Global Warming: The Century We Saved Earth

In this documentary I present a fictional, optimistic account of the 21st century, told retrospectively from the year 2100. This isn’t trying to depict the “best case scenario”, but one of the possible, mostly positive versions of the century we are all about to live through. A century in which we “won” and overcame climate change. Hopefully it gives you an idea of what is to come, and what the key building blocks to getting to net zero emissions will likely be. And so: what we need to do.

This video would not have been possible without the contributions of many, many people. Huge thanks in particular go to Prof Dann Mitchell of the University of Bristol for his help with the script. Other consultants on this project included Prof Mat Collins, Dave Borlace, Dr Tom Dowling, Dr Rohin Francis, Isabelle Axelsson, Wendover Productions, Prof Chris Jones, Dr Adam Levy, Greta Thunberg, Daniel Chen, Charlie Kilman, Joseph Pisenti, and Dr Alex Lathbridge. Huge thanks to everyone who contributed.

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Directed and edited by Luke Negus.
Inspired by the work of @BobbyBroccoli
Titles sequence by Casandra Toledo.
Written and produced by Simon Clark.

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What will climate change look like in the 21st century? How can we beat climate change? How do we get to net zero? How warm will the world be in 2100? This video attempts to answer these questions, or at least provide *an* answer. This video essay in the style of BobbyBroccoli and Jon Bois looks back at the century from the perspective of 2100 and how we got to a stable, warmer world. This educational video talks about the climate crisis, geopolitics, energy, economics, healthcare, and much more besides, all in the context of climate change.

Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Daniel Chen, Vernon Swanepoel, Adam Scott, Felix Winkler, CC, Ivari Tölp, Thomas Charbonnel, Mark Moore, Philipp Legner, Zoey O'Neill, Veronica Castello-Vooght, Heijde, Paul H and Linda L, Marcus Bosshard, Liat Khitman, Dan Sherman, Matthew Powell, Adrian Sand, Dan Nelson, The Cairene on Caffeine, Cody VanZandt, Igor Francetic, Daniel Irwin, bitreign33 , Thusto , Andy Hartley, Lachlan Woods, Dan Hanvey, Andrea De Mezzo.

Gary Stark, Martina Alini, Trevor Scheuing, Andy Giesen, Tony M Parker, Tingus Pingus from Lativia, Mathias Hüttenmüller, RomanConsul, Ave Jonathan Cahyadi, John Bate, Diaffixx , Kevin Gillard, Chris Conrey, Christian Weckner, Frida Sørensen, Ned Funnell, Aleksa Stankovic, Meagan, Indira Pranabudi, Sekhalis, Chaotic Brain Person, Simon H., Julian Mendiola, Ben Cooper, Mark Injerd, dryfrog, Justin Warren, Angela Flierman, Alipasha Sadri, Calum Storey, Mattophobia, Riz, The Confusled, Simon Stelling, Gabriele Siino, Bjorn Bakker, Ieuan Williams, Tom Malcolm, GordonV47, Leonard Neamtu, Brady Johnston, Louise K., Rapssack, Kevin O'Connor, Timo Kerremans, Thomas Rintoul, Lars Hubacher, Ashley Wilkins, Samuel Baumgartner, ST0RMW1NG 1, Morten Engsvang, Cio Cio San, Farsight101, Haris Karimjee, K.L, fourthdwarf, Stormchaser007 , Sam Ryan, Felix Freiberger, Chris Field, Kolbrandr, Vinni, Shane O'Brien, Alex, Fujia Li, Jesper Koed, Jonathan Craske, Albrecht Striffler, Jack Troup, Sven Ebel, Sean Richards, Kedar , Alastair Fortune, Mat Allen, Krisztián Török, Colin J. Brown, Mach_D, Keegan Amrine, Simon Donkers, Kodzo , James Bridges, Liam , Wendover Productions, Kendra Johnson.

[GunnGuardian]

The running joke of Fusion power always being "just a few years away" was the best part of this.

[MedlifeCrisis]

“What was it like fighting in the Stans War old timer?” “You wouldn’t understand, you weren’t there!” Simon this is just mind blowing, wow. I got so emotionally invested! Brilliant story telling with so many great educational and thought provoking touches. Loved the banking crisis reimagined as the energy company collapse. Any angry Indians can divert their anger at me as I might’ve influenced some negative aspects of the imagining of India’s future, don’t blame Simon! You need to release merch now. “REBEL OF THE 44 UPRISING” “Freedom for the Nile 6!” “REMEMBER THE ICE✊🏽”

Edit: I also love the optimistic realism. There is hope…and I like how you gave ways forward that could inspire people watching. I hope many do.

