Climate has changed. For many, it's now move - or die. w/Gaia Vince

In this Wicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations, we’re joined by Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century, a landmark work on climate-driven migration. From the existential realities of climate displacement to the politics of denial and adaptation, it’s about what happens when we stop pretending everyone will stay where they are.

It Bad

Last week, a catastrophic flood hit Kerr County, Texas. 30 cm of rain—four months' worth—fell in hours. The Guadalupe River rose 8 metres in under an hour, swamping the area around Camp Mystic. Over 90 are dead, many of them young girls at the camp. Some are still missing.

Cue the blame game. Officials who refused to fund early warning systems claimed the event was unpredictable. Trump-era cuts had gutted the National Weather Service, yet some still pointed fingers at the agency. Others called it karmic justice or MAGA-targeted weather warfare. Conspiracy theorists went further, blaming imaginary geoengineering attacks. Marjorie Taylor-Greene tweeted: “We must end the dangerous and deadly practice of weather modification and geoengineering.”

Right-wing extremists, already attacking Doppler radar sites, turn tragedy into paranoia. In past hurricanes, conspiracy-fueled threats forced rescue crews to withdraw.Rapid attribution studies confirm what should be obvious: climate change makes these once-rare floods far more likely.

OK Doomer

In a now-notorious quote, Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki said “it’s too late.” Critics pounced, accusing him of defeatism. But, as we discuss with Gaia Vince, the real issue isn’t optimism vs pessimism—it’s whether we’re brave enough to face what’s actually happening.

After decades in media and PR, I can tell when people are dodging the truth—even for good reasons. In climate comms, there’s a lot of that. But we try something different here: saying what we think is true, even if it’s hard to hear.

On the Move

Gaia Vince has been writing about climate and migration for over a decade. In Nomad Century, she argues:

• Migration is a natural response to climate change—always has been.
• By 2070, up to 3 billion people may need to move as habitable zones shrink.
• Governments that prepare for this now will fare better than those that deny it.

The book isn’t dystopian; it’s clear-eyed and pragmatic. It insists we have a choice: chaos, or planned adaptation.

In This Conversation

01:54 Climate Change’s Global Reach

04:24 The Reality of Climate Migration

09:24 Political Responses to Climate Change

10:44 Economic Implications and Adaptation

21:57 Innovative Solutions and Future Outlook

26:10 Australia and Tuvalu

27:06 UN, Sovereignty, and Vanishing Nations

29:00 Climate Refugees

30:05 Early Agreements

30:56 Adaptation and Relocation

34:21 Facing the Climate Reality

46:55 Can Global Governance Step Up?

Get the Book

Nomad Century: How to Survive the Climate Upheaval remains one of the most honest, practical guides to climate adaptation out there. Listen to the conversation—and get the book.

Tips, Bribes, and Abuse

Guest idea? Want to help us do more of this? Or just dying to tell us how crap we are? Reach out on Bluesky or email us at info@wickedproblems.uk—and maybe stand us a pint.

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