Gradient Proof Podcast Episode 5 - Rethinking Climate Change with Douglas Wyatt

Welcome to Gradient Proof. This is Episode 5, part 2 of 3. Topics discussed in this episode are Energy, Climate Change, Science Confidence, Human Values, and Response. The pieces of information gathered from research data help us decide on the actions we, humans as a whole, need to take. We need to look at our values and know our perceptions to choose which future of our planet we would like to see. So today, we will discuss how critical it is for humans to have confidence and trust in science and take action based on scientific research and findings. As always, we encourage you to drink with us. Welcome to the Gradient.

HASHTAGS: #Energy #ScientificResearch #Climatechange #Environment #Science #ScienceEducation #ScienceConfidence #TakeAction

In this Episode:
[00:00] Action to Data
[05:12] The response
[09:51] Confidence in science
[14:59] What humans value
[19:57] Projects in taking control of the environment
[24:03] Cultural standpoint
[29:41] Long-term planning for preserving energy
[32:13] Industrial and information age
[37:00] Decision-making hierarchy

Bios

Douglas Wyatt is an electrical engineer and attorney in New York City who manages his private practice focusing on intellectual property law. He enjoys the outdoors, writing, and assisting high-tech startups and not-for-profits in his spare time. He also serves on the Board of the Foundation for Glacier and Environmental Research and has been a member since 1999. On his desk, he is reading “Why We Disagree about Climate Change” by Mike Hulme and “The Honest Broker” by Roger A. Pielke Jr.

Roy Peer is an architect turned entrepreneur. After working for award-winning architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro in New York City, he started a virtual reality company, which later sold to a notable Hollywood director in 2018. Peer is the founder of PeerBasics, a data-driven products company that analyzes e-commerce sales data to drive its product launch decisions in multiple categories with multiple factory partners in Asia. Peer is the author of Simulation Arcade, a sci-fi novel that paints a possible future world where AI and brain chips are commonplace and details how humanity meets its AI cocoon moment and how to stop it.

Steven W Sorensen is the director of corporate finance at droppGroup / droppLabs, a web3 video & mixed reality shop attainment marketplace, co-founder of Fotin Media, and a board director of RocketStar, a small satellite launch company. Steven calls NYC home, has lived in China for seven years and has an MA and M.Phil in English from The University of Hong Kong. He likes jazz piano and good whiskey.

Quotes:

Action to Data
[01:48]
The IPCC has provided reports on the effect of climate change over several years. The information is published. Whether we choose to accept this information or act upon it is a different thing. How do we look at the information we're provided?

[03:25]
There is a 99% chance that we have confidence that there is a human influence on climate change and that this warming is induced by human activity. If you can say that with 99% certainty, then since it's human-induced, we can unpack our human influence. So then, that's a different question. What should we do?

The response
[05:12]
If we have a 99 confidence level, the sea levels will rise, and our atmosphere will become so clouded that food production will create starvation. People would freak out, and it creates uncertainty for individuals. That's why having certainty, and an even course about our activity and what we should do is the best course. And to reduce that uncertainty is where we should be focused.

Confidence in science
[09:51]
I will always focus on at least my organization to give people confidence that our work is credible and can be relied upon. Many reasons why people do not trust science are because they feel it’s political.

What humans value
[14:59]
If you put your value on saving lives, you spend your money in one way. If you value this green concept, it could be something else. And if you decide, it's nice. It's the perception that we value, that we're good stewards of the environment; therefore, I'm going to take a bike. Therefore, I'm going to donate to this charity. But it depends on what your value is.

Projects in taking control of the environment
[19:57]
There are numerous opportunities for carbon capture research. We are considering more than just atmospheric CO2 when solving the equation. We are assessing how we can mitigate these issues by increasing tree planting and deforestation.

Cultural standpoint
[24:03]
Communities have different values. And so Germany, for example, is very concerned about its environment because it's old Europe, and they are somewhat meticulous in their organization.

[27:05]
The law of unintended consequences chooses one thing for the benefit of a good thing. And then there may be unintended negative consequences. So, for example, we like electric cars. Still, you must mine certain rare earth and other elements required for storing batteries and the materials that make up these sophisticated components. And to do so, you're exporting extra negative externalities to other countries.

Long-term planning for preserving energy
[29:41]
We all have the same access to information, and it's just how we look at it and proceed. I see so much short-term decision-making, and it's very reactive decision-making and not looking at these issues in the long term.

[31:25]
If we want to be productive, we want to maintain an economy with a certain degree of productivity. We should be looking at inexpensive or good energy sources domestically and keeping that over a long time without worrying about these great fluctuations in energy supply.
Industrial and information age

[32:13]
We have employed a long-term energy policy, and taking that out of our political cycle reduces the ability to change these things on a very short-term cycle and allows a longer-term vision of energy production. So this is retying energy to productivity and tying productivity to happiness.

Decision-making hierarchy
[37:00]
It's good to have some flexibility and some variability in a short period, especially concerning issues closer to the heart on a smaller scale. On a grander scale, existential questions are some things that we need to look at to put in some form of bedrock, a constitutional requirement, not just on a national scale, but at an international scale.

Mentions:
● https://juneauicefield.org/
● Company website: http://wyattip.com/
● Keywords: #Energy #ScientificResearch #Climatechange #Environment #Science #ScienceConfidence #Response

Whiskey:
Brothers Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey Original Cask Strength https://brothersbondbourbon.reservebar.com/products/brothers-bond-straight-bourbon-whiskey-original-cask-strength

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Other Projects:
● Buy Simulation Arcade in Paperback
● https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QF3YPV4
● Simulation Arcade Pre-Release NFT (comes with author-signed copy)
● https://opensea.io/collection/author-release
● RocketStar - Aerospike Engines & Small Satellite Launch Co.
● https://rocketstar.nyc/
● Fotin Media https://fotinmedia.com/
● droppLabs.io https://dropplabs.io/