Great simplification pulsing lines

Ep 102  |  Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben: “Climate, Movements, and Power”

Check out this podcast

TGS102 Bill McKibben The Great Simplification

Show Summary

On this episode, environmental activist and author Bill McKibben joins Nate for a reflection on the last few decades of climate education and movements – and the possibilities and challenges that we’ll face ahead. Among a system that is dependent on growth and embedded in a biosphere full of limits (which we continue to surpass), working towards shifting our societies to be ecologically balanced is potentially the most important mission to which an individual can contribute – yet this is much easier said than done. What have been the largest barriers towards actual effective climate action since emissions have continued in a straight line up since the 20th century? What power structures stand as a barrier to proactive initiatives, and which ones could we utilize to propel movements forward? How can we prepare and organize at the individual, community, and national levels, as we look ahead to climate – and other – challenges we’re likely to face in the coming decades?

About Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben is founder of Third Act, which organizes people over the age of 60 for action on climate and justice. His 1989 book The End of Nature is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change, and has appeared in 24 languages. He’s gone on to write 20 books, and his work appears regularly in periodicals from the New Yorker to Rolling Stone. McKibben helped found 350.org, the first global grassroots climate campaign, which has organized protests on every continent, including Antarctica, for climate action. He played a leading role in launching the opposition to big oil pipeline projects like Keystone XL, and the fossil fuel divestment campaign, which has become the biggest anti-corporate campaign in history.

In French, we have a motto that says that a simple drawing is often better than a long explanation. Jean-Marc Jancovici Carbone 4 President

That’s very understandable because with left atmosphere thinking, one of the problems is that you see everything as a series of problems that must have solutions. Iain McGilchrist Neuroscientist and Philosopher

We can’t have hundreds and hundreds of real relationships that are healthy because that requires time and effort and full attention and awareness of being in real relationship and conversation with the other human. Nate Hagens Director of ISEOF

This is the crux of the whole problem. Individual parts of nature are more valuable than the biocomplexity of nature. Thomas Crowther Founder Restor

Show Notes & Links to Learn More

00:00 – Bill McKibben works + info, Third Act

02:27 – CO2 emissions per year over time

02:52 – The End of Nature

03:52 – Herman Daly

04:15 – Climate science has long been understood

04:17 – Ocean acidification

07:30 – Fossil Fuel Company disinformation

07:45 – James Hansen Congress Testification

09:01 – Tobacco industry misinformation

13:01 – Rapid decline in the price of renewable energy

13:42 – Energy demand increasing faster than we’re scaling renewables

14:23 – Highest temperatures ever in 2023, stepped across 1.5 and 2 degree barrier

15:15 – Installing 1 GW of renewable capacity/day

16:33 – US Demand for fossil fuels

16:56 – US fossil fuel production grew in 2023, increase in exports via LNG exports

18:17 – US expansion of LNG would produce more greenhouses gasses than everywhere in Europe

19:08 – Portugal has lots of renewables but 20% energy poverty

19:25 – Global south expanding fossil fuel infrastructure

21:22 – Solar electricity cost

22:29 – The bulk of the world’s money is in US pension funds

24:36 – Law against propane stoves

30:13 – Canadian wildfires, carbon emissions

31:31 – Lifetime of solar and wind technologies, rematerialization

32:45 – 40% of ship traffic is carrying coal and gas

34:55 – Slow down of AMOC

36:02 – Don’t Look Up

39:04 – ⅔ of Americans understand climate as a serious issue

39:39 – Inflation Reduction Act

41:37 – Importance of a frozen arctic

45:35 – Energy surplus have made community optional

47:05 – Decentralized energy, democracy

48:40 – 9 million deaths per year are attributed to breathing in fossil fuel particulates

50:35 – Aldo Leopold

53:05 – Importance of eating locally

54:12 – Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act

54:44 – Watergate

55:12 – January 6th

57:07 – IPCC, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030

57:53 – Private fossil fuel companies are only 13% of fossil industry

58:35 – Rise in authoritarianism

59:06 – Nate’s work on AI

1:01:53 – Everything is connected to the flow of the energy from the sun

1:02:39 – Beyond Plastics

1:04:51 – Increasing consumption isn’t connected to happiness

1:05:20 – E-bikes

1:05:58 – We’re adding *70 million vehicles to the planet every year

1:15:05 – Structural power of the older generations

1:17:35 – Most young people believe in climate change, regardless of political affiliation

Download transcript
Back to episodes
Rod SchoonoverThe National Security Risks We’re Not Prepared ForWith Rod SchoonoverThe Great SimplificationEp 183 | Rod Schoonover

National security concerns have been the invisible hand guiding governance throughout recorded history. In the 20th century, it was defined by a country versus country dynamic: whichever nation was the strongest and most strategic was also the safest. But today, our biggest national security threats don’t come from opposing nations – they are “actorless threats” that emerge from the breakdown of the complex systems we all depend on – from the stability of our planetary systems to our intricately complex and fragile global supply chains. In this unprecedented landscape, what is required of us in order to keep our citizens safe?

Watch nowJun 18, 2025
Movie Re-ReleaseThe Systems Science Behind Our Global CrisesWith Nate HagensThe Great SimplificationEp 182 | Nate Hagens

Three years ago, my team and I created a 30-minute movie that provides a comprehensive systems analysis of the human predicament—spanning energy, economics, ecology, and behavioral psychology. This beautifully animated film aims to help viewers understand the interconnected crises defining our era.

Watch nowJun 13, 2025
Globalization End GameHelena Norberg-Hodge HeadshotGlobalization End GameWith Helena Norberg-HodgeThe Great SimplificationEp 181 | Helena Norberg-Hodge

Over the last few decades, humanity has globalized everything – from food production and supply chains to communication and information systems – making countries, businesses, and individuals more connected and reliant on each other than ever before. Yet, with this increased interconnectedness comes more complexity and fragility. What have we lost through the globalization process, and how might we fortify our communities by investing in local economies?

Watch nowJun 11, 2025

Subscribe to our Substack

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future (ISEOF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, founded in 2008, that conducts research and educates the public about energy issues and their impact on society.

Support our work
Get in touch
x