Summary
In this podcast episode titled "Combating Climate Change at NASA with Chief Scientist Katherine Calvin – Cosmic Queries," host Neil deGrasse Tyson interviews Dr. Catherine Calvin, NASA's Chief Scientist and Senior Climate Advisor. The episode focuses on climate change and its impact on the planet. Calvin emphasizes the unprecedented rate of climate change in the last 150 years and the need for rational, evidence-based thinking in addressing this global issue. NASA's role in combating climate change is mainly through observing the Earth from space and providing data to inform decisions on climate change. NASA also develops technologies that can help mitigate and adapt to climate change, such as their sustainable aviation program.
The podcast discusses the issue of irreversible impacts, such as rising sea levels, and reversible impacts, such as extreme heat. They also discuss the potential use of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and the role of science in providing unbiased information to inform decision-making. The guest emphasizes the importance of considering all parts of the Earth system when making changes, and that reducing carbon dioxide is still important despite the potential use of geoengineering ideas.
The hosts also interview Dr. Gavin Schmidt, the Chief Scientist at NASA, who talks about his role in promoting NASA's climate science and providing information to decision-makers. He discusses the possibility of reversing climate change and the process of becoming NASA's Chief Scientist. The podcast concludes with a discussion on the importance of tapping expertise and talent to address climate change.
Throughout the episode, the hosts and guests address listener questions about topics such as terraforming Earth's deserts, the potential contribution of NASA's NISAR satellite to climate science, and the effectiveness of individual actions in combating climate change. They emphasize the importance of behavioral shifts and collective action in addressing this global issue. The podcast recommends visiting climate.nasa.gov to track NASA's climate activities.
