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cutting-edge science, she explains how this new means of food production makes it possible to eat meat without the negative consequences of industrial farming — and how it could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. "It's our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a second chance at agriculture," she says.

Episodes

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

How we could eat real meat without harming animals | Isha Datar

What if you could eat chicken nuggets without harming a chicken? It's possible through "cellular agriculture," says Isha Datar. In a talk about cutting-edge science, she explains how this new means of food production makes it possible to eat meat without the negative consequences of industrial farming — and how it could fundamentally change our food systems for the better. "It's our once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a second chance at agriculture," she says.

Where on Earth will people live in the future? | Parag Khanna

Where on Earth will people live in the future? | Parag Khanna

From the return of nomadic living to a climate-disrupted world, author and global strategist Parag Khanna has some predictions for humanity. Get a fascinating glimpse at the future as he tackles an urgent question: Where on Earth will eight billion humans live in the uncertain times ahead? (This conversation, hosted by TED current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. Visit ted.com/membership to become a TED Member.)

The innovations we need to avoid a climate disaster | Bill Gates

The innovations we need to avoid a climate disaster | Bill Gates

The single most important thing for avoiding a climate disaster is cutting carbon pollution from the current 51 billion tons per year to zero, says philanthropist and technologist Bill Gates. Introducing the concept of the "green premium" — the higher price of zero-emission products like electric cars, artificial meat or sustainable aviation fuel — Gates identifies the breakthroughs and investments we need to reduce the cost of clean tech, decarbonize the economy and create a pathway to a clean and prosperous future for all.

What to do when climate change feels unstoppable | Clover Hogan

What to do when climate change feels unstoppable | Clover Hogan

Today's youth have inherited a big, unprecedented climate problem to solve — and the eco-anxiety to go with it. Gen-Zer and activist Clover Hogan knows the struggle firsthand, but she also understands the path to climate action starts with the one thing you can control: your mindset. She explains why challenging the stories that keep you feeling powerless can help you take the first step to protecting the planet for generations to come.

The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast: Green holidays, without being a Grinch

The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast: Green holidays, without being a Grinch

This is an episode from a show we think you might like: The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast. Holiday shopping season is upon us, but instead of having a wasteful, plastic-heavy Christmas, why not have a green one? Hosts Candice and Caleigh have tips for how to celebrate sustainable holidays, from your wrapping paper to the menu at your holiday dinner.

Sold Out: Rethinking Housing In America is back with an all new season.

Sold Out: Rethinking Housing In America is back with an all new season.

The third season of Sold Out examines the intersection of the climate and housing crises. Hosted by Erin Baldassari, the series tells the stories of families and communities throughout California, as they grapple with the ways that climate is challenging the very idea of home. Sold Out shines a light on the solutions that can help us all face the future, highlighting the people who are actively working to protect their communities. This series questions assumptions that dictate how and where people live, while examining the barriers – whether political, financial or social – that hold us back from embracing or realizing change. Listen to Sold Out wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Big Switch, Part 1: A Crisis in the Making

The Big Switch, Part 1: A Crisis in the Making

TED Climate will be back soon -- in the meantime here is an episode of another podcast we thought you'd enjoy. This is the first episode of a five-part series exploring the European energy crisis in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In this season, we ask the trillion dollar question: Will this crisis speed or slow down the energy transition in Europe? And what does that mean for the rest of the world? Unpacking the history behind Europe’s dependence on Russian energy Putin’s assault on Ukraine triggered an energy crisis that sent Europe’s economies into a tailspin and put the European energy transition to the test. But how did the European Union, a leader in climate action, become so dependent on Russian oil and gas to begin with? This season, we look at the energy systems of Germany and Poland. Both have very different energy systems, but both became dependent on Russian energy for heating homes, firing power plants, and fueling businesses. In this episode, we look at the immediate impact of the Ukraine invasion on that dependency and the historical influences behind it– from Germany’s pursuit of natural gas to Poland’s centuries-long relationship with coal. Then we ask whether Europe’s initial response to the crisis– leaning more heavily on fossil fuels– will accelerate or slow down Europe’s push toward green energy. If you like The Big Switch, you can listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Why It's "Not Too Late" with Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua

Why It's "Not Too Late" with Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua

Not Too Late, written by Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua, offers us the tools to tackle this current wave of disinformation, and provides tangible stories of hope. On this episode of Outrage + Optimism, hear how the project aims to invite newcomers to the climate movement, as well as providing climate facts and encouragement for people who are already engaged but weary. Listening to these two incredible women speak about Not Too Late, which ‘rang a bell of truth’ for hosts Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres, and Paul Dickinson. Outrage + Optimism is another member of the TED Audio Collective. For more episodes that help you understand that you DO have the power to solve this, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to this.

The future of the food ecosystem -- and the power of your plate | Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

The future of the food ecosystem -- and the power of your plate | Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

Many people across the world don't have access to healthy food -- while in other places tons of food go to waste. Social entrepreneur Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli thinks we can take bold steps to fix this problem. She lays out what it would take to build a more equitable, sustainable food system that nourishes all people and asks us to widen our perspectives before eating our next meal.

The tragedy of air pollution -- and an urgent demand for clean air | Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah

The tragedy of air pollution -- and an urgent demand for clean air | Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah

"Breathing clean air is every child's human right," says grassroots campaigner Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, sharing the heartbreaking story of her seven-year-old daughter, Ella Roberta, whose asthma was triggered to a fatal point by air pollution. Now, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is on a mission to raise awareness about the harmful effects of unsafe air on our health and the planet. In this moving talk, she details why governments have an urgent responsibility to take action on air pollution -- and ensure that all children have a chance to live full and healthy lives.

