Introduction to Modern Climate Change

Chapter 10  ·  Resources

Exponential Growth

Doubling times, the arithmetic of growth, and why people consistently underestimate what an exponential does next.

Dr. Albert Bartlett on exponential growth

Arithmetic, Population and Energy Watch his talk and get ready to have your mind blown! (seriously)
albartlett.org ↗
The Essential Exponential! Dr. Bartlett also wrote numerous papers on exponential growth, many of which are collected in his book.
albartlett.org ↗

Examples of exponential growth

Folding paper Nice video of folding paper as an exponential problem.
youtube.com ↗

Unsustainability of exponential growth

Limits To Growth The unsustainability of exponential growth underlies many high impact analyses of our economy. A great example is this book, published in 1972. Many criticisms and updates to this book have also been published.
amazon.com ↗

Social cost of carbon

Discount rates: a boring thing you should know about (with otters) One of two good articles explaining the SCC and why it matters.
grist.org ↗
Q&A: The social cost of carbon The other one.
carbonbrief.org ↗

Miscellaneous

The AI revolution This is a terrific article about the exponential growth of the power of artificial intelligence and why it might concern you.
waitbutwhy.com ↗
Cartoon comparing public health and scientists reacting to exponential growth A great cartoon about how people don’t understand exponential growth. Source: @vb_jens