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Will the switch to green technology become unstoppable?

We often hear about climate tipping points in a negative sense – but could there also be positive ones, where solutions like renewables or electric vehicles suddenly take off?

When people talk about tipping points in the climate, it’s usually bad news – the irreversible melting of ice sheets or the collapse of rainforests. But could there be positive tipping points too, moments where climate solutions break through and spread rapidly?

Tim Lenton, Professor of Climate Change at the University of Exeter and author of Positive Tipping Points: How to Fix the Climate Crisis, says it’s already happening – from the dramatic rise of renewable energy to the surge in electric vehicles. He explains how in Norway, the 80s pop band A-Ha played a crucial role in making EVs mainstream.

So, could positive tipping points hold the key to addressing the climate crisis?

Hosts Graihagh Jackson and Jordan Dunbar speak to Professor Lenton about how positive tipping points happen and what we can learn from them.

Got a question? Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production Team: Jonathan Baker, Grace Braddock, Tom Brignell, Diane Richardson, Sabine Schereck and Nik Sindle
Editor: Simon Watts

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23 minutes

Last on

Wed 17 Sep 2025 19:06GMT

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