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
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