Author Archives: Laurie

Video: Who’s Already Suffering the Consequences of the Environmental Crisis? Interview with Nnimmo Bassey

The consequences of environmental degradation have impacted people across the world for hundreds of years. In recent decades, the negative social, economic and health impacts of global environmental problems have fallen disproportionately on those least responsible. In this episode of the “Great Unraveling?” series, Nnimmo Bassey joins me to explore how environmental destruction has impactedContinue reading “Video: Who’s Already Suffering the Consequences of the Environmental Crisis? Interview with Nnimmo Bassey”

Video: How Bad Is the Wider Environmental Crisis? Interview with Johan Rockström

Human destabilisation of the environment encompasses a range of critical natural systems and processes. In this episode of the “Great Unraveling?” series, Johan Rockström joins me to set climate breakdown within the full picture of overall environmental breakdown, explore destabilisation of natural systems, and the consequences. Professor Johan Rockström is a world-leading global sustainability scientistContinue reading “Video: How Bad Is the Wider Environmental Crisis? Interview with Johan Rockström”

Video: How bad is the climate crisis? Interview with Michael Mann

Average global surface temperatures have passed 1.1º Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In this episode of the “Great Unraveling?” series, Michael Mann joins me to explore the current status of the climate crisis and the unprecedented minefield we enter as we head to and exceed 1.5º Celsius. Dr. Michael E. Mann is a world renowned expertContinue reading “Video: How bad is the climate crisis? Interview with Michael Mann”

Video: Introduction to the “Great Unraveling?” Series

Here I introduce the Great Unraveling? interview series: its purpose, what topics will be covered, and why we’re initiating this timely discussion. Over summer 2020 I conducted brief interviews with some of the world’s foremost experts on a broad range of environmental and societal challenges, to set a foundation for understanding the accelerating and interrelatedContinue reading “Video: Introduction to the “Great Unraveling?” Series”

Our leaders weren’t prepared for coronavirus. If they make the same mistake again, the environmental crisis will destroy society

The coronavirus pandemic has brutally reminded us of some home truths about risk. Catastrophic things can happen – and they can occur very quickly – overwhelming societies, particularly if they’re not well prepared. It is in this way that the Covid-19 crisis gives us a window into the future – a future in which societiesContinue reading “Our leaders weren’t prepared for coronavirus. If they make the same mistake again, the environmental crisis will destroy society”

We are not ready: Policymaking in the age of environmental breakdown – Final report (IPPR)

24th June 2020 Environmental breakdown is the defining challenge of our time. This is the final report of a major research programme – responding to environmental breakdown – investigating the implications of the global environmental crisis for politics and policymaking. A new approach to policymaking is needed. In response, this paper defines overall conditions forContinue reading “We are not ready: Policymaking in the age of environmental breakdown – Final report (IPPR)”

The Gradual Encroachment of Ideas: Lessons from the paradigm shift to embedded liberalism (Forum for a New Economy)

5th May 2020 Elements of the shift to embedded liberalism are of interest for those seeking to understand how political-economic paradigms shift or to precipitate such a shift today. Two policy programmes were particularly important: structural reform of the global financial system, manifest in the creation of the Bretton Woods system; and a shift inContinue reading “The Gradual Encroachment of Ideas: Lessons from the paradigm shift to embedded liberalism (Forum for a New Economy)”