Lord Martin Rees exclusively for BIZLife: “Politicians Pay Little Attention to the Opinions of Experts”
*This interview was conducted exclusively for BIZLife magazine, the official media partner of the Sustainable Development Forum and was published in Serbian. Below is the English version of the conversation with Lord Martin Rees.
Lord Martin Rees, one of the world’s most distinguished astronomers and cosmologists, will be a keynote speaker at the Sustainable Development Forum’s green transition conference this November in Belgrade. In an exclusive interview with BIZLife, Lord Rees discusses the development of clean and safe energy, the global north and south, and his involvement in these changes.
Lord Martin Rees has held the prestigious position of the UK’s Astronomer Royal since 1995 and is renowned for his pioneering contributions to our understanding of the universe. His works include significant knowledge in areas such as galaxy formation, jet eruptions, black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and speculative aspects of cosmology, including the multiverse theory and the search for extraterrestrial life.
Currently, Lord Rees is dedicated to raising awareness about the existential risks posed by technological advancements and climate change. He actively advocates for global cooperation in addressing these issues, using his influence and experience to encourage changes and innovations that could provide a safer future for humanity. As a keynote speaker at the SDF conference, Lord Rees will discuss global challenges in sustainable energy and business.
The Urgency of Resolving Energy Challenges
Lord Rees believes that humans are collectively leaving an increasingly heavy footprint on the planet, which risks irreversibly reducing the diversity of the natural world. “The great ecologist E.O. Wilson has described mass extinction of species as ‘the sin future generations would least forgive us for’” Rees highlights. He emphasizes that the most important issue to address is the production of energy in a carbon-neutral way so that the world can continue economic development without contributing further to global warming and the risk of catastrophic tipping points.
Lord Rees emphasizes that the developed countries of the global north are the ones contributing the most to global warming. As he says, a stable world requires reducing the huge gap in economic development between the ‘global north’ and the ‘global south’. “Especially the population of Africa – a part of the world where birth rates remain high – could rise to three or four billion by the end of the century”, says Rees.
Even if the global north succeeds in its declared intention to move towards net-zero by mid-century, it will not benefit the world if the global south emits significantly more energy than it does today by burning fossil fuels. It is crucial to ensure that countries of the global south can directly transition to clean energy, just as they have acquired smartphones without ever relying on landlines.
The Role of Science in Combating Climate Change
Lord Rees points out that international cooperation and changes in lifestyle worldwide will not be achieved without technological breakthroughs that make clean energy more affordable for developing countries. “Wealthier countries must ensure that the global south has the resources to implement clean energy at the necessary level”, he explains. This will require not just massive subsidies or loans but also shared development and production so that the process encourages the emergence of a technologically advanced population in those countries. Of course, there is also a need to produce more food in a ‘sustainably intensive’ manner, without encroaching on nature, forests, fish stocks, etc.
Professional and Personal Goals in Sustainable Development
Lord Rees emphasizes that as a scientist specializing in astronomy and space, he is engaged in projects aimed at ensuring that powerful new technologies used for human benefit are controlled to avoid catastrophic negative consequences. “This can arise not only in nuclear science – used for bombs and power plants, but of course also in biomedical fields and in AI”, says Rees. He adds that academics as individuals have little political power, but they can influence the younger generation and possibly persuade people with special charisma or influence to lead campaigns that will impact voters.
“Politicians pay little attention (except in emergencies like a pandemic) to the opinions of experts. But if these expert voices are amplified by a large community of voters, then there will be a constructive response”, Rees highlights. He hopes that such an approach will help in the challenge of feeding the world and providing clean and safe energy.
Impact of SDF on Actual Policy and Practice
Lord Rees believes that forums like the SDF can help raise awareness about challenges. “Awareness of the issues is, of course, a crucial first step towards gaining commercial funding and political support for these challenges facing the world”, says Rees, adding that such gatherings fully deserve our support.
Lord Rees emphasizes that the challenges of sustainable development are inherently interdisciplinary and are much harder than the specialized topics that academics usually focus on. “It is important to recognize that these problems are truly global – if half the world reduces its carbon emissions to zero, and the other half continues ‘as usual,’ everyone loses, and we have little chance of a prosperous and stable world”, Rees concludes. Interdisciplinary collaboration brings unique insights and perspectives that are key to achieving sustainable development and a safer future for all.