Solving for Zero: The Search for Climate Innovation

This is eye opening course for all enthusiasts at the frontline of the climate debate. In these short number of interview style presentations, this course spans from simple introdctions to more advanced topics fronted by good science rigor, engineering focus and innovation charsima. I'd love to see another set of topics covers soon. Thanks Wondrium for producing this one.

This isn't an academic course, but rather is like a mini-series about the key factors contributing to the greenhouse effect, and the various solutions that are being developed to mitigate emissions. It's a good overview of the challenge and possible solutions.
The explanations are straightforward and sufficiently high-level for a layperson to comprehend. Naturally, some topics were more interesting to me than others, but overall I found this interesting and enjoyed learning about this field.

There are any number of interesting innovations out there related to getting to zero carbon emissions to combat climate change. There are some gaps. As an example, while battery technology for cars is coming along, the course doesn't really discuss negative effects which might accrue in relation to mining for necessary materials for those batteries. There is also a documentary related to this same video and some of the material is repeated in both. But, otherwise, a very interesting overview of where the world might be headed.

Course was clear and very well produced. But it only emphasized one of the most striking dichotomies in science. "Science" teaches that biological evolution is what got us here. That adaptation and survival of the fittest was the primary mechanism by which mankind overcome environmental challenges, but science presents absolutely no biological vision for the evolutionary processes we should expect to take place to adapt to global warming. For example, the 1995 film Waterworld presents this vision. The Mariner (Costner) has evolved functional gills behind his ears and webbed toes to help him adapt to his environment. This is exactly what evolution teaches. But this kind of biological vision for mankind is never taken seriously as it pertains to the future. Why not? Why does science not explore the evolutionary DNA that got us here, and see if we can catalyze things like gil production, better UV resistant skin, digestive system that can consume salt water, etc? Evolution supposedly overcame exponentially greater environmental challenges than 2 degree temp change, but all of a sudden this miraculous process that has functioned so well for 14 billion years can't help mankind overcome 2 degree temp increase? No, for that challenge, only man made technology can get us out of this climate change whopper.

I have in-excess of 300 courses yet until now I've failed to make an effort to review one. I was a weather forecasters who ultimately resigned 3 times..... This course allows me to 'break my duck'.
Specifically focusing on aspects of the climate change issue in relation to this course and others more broadly on this site, I draw attention to the course's underlying theme, that 'If you have enough smart people working on a problem, you can make anything happen, within the laws of physics, of course!" It is impossible for this course, or any course dealing with western civilization & its advancement, to honor this. Why? Because there is a law in all of nature that stands out as the pre-eminent. The one. And that is the '1st law of thermodynamics'. It should simply be called 'The first law' and is equitable with the saying 'life is a zero sum'. For every winner there is a loser.
Our entire trajectory as a civilization has failed to appreciate & adhere to this principle. None of the religious, political, social, economic or philosophical courses here or anywhere else touch on this issue beyond a rudimentary acknowledgement. It is the most important law of them all. It is brutal.
So this course simply cannot be successful because society isn't playing by the laws of physics so we need to completely change society. Having said this, one cannot but appreciate any endeavor in life that is achieved whereby it looks to optimize the situation. Though ultimately the zero-sum law works against this [think about it]. I acknowledge the insights teased out by those involved here but unfortunately the depth of the issues at stake here will over-ride all of this. Hence the 3 stars. Worth a watch to appreciate the thought that has gone into it but our current trajectory is 'too big to fail'.

I'll leave it to others as to whether Bill Gates's life journey adhered to the overall 'zero-sum' constraint nature plays on all of us. I think he is clearly an outlier, so doesn't represent as 'one of us'.

I found this course to be a wonderfully upbeat series of lectures presented by the leaders in each of their field. There is so many chances to try solving our climates future I was amazed! Well worth the money!!

Excellent course that states the causes and facts about climate review very well.
Also if offers positive practical solutions companies are making to help offset/prevent
climate change. This gives us all hope for the future.

This course could have been titled “The Problem Solvers’ Guide for Planet Earth.” An excellent choice for a gift.