The New Reality of Climate Risk

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A wooden thermometer showing high temperatures in both Celsius and Fahrenheit against a bright orange background.
Rising temperatures are one of the most dangerous yet least visible effects of climate change.

What Jeff Goodell and Porter Fox Want You to Know About Climate Change

You step outside. It looks like a regular sunny day—but what if that heat could kill you?

That’s not just a dramatic statement. It’s the central message of a recent conversation hosted by the Aspen Institute with climate journalists Jeff Goodell and Porter Fox, moderated by Carolyn Heldman Rivera.

We found this talk to be deeply relevant to our purpose of raising awareness about the climate crisis and advocate for innovative, equitable, and transformative solutions. So we’re sharing the main takeaways in plain language—because this topic affects everyone.

Their message is simple and urgent: heat is the invisible force behind today’s most extreme climate disasters and understanding it can help us all make smarter, safer choices.

The Experts

  • Jeff Goodell is the author of The Heat Will Kill You First, a New York Times bestseller. He’s been writing about climate change for more than 20 years.

  • Porter Fox is the author of Category Five and Deep. He’s an environmental journalist and teaches at Columbia University.

  • Carolyn Heldman Rivera moderated the conversation. She’s a podcast host and the former Executive Director at Aspen Public Radio.

These are people who’ve spent years talking to scientists, traveling to climate hotspots, and telling the stories most of us don’t hear.

Heat: The Hidden Force Behind Fires, Floods, and Storms

When we think of climate change, many of us imagine melting ice caps or stronger hurricanes. But Jeff Goodell reminds us that it all starts with heat. Heat isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s deadly. And unlike storms or fires, heat is silent and invisible. You can’t see it coming. You might not even realize you’re in danger until it’s too late. Here’s how it works:

  • Hotter air holds more moisture, which leads to heavier rainfall and flash floods.

  • Dryer, hotter conditions make wildfires more intense.

  • Warm oceans create stronger hurricanes.

This isn’t theory, it’s happening now. The devastating floods in Texas, wildfires in California, and stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic are all linked to rising temperatures.

Why Adaptation Matters Now—Not Later

For years, the focus was on mitigation—reducing emissions to stop climate change. That’s still important. But adaptation—adjusting how we live—is just as critical now. As Porter Fox put it:


We’ve built our world for a climate that no longer exists.


That means we need to:

  • Rethink city planning.

  • Strengthen infrastructure like water systems and sewage.

  • Prepare for more frequent and intense heatwaves, floods, and storms.

Adaptation is not giving up. It’s facing reality and making sure our communities are safe in this new climate.

There’s No “Safe Zone” Anymore

Think places like Portland, Oregon or Asheville, North Carolina are immune to extreme weather? Think again.

In 2021, the Pacific Northwest saw temperatures soar past 115°F—killing hundreds. Areas once seen as “climate havens” are now at risk. People are still moving to hotter regions like Texas and Florida for jobs, affordability, or family. But climate risk is no longer tied to just one region. It’s everywhere.

Lesson: It’s better to prepare wherever you are than to hope a move will protect you.

Can Technology Save Us? The Risky Bet on Geoengineering

Some scientists are considering a last-resort idea: spraying tiny particles into the sky to reflect sunlight and cool the planet. It’s called solar geoengineering. Jeff Goodell calls this “a bad idea whose time has come.” Why? Because:

  • It could disrupt rainfall patterns like monsoons.

  • It’s untested and unpredictable.

  • It doesn’t solve the root cause: greenhouse gas emissions.

It may sound like science fiction, but this idea is gaining attention because climate impacts are becoming harder to ignore.

Who Pays for the Damage? Climate Lawsuits Target Big Oil

Communities like Boulder, Colorado are taking oil companies to court. Their argument? Companies like Exxon knew decades ago that burning fossil fuels would cause climate change—and chose to mislead the public. These lawsuits are similar to the tobacco lawsuits of the 1990s. They aim to:

  • Hold polluters accountable.

  • Secure funding to pay for climate adaptation projects.

The Colorado Supreme Court recently allowed Boulder’s lawsuit to move forward. It could set a powerful precedent.

