The Case Against Climate Doom: Economics, Policy, and Real Progress

Is climate doomism stopping us from acting? In this episode, I speak with climate economist Michael Jakob, author of The Case Against Climate Doom, about why despair is not just unhelpful, it’s inaccurate.

We explore the real economic tipping points that are accelerating decarbonisation: plummeting costs for solar, wind, storage, and EVs. Michael argues that the shift to clean tech isn’t about idealism, it’s about basic economics. When renewables are cheaper and more reliable, adoption becomes inevitable.

We dig into the role of carbon pricing, the importance of framing climate action around opportunity, not sacrific, and the political realities holding back faster policy change. Michael also shares examples from countries like Ethiopia and Vietnam, where rapid transitions are already underway.

We talk about the limitations of international climate negotiations, the growing role of culture in shaping climate awareness, and why fear alone doesn’t drive actio, agency does.

If you’re working in business, policy, or sustainability, this conversation offers a critical reframing: the future is still in our hands, and in many places, it’s already arriving faster than expected.

🎧 Listen in to learn:

• Why clean energy economics is turning the tide
• What governments and markets are getting right
• How to communicate climate risk without paralysing your audience

🔗 Check out Michael’s book (available free) at ct-economics.net

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