Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg What, if anything, will save the environment? (with Dan Stein)
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Dec 3, 2025 Dan Stein, founder of Giving Green and a climate economist, tackles the pressing issue of climate change. He discusses the nuances of tree-planting efficacy and critiques the flawed carbon credit systems. Stein emphasizes the need for innovative technology over personal sacrifices, advocating for a combination of R&D and strategic policy to drive down costs. He also explores the potential of geothermal energy and the role of corporations in supporting systemic change in heavy industries. Urgency for action, especially regarding underfunded sectors, is a recurring theme.
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Technology Is The Likeliest Path
- Technology is the most plausible pathway to large-scale emissions reductions across hard sectors.
- Solar and batteries show cost curves can decline dramatically with the right policies and investment.
Use Policy To De-Risk Clean Tech
- Governments should fund R&D, loans, tax credits and direct procurement to commercialize clean technologies.
- Use long-term policy to seed markets until green tech competes on cost or is regulated in.
Deep Geothermal Could Be Game-Changing
- Deep geothermal, enabled by fracking-era drilling, could provide always-on, low-land-footprint clean power.
- Dan highlights companies like Fervo pursuing commercial deep geothermal deployments.