What We Can Do Now (Without Being a Scientist)

You don’t need a science degree or a political title to make a difference. Here are a few simple actions:

  • Support local resilience efforts: Volunteer or donate to wildfire prevention, cooling centers, or clean energy programs in your community.

  • Vote and speak up: Your voice matters—especially in local elections and community meetings.

  • Elect politicians who care and whose actions support their statements.

Change often starts with conversations—around dinner tables, classrooms, or workplaces.

Finding Hope: Young Leaders, Scientists, and Local Heroes

Despite the challenges, there are many reasons to feel hopeful:

Small communities—and the people within them—are showing the rest of the world what’s possible.

Summing Up

Climate change is personal. It affects where we live, how we stay safe, and what kind of future we’re building. There’s no single fix. But there are smart steps we can all take—starting now.

  • Understand the risks of heat.

  • Support adaptation efforts.

  • Use your voice, your vote, and your values

The world is changing. But together, we can change with it—and build something better in the process.

How Authoritarianism Threatens Climate Action—and What We Can Do About It

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Person holding a printed copy of The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding, placed on a modern desk beside a glass of water, glasses, and a book.
The Anti-Autocracy Handbook offers scholars and concerned citizens practical strategies to recognize and resist democratic backsliding worldwide.

Climate Crisis and Rising Authoritarianism

The fight against climate change is urgent. From stronger hurricanes to record-breaking wildfires, we’re seeing how environmental damage is affecting our lives, our health, and our future. We need governments that act boldly—supporting science, protecting ecosystems, and investing in sustainable energy.

But here’s the problem: around the world, democracy is weakening. As of 2025, 72% of the global population lives under authoritarian rule (Our World in Data, 2025). That means decisions about the environment are being made behind closed doors, without public debate, input from scientists, or the freedom to organize and protest.

When democracy erodes, climate action slows down—or even reverses.

3 Tactics Autocrats Use to Undermine Climate Truth

Authoritarian leaders often use a familiar playbook to shut down climate efforts. These tactics make it harder for us to work together, share facts, and push for change.

Populism

Autocrats often claim to represent “the real people” against so-called “elites.” Environmentalists, scientists, and activists are painted as out of touch or as enemies of economic growth. We’ve all heard messages like:

  • “They care more about trees than our jobs.”

  • “Climate rules are killing small businesses.”

Polarization

Instead of bringing us together to solve problems, these leaders divide us. They frame the climate debate as a fight between “pro-economy” and “pro-environment.” But that’s a false choice. In truth, we can have both—but only with honest leadership and a commitment to facts.

We’ve seen this kind of rhetoric used to create fear and distrust. For example:

  • During wildfires in the western U.S., climate regulations were blamed for preventing forest management, despite scientific evidence that climate change was the real driver of more intense fires.

  • In Brazil, environmental protections in the Amazon were rolled back under the argument that indigenous land rights and conservation efforts were standing in the way of economic growth and agriculture.

  • In Australia, leaders have claimed that transitioning away from coal would destroy communities—ignoring opportunities for renewable energy jobs and cleaner air.

  • In the U.S., efforts to ban gas stoves or regulate methane emissions have been painted as “attacks on personal freedom” or “government overreach,” rather than smart policy to protect health and reduce climate risk.

These arguments aren’t just political talking points—they’re tactics to delay action, confuse the public, and weaken support for urgent climate solutions.

By turning climate change into a culture war, autocratic-leaning leaders make it harder to build the broad coalitions we need. The more we’re divided, the less power we have to demand meaningful change.

Instead of bringing us together to solve problems, these leaders divide us. They frame the climate debate as a fight between “pro-economy” and “pro-environment.” In truth, we can have both—but only with honest leadership.

Post-truth

This is when facts are buried under lies and confusion. Misinformation spreads through social media and partisan news outlets. People are left unsure of what’s real. When that happens, public trust in science—and in one another—breaks down.

What Happens to Science in Autocratic Systems

Science depends on freedom—freedom to ask questions, publish findings, and share data across borders. But under authoritarian rule, science often becomes one of the first victims.

