Have we surrendered to climate breakdown?

This episode explores the concept of stranded assets in the context of climate change, specifically focusing on the failure of fossil fuel companies and governments to adequately address the climate crisis. Against the backdrop of early 2010s reports highlighting the "unburnable carbon" and the potential for stranded assets, the discussion details how some European fossil fuel companies initially made commitments to reduce extraction and invest in renewables. More significantly, however, the conversation reveals a subsequent reversal of these commitments, driven by continued profitability and a lack of stringent global regulations. For instance, the impact of the Paris Agreement and the US's fluctuating stance on climate action are analyzed, highlighting the complexities of international cooperation. The discussion then pivots to China's role as a major player in both renewable energy investment and continued reliance on coal, emphasizing the global North-South disparity in climate action. Ultimately, the interview concludes by emphasizing the critical need for governments to actively intervene and force asset stranding, given the insufficient action from both corporations and consumers, and the limitations of relying on future negative emissions technologies.