This video, which is part 4 of a 4 part series of videos which features in-depth presentations and dialogue from the 2025 London Climate Week done in collaboration with The MEER Organization. This session captures a powerful and often sobering discussion featuring economist Steve Keen, scientist Ye Tao, and moderator Herb Simmens, recorded during a MEER (Mirror Earth Energy Rebalancing) event.
This video was recorded on June 23rd, 2025, and published on August 13th, 2025, and represents the opinions of the discussion participants.
Through audience Q&A and open exchanges, Keen delivers a blistering critique of mainstream economics’ role in downplaying climate risks, arguing that overly conservative models have lulled politicians and the public into a false sense of security. Ye Tao complements this by highlighting the severe physical limits we now face, warning that lifestyle and infrastructure changes far beyond current political imagination are needed.
The dialogue ranges widely—from the shortcomings of the IPCC’s economic assessments and reluctance to consider geoengineering, to strategies for equitable climate action such as redistributing consumption burdens from the poor to the ultra‑rich. Audience members raise provocative ideas, from revolution to nature‑based solutions, and Keen responds with both caution and urgency. Ye underscores that even the global “median” lifestyle is unsustainable, advocating for technical innovations like reflective materials in agriculture to boost yields while lowering heat stress, alongside building community resilience.
The session closes with pragmatic, even survivalist advice: stockpiling food, developing local energy sources, learning agricultural skills, and—perhaps most importantly—building “social capital” to withstand societal stress. Herb frames this as both a personal and collective call to action: small, reality‑based initiatives can set off social tipping points just as dangerous climate tipping points approach. The tone blends urgency, realism, and a search for hope, urging viewers to expand the climate solutions “toolbox” beyond conventional policy, and to challenge the entrenched economic thinking that has failed to grapple with the scale and speed of the climate emergency.
Dr. Ye Tao - is the visionary founder and executive director of the MEER initiative. With a multidisciplinary background in physics, chemistry, engineering, and natural science—including a former research position at Harvard University—Dr. Tao is recognized for his work developing innovative strategies to combat planetary heating, especially in climate-vulnerable regions worldwide.
Professor Steve Keen - is a renowned economist and author, celebrated for his incisive critiques of mainstream economic theory and his pioneering research on financial instability, money creation, and systemic risk. Ranked among the world’s most influential economists, Prof. Keen is the creator of the open-source modeling platform Minsky and the business analytics suite Ravel.
MEER (Mirrors for Earth’s Energy Rebalancing) - is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating climate change by developing practical, scalable solutions for heat adaptation and climate mitigation. Using innovative surface reflection technology, MEER aims to reduce local and global temperatures and restore Earth’s energy balance—helping protect people, ecosystems, and communities worldwide.
Charles Gregoire - Electrical Engineer, Webmaster and IT prime for FacingFuture.Earth & the Climate Emergency Forum; Climate Reality Leader
Heidi Brault - Climate Reality Leader, BA(Psychology), Library & Information Technician Diploma - Video production and website assistant - Organizer and convener, Metadata technician, COP Team Lead for FacingFuture.Earth and the Climate Emergency Forum.
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