In early 2025, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) canceled nearly 800 research projects. This included many studies focused on climate change, vaccine hesitancy, and LGBTQ+ issues (The Anti-Autocracy Handbook, 2025).

At the same time:

  • The U.S. withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement

  • Clean energy programs were dismantled

  • Scientists were banned from collaborating with global health agencies like the WHO

When governments silence science, our communities are left vulnerable. We lose access to life-saving information. And the climate crisis continues unchecked.

Why Silence and Self-Censorship Make Things Worse

We may wonder: why don’t more people speak out? The truth is, many are scared. Scientists have faced online harassment, legal threats, or even job loss just for sharing their findings.

Some researchers have stopped speaking publicly about climate to avoid becoming targets. This self-censorship, while understandable, allows misinformation to spread even more.

And it’s not just about facts—it’s about people. The pressure to stay quiet can take a toll. Many scientists and activists report anxiety, burnout, and a feeling of isolation. They’re not just defending their work—they’re trying to protect their families and livelihoods, too.

We don’t need to be scientists or politicians to make a difference. What we do—and how we show up—matters.

What We Can Do—Even if We’re Just Individuals

If our personal risk is low:

  • Speak out: Write letters to the editor or post on social media about why climate truth matters

  • Join a local group: Support environmental or science-based organizations

  • Share voices: Amplify scientists, students, and communities speaking up

If our risk is higher (e.g., we’re public figures, immigrants, or part of a marginalized group):

  • Help protect vulnerable research: Backup and archive climate data

  • Build circles of solidarity: Create support systems within our communities or workplaces

  • Document censorship: If safe to do so, record and report efforts to silence truth

Even small acts—like refusing to repeat false claims—can help keep truth alive.

The Power of 3.5%: Hope in Collective Action

Here’s something encouraging: nonviolent movements that mobilize just 3.5% of the population almost always succeed (Chenoweth & Stephan, 2011). That’s about 12 million people in the U.S.

We don’t need a majority to protect democracy or fight for climate justice—we just need enough people who are committed, informed, and connected.

Together, we can slow democratic backsliding, protect science, and keep pushing for a healthy, just, and sustainable future.

Protecting Democracy Is Climate Action

If we care about clean air, safe water, healthy forests, and a livable planet—then we care about democracy, too.

We can’t tackle climate change in a world where scientists are silenced, facts are twisted, and decisions are made in secret. By protecting the right to speak, research, protest, and vote, we’re also protecting our planet.

Let’s keep asking questions. Let’s keep telling the truth. And let’s keep building the future we all deserve—together.

Overview of the Source: The Anti-Autocracy Handbook

This article is based on The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding (2025). Written by more than 20 scholars around the world, the handbook explains how authoritarian regimes gain and maintain power—and what we can do to resist.

Key features of the handbook include:

  • A clear breakdown of authoritarian tactics like populism, polarization, and misinformation

  • Real-life examples of how science—including climate research—is being attacked

  • Strategies for protecting truth, data, and fellow researchers
  • Practical steps we can take, based on our level of personal risk

Sources:

Lewandowsky, S., Kempe, V., Armaos, K., Hahn, U., Abels, C. M., Wibisono, S., Louis, W., Sah, S., Pagel, C., Jankowicz, N., DiResta, R., Markolin, P., Schoenemann, H., Hertwig, R., Crull, H., Mauer, B., Holford, D., Lopez-Lopez, E., & Cook, J. (2025, June 19). The Anti-Autocracy Handbook: A Scholars’ Guide to Navigating Democratic Backsliding. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15510834

Our World in Data. (2025). Less Democratic: Share of Population Living in Autocratic Regimes. https://ourworldindata.org/less-democratic

Chenoweth, E., & Stephan, M. J. (2011). Why civil resistance works: The strategic logic of nonviolent conflict. Columbia University Press.

Why Private Jets Are a Big Problem for Our Planet

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A black private jet parked on a runway under a clear blue sky.
Private jets like this one may carry only a handful of passengers—but their environmental footprint is massive. A single private jet can emit as much carbon dioxide in a year as 177 cars.

When we think about pollution from flying, most of us picture big commercial planes taking off from crowded airports. But there’s a smaller, more exclusive kind of flying that’s creating a surprisingly big impact on our planet: private jets.

