In this episode, Sarah and Ian are joined by Dr Joyce Kimutai, climate attribution scientist at Imperial College London and member of World Weather Attribution (WWA), to unpack one of the most consequential fields in climate science. Joyce explains the world of attribution: quantifying how much human-induced climate change has altered the likelihood or intensity of specific extreme weather events. From the relatively straightforward case of heat waves — where the signal of climate change is now essentially guaranteed — to the far thornier problem of attributing localised flooding in data-sparse regions, the conversation covers both the power and the limits of the science. From her own research in Kenya, Rwanda and the DRC, Joyce illustrates what it means to do attribution science in regions where station networks are sparse, records are inconsistent, and data-sharing policies can block access entirely. The trio cover why satellite proxies and reanalysis products are not a reliable substitute when the underlying observations are missing.From all things loss and damage, litigation meeting climate science, the use of observations, and the unlikely and unique path that brought Joyce into the field, jump into the world of attribution and see how what dictates if it is or is not, Totally Cooked.Iain records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation. Sarah records Totally Cooked on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise their unique and continuing connection to the land, skies, waters, plants and animals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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