Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps “The Climate Change Solution So Crazy it Just Might Work” with Quico Toro
Nov 3, 2025
Quico Toro, Director of Climate Repair at the Anthropocene Institute and a former journalist, presents bold solutions to climate change. He critiques current strategies and suggests innovative ocean-based carbon removal methods, drawing on discoveries like undersea vents that promote phytoplankton growth for CO2 sequestration. Quico emphasizes the potential of nutrient fertilization while addressing ecological risks. He also argues for advanced nuclear energy as part of a comprehensive response to climate challenges, fostering international cooperation through technological advancements.
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Climate Outcomes Are Emergent
- Toro argues climate outcomes are the emergent result of millions of individual decisions, not top-down virtue signalling.
- He says moral suasion and social shaming haven't slowed global emissions over 30 years.
No World Government, No Universal Carbon Price
- Developed countries cut emissions slowly while developing countries add much more, driven by different political economies.
- Toro says lacking a world government means carbon pricing alone can't solve global emissions.
Prioritize Gigaton Carbon Removal
- Do focus on gigaton-scale carbon removal rather than only emissions cuts.
- Prioritize solutions that don't require unanimous global political agreement.