Private jets may seem like a luxury issue, but they’re a climate concern that affects everyone. While only a small group of people use them, their environmental impact is outsized. A recent study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) looked at just how much pollution private jets cause—and what we can do about it.

What is a private jet?

A private jet is a small airplane, usually owned or rented by individuals or companies, that flies with only a few passengers. Unlike commercial airplanes that carry hundreds of people at a time, private jets often fly nearly empty.

Because they carry fewer passengers, private jets release much more pollution per person than regular flights. And unlike buses or trains that are available to the general public, these flights are mainly used by the wealthy for convenience.

Why we’re talking about them

You might wonder—if there are so few private jets compared to commercial flights, why focus on them?

It turns out, these jets are some of the most polluting forms of transportation per passenger. And their use is growing fast. The study found that private jet emissions increased 25% over the last decade, and they now account for nearly 4% of all aviation pollution worldwide.

Even though they’re used by a tiny fraction of people, private jets are contributing a lot to climate change—and avoiding accountability in the process.

What the Study Found

Private jets pollute much more than commercial flights

  • On average, a single private jet emits 810 tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) each year.
  • That’s equal to the yearly emissions of 177 passenger cars or 9 large trucks.
  • Private jet passengers cause 5 to 14 times more emissions per person than commercial airline passengers.

The U.S. leads the world in private jet pollution

  • In 2023, 64.6% of all private jet flights started from the U.S.
  • Florida and Texas alone had more private jet flights than the entire European Union.
  • The U.S. was responsible for over half of global private jet emissions.

Most private jet trips are short and avoidable

  • Half of private jet flights were under 900 kilometers (about 560 miles).
  • These are trips that could often be replaced by high-speed trains or more efficient planes called turboprops.
  • Many private flights are for convenience, not necessity.

The Bigger Problem

Health risks from air pollution

Private jets don’t just release carbon dioxide—they also emit air pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particles called PM2.5.

These pollutants:

  • Harm air quality near airports
  • Increase the risk of asthma, heart disease, and early death
  • Disproportionately affect low-income communities who live near major airports

Climate change and who it affects most

Even though private jet travel benefits a wealthy few, the pollution they cause harms everyone—especially people in vulnerable regions. Rising temperatures, stronger storms, wildfires, and droughts are all linked to climate change fueled by greenhouse gas emissions.

What Can Be Done

We don’t have to accept this as the cost of modern travel. The study suggested a few realistic steps:

Taxing private jet fuel

  • A proposed fuel tax of $1.59 per gallon could raise up to $3 billion a year.
  • This money could fund climate solutions or support public transit.
  • Right now, many private jets pay little or no fuel tax, giving them an unfair advantage.

Switching to cleaner alternatives

  • Turboprop planes, which use less fuel, could replace jets on short routes.
  • High-speed trains can be even cleaner, especially in regions like Europe.
  • Avoiding unnecessary flights—or replacing them with remote meetings—also helps.

Why policies matter

Private jets often fly under the radar—literally and legally. Many are exempt from emissions trading programs, escape higher taxes, and aren’t required to improve efficiency. Stronger laws can help level the playing field.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to fly a private jet to make a difference.

Talk about it

  • Share what you’ve learned with friends and family.
  • Challenge the idea that private jets are just a personal choice—they have public consequences.

Support better climate laws

  • Vote for leaders who take climate and pollution seriously.
  • Support policies that make polluters pay their fair share.
  • Encourage investment in cleaner transportation options like rail and electric buses.

Summing Up

Private jets may seem like a small part of a big problem—but they’re a high-impact example of climate inequality. A few people benefit, while the rest of the world shares the cost.

The good news is that we have clear data, real solutions, and growing public awareness. If we take smart action now—through policies, taxes, and cleaner options—we can reduce these emissions and build a future that works for everyone.

It’s not about stopping travel. It’s about making sure travel doesn’t cost us the planet.

Source: Sitompul, D., & Rutherford, D. (2025). Air and greenhouse gas pollution from private jets, 2023. International Council on Clean Transportation. Retrieved from