Prof. Michael Grubb - Planetary Economics

This January GESA Deputy Director Dr Elizabeth Bomberg and ECCI Director Dr Andy Kerr were delighted to join Dr Simon Shackley from the School of Geosciences to co-host Professor Michael Grubb, author of Planetary Economics.

Planetary Economics: Energy, climate change and the three domains of sustainable development

Planetary Economics has received widespread accolade as a seminal contribution, comprehensive and profoundly important for its presentation of a new approach to both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical policies for tackling energy and climate change challenges.

Prof Grubb captured exceptionally well the 'wicked' nature of climate change problem and the need for more integrated, interdisciplinary solutions combining knowledge of economics, politics, technology and society. The perfect talk for a GESA crowd. We were struck by Prof Grubb's generosity of spirit. He was open to - and actively encouraged - ideas and questions from the students, academics, practitioners and engaged citizens that made up the sell-out audience

Michael Grubb's talk gave a refreshing and, on balance, optimistic, perspective on our capacity to decarbonise society during the next century, provided that we understand properly the nature of the challenge. Michael's key insight comes from recognising that to change behaviours is not the same as changing carbon prices in markets; meanwhile to change infrastructure and effect long-term innovation requires a different mindset that is more akin to security and focuses on avoiding systemic long-term risks.