OM DENNE EPISODE
Climate adaptation was long treated as the "forgotten sibling" of climate action, but with basements flooding four times a year and entire communities asking when to stop rebuilding, it has become the conversation we can no longer afford to postpone.
We sit down with Associate Professor Joanna Nalau, a climate adaptation scientist at Griffith University and one of the early pioneers who helped build this field from scratch. From her first research project in Zanzibar with the Finnish foreign ministry to watching heatwaves arrive on Australia's Gold Coast years ahead of schedule, Joanna shares why adaptation is not just about bouncing back, it's about anticipating a future we can no longer avoid.
We explore the gap between adaptation theory and practice, why Indigenous knowledge systems hold lessons modern models miss, and how "futures thinking" and imagination are becoming serious decision-making tools for cities.
Episode of Let's Climunicate: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMYZaQ2uW7Rh9RLodoysxcPNYHp18-JMQ
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00:00 - Introduction: The Forgotten Sibling of Climate Action
00:01:39 - From Zanzibar to the Gold Coast: A Pioneer's Journey
00:05:03 - Quick-Fire Climate Questions
00:08:53 - What Is Climate Adaptation, Really?
00:11:36 - Why Today's Adaptation Is Different
00:14:35 - Learning from Indigenous Knowledge
00:16:48 - Anticipating vs. Reacting: The Adaptation Mindset
00:21:15 - Can Imagination Save Cities? Futures Thinking as Policy
00:26:41 - Hard Limits vs. Soft Limits: When Rebuilding Stops Working
00:35:34 - Adaptation vs. Mitigation: The Dangerous Either/Or
00:41:46 - One Idea for Young People: Agency Over Anxiety
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💬 Got a question about adaptation limits or climate-resilient futures? Drop it in the comments.
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So, what is Let’s Climunicate?
Let’s Climunicate is a long-form podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to rigorous, balanced discussions at the intersection of climate science, policy, economics, and societal responses.
Hosted by Dr. Alberto Troccoli, each episode features in-depth, one-on-one conversations with leading researchers, policymakers, and industry experts. We make complex climate topics accessible without oversimplifying them and we’re not afraid to test assumptions, challenge narratives, and make space for nuance and debate.
🎧 What you’ll find here:
👉🏻 90-minute expert interviews on climate risk, insurance, extreme weather, and energy transition
👉🏻 Evidence-driven conversations that respect your intelligence
👉🏻 Timestamps, resources, and further reading in every description
We release new episodes every week. Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a conversation.
🔗 Book Dr. Troccoli or suggest a guest: letsclimunicate@gmail.com
#climate #climatescience #climatepolicy #climateeconomics #climatepodcast #longforminterview #climaterisk #extremeweather #insurance #netzero #IPCC #sustainability #AlbertoTroccoli #LetsClimunicate
