How climate shocks could break the economy | Edmond Rhys Jones
Host Elise Hu introduces a TED talk by climate pathfinder Edmund Rhys-Jones, who explores the economic implications of climate change. Rhys-Jones argues that while climate science is detailed and alarming, traditional economic models understate real-world disruption because they ignore how climate shocks propagate through financial infrastructure. He calls for new, complexity-based simulations and financial innovations to better manage growing climate-related turbulence and safeguard a significant share of global GDP.
How satellites are supporting farmers across Africa | Catherine Nakalembe
Satellite food security specialist Catherine Nakalembe explains how she uses satellite imagery and machine learning to map and monitor crops across African countries, and why many existing models fail when applied to smallholder farms. In a follow-up conversation with TED Fellows Program Director Lily James-Olds, she describes the gap between powerful data systems and farmers' realities, the importance of ground-based data and local context, and her efforts to build practical, human-centered ways to turn drought and flood information into action. She also shares a grassroots project to establish soil moisture calibration stations in Africa and reflects on the institutional and financial barriers, as well as the sources of hope that keep her pursuing this work.