Hannah Ritchie on replacing eco-anxiety with ‘cautious optimism’ and how to build a more sustainable world

The past year has been a time of climate firsts, mainly for the wrong reasons. 2023 was the hottest year on record – with devastating wildfires, catastrophic flooding, ongoing loss of biodiversity and carbon emissions continuing to rise. But is there any hope for the possibility for a better future?

Well, there is in fact room for ‘cautious optimism’ says environmental scientist, Dr Hannah Ritchie, whose book Not the End of the World offers a data-based analysis of environmental problems and their solutions. Her view stems from the significant strides made in human progress across the world, and the advancements of technology, especially within renewable energies.

Today on Ways to Change the World, she tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy how her work taught her that there are more reasons for hope than despair about the climate and the planet we live on – and why a truly sustainable world can still be within reach.

Produced by Silvia Maresca.

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