"We shouldn’t even talk about geoengineering!"
🔍 Episode Summary:In this thought-provoking episode, Mark Lynas is joined by science writer and The Planet Remade author Oliver Morton for a candid conversation about geoengineering — the controversial set of technologies that could help us cool the planet.Oliver argues that not talking about solar geoengineering might itself be a bad idea, especially as climate change accelerates and overshoot scenarios become more likely. They explore how stratospheric aerosols, inspired by volcanic eruptions, could reflect sunlight and reduce warming, and why such solutions are currently taboo in many environmental circles.The episode tackles moral hazard, global equity, the politics of climate action, and why global South leadership is essential for legitimate discussion. Mark even finds himself inching toward changing his own mind — again.🧠 Topics Discussed:🌍 Why the conversation around geoengineering has barely moved since The Planet Remade (2015)🌡️ Solar vs. carbon dioxide removal (CDR) geoengineering🌋 Volcanoes, aerosols, and the science behind reflecting sunlight🤐 The dangers of not talking about solar geoengineering🎭 Climate discourse, moral hazard, and the “technofix” taboo⚖️ Why global South voices are critical to the legitimacy of the debate🔥 Whether the current warming justifies reconsidering “unthinkable” options💣 Nuclear weapons, termination shock, and existential risk🎵 Meatloaf, billiards, and asteroid jokes (yes, really)🧑🔬 Guest Bio:Oliver Morton is a senior editor at The Economist, former science writer for Nature, and author of The Planet Remade: How Geoengineering Could Change the World. He has an asteroid named after him — and no, it's not headed toward Earth.📚 Recommended ReadingThe Planet Remade – Oliver MortonPaul Crutzen’s 2006 paper on stratospheric aerosolsIPCC Special Report on 1.5°CReports by the Degrees Initiative📝 Quote Highlights:“If we have to wait until everyone agrees on how to act in order to address climate change, we are not going to address climate change.” — Oliver Morton“People say the world is burning but refuse to even consider options that might stop it from burning. That’s a hard position to defend.” — Mark Lynas🌐 About WePlanet:WePlanet is a citizen and science movement that challenges conventional thinking to defend evidence-based solutions to environmental challenges. Learn more at weplanet.org.📥 Join the Conversation:💬 Got thoughts on geoengineering? Email us: podcast@weplanet.org📬 Sign up for updates: weplanet.org/podcast