DeepSummary
In this episode, host Brockman interviews author Jeff Goodell about his new book 'The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet.' The conversation revolves around the extreme heat events occurring worldwide and the deadly consequences of rising global temperatures. Goodell explains why heat is so dangerous to humans, discussing how our bodies struggle to cool down during extreme heat waves and the potential for catastrophic blackouts in cities unprepared for such conditions.
The discussion also covers the impact of heat on various aspects of life, including labor, agriculture, and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Goodell shares insights from his research, including encounters with polar bears in the Arctic and the threat of melting glaciers, such as the 'Doomsday Glacier' in Antarctica.
Brockman and Goodell emphasize the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and adapting to the rapidly changing conditions. They highlight the opportunities presented by this moment to build a better, fairer, and more sustainable world, through actions such as transitioning to renewable energy and redesigning cities to be more resilient to extreme heat.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Extreme heat is one of the deadliest consequences of climate change, posing a severe threat to human health and life.
- Our bodies struggle to regulate temperature during prolonged exposure to extreme heat, leading to potentially fatal conditions like heat stroke.
- Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense due to global warming, straining urban infrastructure and increasing the risk of catastrophic power outages.
- Rising temperatures are impacting various aspects of life, including labor conditions, food production, and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
- The melting of glaciers and permafrost poses significant risks, including sea-level rise and the potential release of ancient pathogens.
- Adapting to extreme heat will require significant changes in urban design, infrastructure, and labor regulations to protect vulnerable populations.
- While the challenges posed by climate change are immense, this moment also presents an opportunity to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient world.
- Addressing the climate crisis requires urgent action, but also offers a chance to transition to renewable energy, redesign cities, and create a fairer, more just society.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I call. I gave this book the title the Heat will kill you first, and it was very controversial among my friends and, you know, people that I trust about, you know, things like this. And, you know, giving a name to a book is a big deal. And people thought, oh, you're never. No one's ever gonna read a book like, you know, that kind of title. It's too scary. That's just a terrible title.“ by Jeff Goodell
- “Well, I think what I worry about most is the same thing I worry about in the broader sense of how we're going to adapt to extreme heat more broadly and to climate impacts more broadly, which is simply that we will adapt by getting used to it.“ by Jeff Goodell
- “And I think these moments give us all who talk about this opportunities to really connect with people and really help them understand that this is not doomsday. It's a very serious and very, the scope and scale of what we face is enormous. But there's also tremendous opportunity at this moment. And I think that that's what I hope kind of comes out of this is like, hey, we can use this moment to build a better, fairer, more just world, and let's get on with it.“ by Jeff Goodell
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Episode Information
The Climate Pod
The Climate Pod
8/9/23
Jeff Goodell is the author of more than a few books on climate change, but none are more timely than his most recently release, The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet. Heat is not only the most deadly extreme weather event, but has also dominated news cycles for months as waves of scorching temperatures have hit across the globe. Jeff joins the show to discuss 2023's extreme heat, why heat is so deadly and what we can do about it, how heat is transforming our cities, and what keeps him up at night with some of the greatest threats we face with the climate crisis - diseases, glacier melt, deadly heat waves, and more.
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