Are we making progress on climate change?

After more than three decades of diplomacy there is firm evidence that the world is making progress in controlling emissions that cause global warming. It is still likely that warming will far exceed the widely discussed 2-degree goal, but a new “theory of change” is emerging and having an impact. This talk will show the evidence of progress, debate the new theory of change, and articulate ways that scientists can help governments and business do even better.

David Victor is a professor of innovation and public policy at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at UC San Diego where he co-directs the campus-wide Deep Decarbonization Initiative (D2I). He is also an adjunct professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Prior to joining the faculty at UC San Diego, Victor was a professor at Stanford Law School where he taught energy and environmental law.

His research focuses on the engineering, economic and political challenges associated with bringing the world to nearly zero emissions of warming gases. Much of his research is at the intersection of climate change science and policy. His book, Global Warming Gridlock, which explains why the world hasn't made much diplomatic progress on the problem of climate change, was recognised by The Economist as one of the best books of 2011.

He has held numerous positions at the science-policy interface, including as convening lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as a member of the World Economics Forum’s Global Future Council on Energy, as a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, and as co-chair of The Brookings Institution’s Initiative on Energy and Climate.

In 2020, he was elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS).