Bill McKibben joins The Way Forward to explore the rapid rise of solar energy and China’s commanding role in the clean energy economy. Drawing from his latest book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben shares how the solar revolution is reshaping global dynamics — from the shift away from fossil fuels to the acceleration of decentralized power — and why local action still holds the key to a regenerative future.

In this episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, environmental leader Bill McKibben reveals the remarkable—and largely untold—story behind the global solar energy boom. Drawing from his new book Here Comes the Sun, McKibben explains how solar has moved from the margins to become the world’s cheapest, fastest-growing energy source, reshaping geopolitics, economics, and the fight for a livable planet.

We explore why the transition is accelerating so quickly, how China surged ahead in clean-energy manufacturing, what’s blocking progress in the U.S., and why decentralized energy strengthens both democracy and community resilience. McKibben makes a powerful case that the most impactful climate action isn’t individual—it’s collective organizing to change policy and scale solutions that match the crisis.

This is a conversation about speed, possibility, and the decisive decade ahead—and why a sun-powered world is much closer than we think.

Bill McKibben—author, journalist, and founder of 350.org and Third Act—is one of the world’s most influential climate voices. His new book, Here Comes the Sun, charts the extraordinary rise of solar power and what it means for the future.

Themes

• Solar is exploding globally—faster than anyone expected.
• Renewables are now the cheapest energy on Earth.
• China is dominating clean-energy manufacturing.
• Batteries and virtual power plants are transforming the grid.
• Collective action—not individual consumption—is what shifts systems.

UPCOMING LIVE EVENT

THE CLIMATE CROSSROADS – December 2, Live Online

A powerhouse panel with Bill McKibben, Dr. Rupert Read, and Brian McLaren, moderated by Dr. John Izzo as they explore what it will take to move from paralysis to action. Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action, and The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, this 90-minute event blends moral clarity with practical hope.

🗓 December 2 8–9:30 AM PST | 11–12:30 PM EST | 4–5:30 PM GMT 📍 Hosted by Elders Action Network, Elders Climate Action & The Way Forward Podcast 🔗 Register here: https://shorturl.at/hNYKg

Also visit and register at our Sutra to have an interactive experience with our 3 guests. Climate Crossroads Sutra

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is hosted by Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier and produced by Jim Burke. 📺 Watch on [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc| 🎧 Listen on [Apple Podcasts] podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803| 🌍 Connect with us: [Website] https://wayforwardpodcast.com/

• 🌿 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is made possible through the generous support of Elders Action Network (EAN) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network) and Elders Climate Action (ECA) https://eldersaction.org/ (Elders Action Network. These organizations are dedicated to empowering elders to take collective action for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. We’re deeply grateful for their leadership and for modeling what it means to be regenerative elders in action.

In this powerful episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, hosts John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with philosopher and climate activist Dr. Rupert Read and Manda Scott to explore the groundbreaking new book, Transformative Adaptation.

Is it too late to stop climate change? What does it mean to adapt with courage, not despair? And how can we transform ourselves and our systems to save what truly matters?

We dive deep into:

• The difference between shallow and transformative adaptation
• Why collapse isn’t inevitable — and how hope can be radical
• The moral and spiritual dimensions of climate action
• Practical steps for individuals and communities to adapt with integrity

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, hosts Dr. John Izzo and Alain Gauthier sit down with Rupert Read and Manda Scott to explore their new book Transformative Adaptation: Another World Is Still Just Possible.

We ask:

• Is it too late to stop the climate and ecological crisis?
• What’s the difference between “shallow” adaptation and “transformative” adaptation?
• How can communities move from resilience to true system change?
• Why do new stories—like Thrutopia—matter for creating a liveable future?

From real examples in Nepal and Rojava to the spiritual and narrative shifts needed to heal our “trauma culture,” this episode will leave you questioning what kind of future we can still build—together.

👥 Guest Bios & Links

Rupert Read – Philosopher, former Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, co-founder of the Climate Majority Project, and co-author of Transformative Adaptation. 🔗 Rupert’s Website | Climate Majority Project

Manda Scott – Award-winning novelist, podcaster (Accidental Gods), and co-author of Transformative Adaptation, pioneering the concept of Thrutopia storytelling. 🔗 Accidental Gods Podcast | Thrutopia

🙌 Call to Action

✨ Subscribe to The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations for more deep dialogues on climate, culture, and regeneration. 💬 Share this episode with a friend who cares about the future. ⭐ Leave us a comment—what does “transformative adaptation” mean to you?

🎙 Show Branding

The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is hosted by Dr. John Izzo & Alain Gauthier and produced by Jim Burke. 📺 Watch on [YouTube] https://www.youtube.com/@thewayforwardrc| 🎧 Listen on [Apple Podcasts] podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-forward-regenerative-conversations/id1651941803| 🌍 Connect with us: [Website] https://wayforwardpodcast.com/

🌿 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors This episode of The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations is made possible through the generous support of Elders Action Network (EAN) and Elders Climate Action (ECA). These organizations are dedicated to empowering elders to take collective action for a thriving, just, and sustainable future. We’re deeply grateful for their leadership and for modeling what it means to be regenerative elders in action.

On The Way Forward: Regenerative Conversations, John and Alain sit down with Brian McLaren to explore what it means to live—and lead—after doom. Drawing from Life After Doom, Brian reframes “doom” as the moment we realize our problems outsize our current solutions, then walks us from anger to grief to love as a generative path forward. Along the way, we unpack overshoot and the polycrisis beneath climate change, a practical four‑scenario map of possible futures, and everyday practices that keep us grounded—finding companions to talk with, time in nature, and deep honesty in prayerful reflection. The result is a clear‑eyed conversation that neither sugarcoats nor catastrophizes—and calls us to show up with courage, compassion, and love.

Show notes summary

What we cover

• What “doom” really names: not inevitable extinction, but the psychological shock when our problems feel bigger than our solutions—and how naming it opens a path beyond paralysis.
• Under the climate “cherry”: overshoot (taking too much, dumping too much) and the polycrisis that makes single‑issue fixes insufficient.
• Four scenarios for what’s next: collapse avoidance, collapse rebirth, collapse survival, collapse extinction—plus why clinging to certainty (optimism or despair) discourages action.
• From anger → grief → love: how grief can sweeten into love for places and people—and even temper how we regard those doing harm.
• Practices that help right now: find a small circle to talk with; seek daily time outdoors (“the birds are being awesome”); and cultivate honest, contemplative prayer—“holding our thoughts to the light.”
• Faith, power, and coalition: engaging Christian communities without dehumanization; critiquing money‑power capture; and reaching beyond left/right toward a deeper, earth‑honoring vision.

Key takeaways

• Name the feeling; don’t freeze there. Recognizing doom as an inner experience creates room for courage and community.
• Think systemically. If we “solve carbon” but ignore overshoot and the polycrisis, our children still inherit cascading risk.
• Work the middle path. Refusing both naïve optimism and total doom keeps us in the arena of action.
• Grief reveals love. Lament can deepen solidarity with people and places—and clarify what we will protect.
• Lead with love, not dehumanization. Our language matters; contempt escalates violence, while love enlarges coalitions.

Our heartfelt thanks to Elders Action Network (EAN) and Elders Climate Action (ECA) for the work they do and for their support of this conversation and community.

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Connect with Us

Web: https://wayforwardpodcast.com Email (comments & ideas): thewayforwardrc@gmail.com