“The path to solving climate change is going to be tortuous, full of challenges and setbacks, but we must keep moving forward, adapting, and doing the best we can with what we have—because the stakes couldn’t be higher.”

Greg De Temmerman, Deputy CEO and Chief Science Officer at Quadrature Climate Foundation, took the stage at TED Countdown: Overcoming Dilemmas in the Green Transition in October 2024 to share his perspective on the complexities of global climate action.

Drawing on his experiences as an ultramarathon runner, Greg delivered a compelling talk that likened the race to net zero to a long, gruelling journey. Much like an ultramarathon, the fight against climate change is not linear—it demands resilience, adaptability, and the ability to navigate tough trade-offs.

Greg explored critical themes, including:

• The daunting scale of transformation required: Even with clear knowledge of what it takes to stop emitting greenhouse gases, the magnitude of change is staggering.
• Trade-offs in decarbonising mobility: How decisions to reshape transport and supply chains will deeply impact the fabric of daily life.
• Adaptability over perfection: Balancing the pursuit of "perfect" solutions with the urgency of taking immediate, practical action to transform energy systems.

The full talk is now available to watch on the TED website.

At Quadrature Climate Foundation, we take a science-led approach to unlocking solutions for a climate-resilient future, prioritising action that protects the world’s most vulnerable people.

In January 2025, Greg was also appointed Visiting Researcher at the Grantham Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. The Grantham Institute, based at Imperial College London, drives interdisciplinary innovation, research, and communication to help address the climate challenges facing society and shape the decisions of policymakers, businesses, and industry leaders.