What do you, personally, think you will remember most about this interview a year from now? (10 points)
From this interview, I think that I will remember the widespread nature of the ramifications of climate change, such as political migration. As someone with a background in economics, I have learned previously about phenomenoms such as the free rider problem, discounted present value and the fact that developing countries bear the burden of climate change and also contribute the most to it (environmental Kuznets curve). However, I had not previously connected the dots between migration due to climate change (from vulnerable areas) and the political shifts in power that would occur as a result, or the increased likelihood of a pandemic. It's genuinely unprecedented and it would be difficult to create a physical model and the subsequent models like Professor Henderson mentioned (on sea levels, temperature changes, etc.).
How do you think any aspect of the interview will affect your own future, or society's future? (30 points)
I think that the entire interview impacts our future as the circumstances that Professor Henderson mentioned come to fruition. Climate change is probably the next generation's biggest problem as the Earth passes critical tipping points (according to expert opinion) that cannot be reversed. The roles that firms have to play, as well as the different behavioral solutions to incite change, are pivotal. However, this necessitates government support (or at least support from the top-down) that will encourage these individual, smaller-level changes. As Alyssa put it, individuals find it hard to care until they face a personal experience and the subsequent epiphany. Some firms have been created to save water and energy as mentioned around minute 35, but as of right now these companies have not been efficient enough to make an impact (such as carbon credits). The timeline on consumers caring enough to compel regulators to make a change might be too late.