[Fireheart]

“Future fan fiction” like this is important. It gives us a way to see what CAN be if we fight, not just what will happen to us if we don’t. Thank you, Simon.

[TheProminenceDW]

Wow. This is something different. After all these years it's still absolutely mindblowing that something of this quality and depth is still available on YouTube. Well done Simon!

[BBTE]

I was born in 1998. This is really crazy to think I may actually LIVE through all of this, seeing if mankind will ever overcome the greatest challenge of its history. Amazing video, one of the best on this website.

[atrmusic]

i genuinely forgot how important it is to imagine the positive things you actually want for the future and this was a welcome reminder to start doing so again.
thanks for that.

[rianantony]

Maybe you can make a followup in 77 years. To see how accurate your guesses were

[galen__]

5:56 — October 8 2024, it’s been less than 2 weeks since Hurricane Helene happened and now Hurricane Milton is looking to be catastrophic for Florida.

[thomasgray]

felt strange watching this. as I'm currently studying mechanical engineering

hopefully, I'll be helping make the high-speed rail dream a reality.

it's the main reason i chose this course in the first place.

thank you for making these things it helps give me hope.

[sietsegroenen]

Simon you absolutely outdid yourself on this video, this is such a fresh and good way to lay out issues we'll face while still showing a hopeful way forward. I cant say anything but great job!

[MarcTelang]

Well, that 2026 hurricane season came 2 years early

[biggerdoofus]

This is possibly the greatest piece of hard sci-fi I've ever experienced. I can only hope it gets meaningfully noticed.

[Artyomi]

I really hope this video blows up - this is the most thorough, realistic, and comprehensive “alternate history/future” i’ve ever seen, down to all the details of the complicated web of forces between climate, sociology, geopolitics, international politics - like the mention of a war breaking out in Central Asia where i’ve been due to water supply breaking down in the Fergana valley because of the diversion of water to the Aral sea melting the glaciers in the Altai and Tian Shen mountains is something so specific yet almost certain to happen though it’s such a small detail mixed in with every other deeply thought out points in this video. Absolutely amazing job, and I love the inspiration from BobbyBroccoli

[vigilantcosmicpenguin]

This is a brilliant kind of science fiction, and one that I don't think I've ever really seen before. It reminds me a bit of the way some writers write sci-fi with the goal of teaching people about real science, and it's not uncommon to see stories imagining the future effects of specific problems of today, but it seems completely unique to write a thoroughly researched documentary that seamlessly includes a fictional perspective. There were so many real details that made me recognize this as the world I live in. And it's so fun to imagine this realistic hopepunk future where, despite the world's flaws that we will always acknowledge, climate activism is victorious, people are held accountable, public transport expands, Africa avoids the worst of neocolonialism, tuberculosis is cured, Florida is destroyed, nuclear fusion remains just around the corner, and the beautiful news about the last new coral reef brings home all of the hope that's been built up.

[wyatttomlinson]

As someone who is writing a science fiction novel set in 2100, this will prove to be a valuable and fascinating resource! Plus, it's neat and needed on its own!

[simonabunker]

Amazing series! I love how fusion is always a couple of decades away! I think you dad would have been proud that this was dedicated to him.

[euler]

This was amazing to watch! Really appreciate all the effort you put into this! And also, the continuous jokes about nuclear fusion being just around the corner, in just a few more decades!

[supermatman]

I love this video style. It just so happens that I discovered BobbyBroccoli's work earlier today and thought to myself: hey, this reminds me of John Bois' video essays. Only to open this video and think to myself: hey, this reminds me of BobbyBroccoli's video essays.

[harrya-k]

Thank you Simon this was a really good video and while this video was framed as a retrospective from 2100, it felt to me a reminder that our future is not a pre-written, worst case scenario but a series of actions taken in the present tense over the next multiple decades. I have been watching your videos for over six years now and you have been an inspiration to me. Partly because of you, I have started a PhD this year investigating Climate Tipping Points. Hopefully we'll all be able to make a positive difference by the end.

[Gzeebo]

It's so hard to imagine us all coming together to face this challenge. You've given me hope that it's possible. And we don't have to wait 20 years. That's the most brilliant bit.