The worst idea ever | Todd Ehlers | TEDxStockholm University
What was humanity's single worst idea? Was it gunpowder? Nuclear weapons? Disco music? In this compelling "anti-TED Talk," we find out that the worst idea in human history was one that initially seemed like our best: the decision to power our world by burning fossil fuels. This idea gave us the Industrial Revolution, lifted billions from poverty, and built the modern world. But the bill has come due. This talk lays out the staggering environmental and economic evidence that proves our greatest triumph is now actively undoing itself. Discover how the accumulated cost of global warming is already making the world significantly poorer—with future economic damages set to dwarf the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2009 financial crisis combined. Yet, this is not a story of doom. You'll also learn about the incredible progress we've already made, bending the curve from a catastrophic future to a difficult but survivable one. The catch? We have a terrifyingly small window—about five years—to radically change course before we hit irreversible tipping points. This is a clear-eyed assessment of our greatest mistake and a hopeful, urgent call to action. Find out the true cost of fossil fuels and what we must do now to fix the worst idea ever. Todd is Professor and Head of School at the University of Glasgow. He is known for his research on climate, tectonics, biota and the Earth’s surface. His interests span past climates and environmental change preserved in the geologic record to our present-day and future global warming and biodiversity crisis. Todd is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 12:24The Secret to Turning Setbacks Into a Personal Brand | Fisayo Fosudo | TEDxCovenant UniversityIn 2016, Fisayo Fosodu, a shy 21-year-old, risked his life savings to start a YouTube channel, facing setbacks like customs seizures and parental skepticism. Despite challenges, he persevered, building a channel with over 130 million views and engaging with prominent figures such as the US Secretary of State and Google executives. He emphasizes the transformative power of the internet and the importance of loving books for knowledge, showing up consistently, and trusting the process. The speaker distinguishes between business and personal brands, stressing that personal brands require authentic presence and continuous effort. He advocates for combining creative skills and deep understanding to master a niche, citing his blend of design, video production, and economics as key to his success. Throughout, he highlights the necessity of remembering one's 'why' to overcome hurdles and maintain motivation. Ultimately, his story illustrates how risk-taking, learning, consistency, and mastery can build a personal brand that opens opportunities and commands respect. Fisayo is a visual storyteller, finance and technology video producer with over 700,000 subscribers. He has a background in economic analysis, brand communication and specializes in mobile technology, personal finance and the Nigerian economy.He is currently an Ambassador for Musicbed one of the largest music licensing companies for video creators/producers. He is one of the 26 Africans featured on the 2022 YouTube Black Voices Class. He also won Tech Creator of the Year 2021 at the TrendUpp Awards and has been nominated every year since and Won Tech Influencer of the Year 2021 at the TechPoint Awards. He was the youngest nominee for The Future Africa Awards for New Media. He has been featured on multiple media platforms and publications like Channels TV, Punch, TechCabal, Zikoko, Semafor, The Culture Custodian and many more. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 18:54Financial resilience in the Face of Uncertainty: The Nigerian Opportunity | Abdullahi Ya'u | TEDxNWUHaving perceived that the economy will never be stable, the speaker agued that resilience is what you need to develop for financial stability. Abdullahi Ya'u is distinguished finance expert, academic, consultant with extensive experience spanning financial planning, strategic Management and public sector administration. Born on August 15, 1976 in Kano City Nigeria. He dedicated his career advocating for financial literacy in Nigeria This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx