TED Talks Daily: "Climate Progress Isn't a Sprint — It's a Marathon" by Greg De Temmerman
In the January 22, 2025 episode of TED Talks Daily, host Elise Hu presents Greg De Temmerman's compelling discourse on the enduring struggle against climate change. Drawing an intricate parallel between long-distance running and climate action, De Temmerman articulates the complexities, challenges, and necessary perseverance required to achieve meaningful progress in mitigating climate change. This detailed summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from his talk.
1. Introduction: The Marathon of Climate Action
Elise Hu sets the stage by introducing Greg De Temmerman’s metaphorical comparison of climate change to a long-distance race. She emphasizes the importance of viewing climate action as a marathon, underscoring the need for sustained effort and resilience.
Key Quote:
"Even if you're not a long-distance runner, you can picture it ups and downs over many miles, running over challenging terrain."
— Elise Hu [01:00]
2. The Running Metaphor: Navigating the Climate Challenge
De Temmerman delves into the similarities between marathon running and the fight against climate change. He highlights that both endeavors are intricate and prolonged, requiring adaptability and the ability to handle setbacks.
Notable Quotes:
"They are both very complex and long affairs, and both will mainly require you to deal with setbacks, trade-offs, and compromises along the way if you want to have a chance to see the finish line."
— Greg De Temmerman [02:17]
"You can't just sit down and just cry. You have to keep going and adapt and do with what you have."
— Greg De Temmerman [02:50]
3. Understanding the Scope of Climate Change
De Temmerman provides a stark portrayal of current greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the urgency to halt emissions to mitigate climate change. He uses vivid imagery to convey the enormity of fossil fuel consumption.
Key Statistics:
- Current Emissions: 57 billion tons of greenhouse gases annually.
- Coal Consumption: 9 billion tons burned last year, equivalent to the volume of the Great Pyramid of Giza every five hours.
Notable Quote:
"This is gigantic. And this number has to go down to zero as quickly as possible."
— Greg De Temmerman [03:10]
4. Pathways to Climate Action: Scaling New Energy Systems
Highlighting the necessity to overhaul the existing energy infrastructure, De Temmerman asserts that transitioning to renewable energy sources is imperative. He underscores the importance of accelerating the deployment of available solutions rather than waiting for idealized technologies like nuclear fusion.
Notable Quote:
"If we make mistakes, we learn along the way and we'll adapt. As with trail running, it's important to keep our eyes on the prize, keep moving in the short term while thinking about the long term."
— Greg De Temmerman [11:15]
5. Transportation: The Double-Edged Sword of Electric Vehicles
De Temmerman examines the transportation sector, which accounts for about 12% of global emissions. He discusses the benefits and drawbacks of transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting the significant environmental impact of mining for battery metals and the sustainability concerns related to the increasing number and size of vehicles.
Key Points:
- Electric Vehicle Adoption: Progress evident in places like Norway, where nearly all new cars sold are electric or hybrid.
- Challenges:
- Resource Demand: Increased need for metals like copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
- Environmental Impact: Mining operations often harm local communities and ecosystems.
- Urban Congestion: More vehicles could exacerbate pollution and congestion unless cities are redesigned for pedestrian and public transport.
Notable Quote:
"Reducing emissions in the short term for electric cars might not be the thing you want to do in the long term."
— Greg De Temmerman [07:45]
6. The Intricacies of System Transformation
Acknowledging the complexity of overhauling large systems, De Temmerman emphasizes that transforming sectors like transportation and energy requires navigating through numerous trade-offs and unforeseen challenges. He advocates for a pragmatic approach that balances immediate actions with long-term goals.
Notable Quote:
"Our path to solving climate change is actually going to be quite similar. Climate change is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases inside the atmosphere. To stop climate change, we have to stop emitting."
— Greg De Temmerman [03:30]
7. The Imperative of Adaptation and Perseverance
De Temmerman draws from his personal experiences as a long-distance runner to illustrate the necessity of adaptability in climate action. He stresses that rigid plans are less effective than flexible strategies that can respond to evolving circumstances.
Notable Quote:
"Not accepting this increases our risk of failing at stabilizing the climate. I don't think this is a risk we can take."
— Greg De Temmerman [12:30]
8. Conclusion: Embracing Imperfection and Continuous Effort
In his closing remarks, De Temmerman urges for swift action despite imperfections in solutions. He likens the climate journey to nearing the finish line of a marathon—exhausting yet fulfilling—with the understanding that the aftermath will require continued effort and resilience.
Notable Quote:
"We need to get moving quickly and accept all the setbacks, challenges, and trade-offs along the way. This might be annoying, this might be frustrating, this might be upsetting. I just don't see any other way."
— Greg De Temmerman [13:55]
9. Final Thoughts
Greg De Temmerman’s talk serves as a profound reminder that combating climate change is not a short-term endeavor but a sustained marathon that demands unwavering commitment, strategic adaptability, and collective resilience. By framing climate action through the lens of endurance sports, he effectively conveys the magnitude of the challenge and the persistent effort required to achieve lasting progress.
Produced by: Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Autumn Thompson, and Alejandra Salazar
Mixed by: Christopher Faizy Bogan
Additional Support: Emma Tobner and Daniela Balaurazo
Host: Elise Hu
For more insights and ideas, visit TED's curation guidelines.