How wind energy could power Earth ... 18 times over | Dan Jørgensen

How wind energy could power Earth ... 18 times over | Dan Jørgensen

Over the last two decades, the wind power industry has grown at a dizzying pace. (Fun fact: a single rotation from one of the world's most powerful wind turbines can generate enough electricity to charge more than 1,400 cell phones.) Building off this exponential growth, Denmark's climate minister Dan Jørgensen lays out his plan to end the country's oil industry by 2050 and transition to a fossil-free future powered by wind energy.

How to provide cooling for everyone -- without warming the planet | Rachel Kyte

How to provide cooling for everyone -- without warming the planet | Rachel Kyte

"The way we cool things down is heating the planet even more," says sustainable development expert Rachel Kyte -- and the solutions go well beyond just fixing air-conditioning. She identifies four major areas with transformative solutions -- from roofs painted with bright white paint to solar control glass to more efficient cold chains for vaccines -- that can be implemented in fair and sustainable ways. Learn more about what a community designed for cool could look like.

Woolly pigs, high tech and other ingenious ways to take carbon out of the air | Gabrielle Walker

Woolly pigs, high tech and other ingenious ways to take carbon out of the air | Gabrielle Walker

What do woolly pigs have to do with climate change? They're part of a vital, ingenious and evolving strategy to take carbon out of the sky and store it safely -- in trees, soils, the ocean, buildings, rocks and deep underground. Every carbon removal approach takes some combination of natural resources, human ingenuity and technology, says climate thinker Gabrielle Walker. If we get the mix right, we can clean up the environmental mess we've made, reverse the processes behind climate change and give nature a chance to heal. "What goes up must now come down," she says.

How to realistically decarbonize the oil and gas industry | Bjørn Otto Sverdrup

How to realistically decarbonize the oil and gas industry | Bjørn Otto Sverdrup

Bjørn Otto Sverdrup leads the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), which gathers the CEOs of twelve of the world's largest oil and gas companies around an ambitious goal: to get one of the sectors contributing most to climate change to drastically lower their own carbon emissions. He describes a possible path for the industry to pivot to net-zero operations, reimagining the role it could play in helping decarbonize the economy and changing how we consume energy -- and he calls for setting a price on carbon. (Followed by a Q&A with Countdown cofounder Lindsay Levin)

Language shouldn't be the barrier to climate action | Sophia Kianni

Language shouldn't be the barrier to climate action | Sophia Kianni

Most scientific literature is written only in English, creating an alarming knowledge gap for the 75 percent of the world who don't speak it. That's a big problem for climate change -- because it's hard to take action on something you don't understand. With Climate Cardinals, an international youth-led nonprofit that's working to make the climate movement more accessible, activist and social entrepreneur Sophia Kianni is furthering the global transfer of knowledge by translating and sourcing crucial climate resources into more than 100 languages. A barrier-breaking talk about the collective effort we'll need to protect the future of our planet.

The dreams and details of a green shipping revolution | Jim Hagemann Snabe

The dreams and details of a green shipping revolution | Jim Hagemann Snabe

As chairman of the world's largest maritime shipping company, Jim Hagemann Snabe thinks a lot about how goods get where they need to go and the impact their journey has on the planet. Leading the effort to decarbonize shipping by 2050, he shares a plan to convert green electricity into green liquid fuel to power vessels in a process called "power-to-X" -- and urges global leaders to join the voyage towards an innovative, sustainable and fast-approaching future.

A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | Vishaan Chakrabarti

A vision of sustainable housing for all of humanity | Vishaan Chakrabarti

By 2100, the UN estimates that the world's population will grow to just over 11 billion people. Architect Vishaan Chakrabarti wants us to start thinking about how we'll house all these people -- and how new construction can fight climate change rather than make it worse. In this visionary talk, Chakrabarti proposes a "Goldilocks" solution to sustainable housing that exists in the sweet spot between single-family homes and towering skyscrapers.

Community investment is the missing piece of climate action | Dawn Lippert

Community investment is the missing piece of climate action | Dawn Lippert

There's been explosive investment in new technologies aimed at decarbonizing the planet. But climate investor Dawn Lippert says something key is missing from this strategy: investment in the local people these solutions would most affect. She shares how she's bridging the gap between investment in new tech and local communities -- by getting closer to the places where these ideas are being put into action.

It's impossible to have healthy people on a sick planet | Shweta Narayan

It's impossible to have healthy people on a sick planet | Shweta Narayan

The doctrine of "first, do no harm" is the basis of the Hippocratic Oath, one of the world's oldest codes of ethics. It governs the work of physicians -- but climate and health campaigner Shweta Narayan says it should go further. In this essential talk, she highlights the interdependence of environmental and human health and emphasizes the necessity of placing health at the heart of all climate solutions.

An action plan for solving the climate crisis | John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram

An action plan for solving the climate crisis | John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram

"How much more damage do we have to endure before we realize that it's cheaper to save this planet than to ruin it?" asks engineer and investor John Doerr. In conversation with Countdown cofounder Lindsay Levin, Doerr and systems innovator Ryan Panchadsaram lay out six big objectives that -- if pursued with speed and scale -- could transform society and get us to net-zero emissions by 2050. An action plan to solve the world's climate crisis, backed up by a proven system for setting goals for success.