Fred Pearce is a respected author on environmental issues. His books include Fallout: A journey through the nuclear age and When the rivers run dry. He is also environment consultant for the New Scientist magazine and a former UK Environment Journalist of the Year. He will be speaking on the panel discussion, Why has it taken us so long to take climate change seriously? on 28th March 1-2pm with macroeconomist Kamiar Mohaddes, dramaturg Zoë Svendsen and Rob Doubleday, Executive Director of Cambridge University's Centre for Science and Policy. The event is chaired by Professor Steve Evans, Director of Research at the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing.
What do you think have been the main barriers to getting climate change up the agenda?
Reaching the point where low-carbon technologies were cheap enough for corporations to make money out of them.
Has the media helped or hindered?
Overall, it has helped a lot. Climate change doesn't easily fit the short-termist news agenda, but keeping the story growing has been a challenge many have taken up.
Do you think we have now reached a human tipping point where radical action becomes inevitable?
It's getting close. We have passed peak coal, but that is just the first summit.
What difference will Covid make?
It's hard to tell. It might result in a decline in business travel, but I foresee a decline in using public transport too.
What do you say to those who feel it is too late to stop catastrophic damage?
It's never too late. There may be tipping points, but even so we have to stop adding to carbon in the atmosphere. The only question is how soon we do it, and how much damage has been done by then. Till then things will keep getting worse.
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