How did we arrive at such a sophisticated understanding of climate change, and yet still end up on the edge of disaster?Today: how 165 years of science and politics led to the United Nations declaring 'code red for humanity' this week – and why the story very nearly turned out differently.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes. Guest: Dr Alice Bell, author of Our Biggest Experiment: A History of the Climate Crisis. Host: David Aaronovitch.Clips: BBC, Sky News, CNN, DW News, Al Jazeera, ABC News, ITN, Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Margaret Thatcher Foundation, WJW-TV8 Cleveland, CBS, Shell, ExxonMobil, Competitive Enterprise Institute. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.