The talk used a wide range of historical statistics to classify these problems according to a heuristic “solvability index” based on the biophysical and sociopolitical tractability of these problems, as well as on the histories of how they have been addressed in countries that have faced them earlier: Japan, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea. In doing so, Dr. Harrell also presented a partial critique of the Environmental Kuznets Curve while affirming its limited utility as a heuristic device.
For friends who might have missed this lecture by Dr. Stevan Harrell, here is the webcast.