How to survive the climate crisis
CATASTROPHES, CYCLES, rampant fires, droughts, and floods. Our environment and our planet are issuing a distress call.
In Washington, D.C., a 12-year-old girl took to the streets with her friends, carrying a homemade sign showing the Earth consumed by red flames. In London, adults dressed in black formed a human barricade, disrupting traffic at Piccadilly Circus, while others glued themselves to the pavement in front of BP’s headquarters. In Seoul, streets were crammed with primary school students donning colourful backpacks and holding a banner that read “Climate Strike”, while in Bangkok, teenagers marched with signs proclaiming “Ocean levels are rising, so are we”.
It’s undeniable that millions of young people worldwide, stirred by Greta Thunberg, are protesting the decline of their living standards and demanding immediate action to tackle the prickly issue of the climate crisis.
The necessity for an ecologically safe environment is universally recognized, and everyone’s contribution is crucial to reversing climate change. Thus, we need a new narrative.
How much longer can we disregard or deny climate change? Why is it deemed the root of all problems? Can our lifestyle, consumption habits, and production methods coexist with a brighter future? How will life on Earth evolve by 2050 if we fail to meet the climate goals set by the Paris Agreement? Alternatively, what would life be like in a regenerative, carbon-neutral world?
These are some of the questions posed by the authors of “The Future We Choose”, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac. Christiana Figueres served as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016 and was the face of the most significant climate agreement, the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Tom Rivett-Carnac was her political affairs strategy officer at the UN.
Additionally, they are the co-founders of Global Optimism, an organization whose primary mission is to instigate environmental and social change. They collaborate closely with key climate advocates, including Greta Thunberg, Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, and David Attenborough.
From the opening pages, they ponder and caution: ‘The world is ablaze, from the Amazon to California, from Australia to Siberia’s Arctic region. It’s too late now, and no matter how long it’s been postponed, the time for consequences has arrived. “Will we sit back and watch the world burn, or will we choose to do what is necessary to shape a different future?”
The authors do not take a superficial approach to the climate crisis. They meticulously present the data and map out all possible future scenarios.
For instance, in the second chapter, “The World We Are Creating,” they paint a vivid picture of life on Earth in 2050. The air is hot and laden with suspended particles. Eyes water, and a persistent cough is the norm. Masks become necessary to protect oneself from air pollution. Mass migration becomes a reality in many parts of the world due to environmental changes. Food production is unstable, entire regions are afflicted by malnutrition epidemics, infant mortality rates skyrocket, and suicides increase rapidly. All these are the consequences of the previous generation’s inaction.
In the following chapter, the authors discuss the “world we must create” to adapt and avoid the catastrophic consequences of inaction in the face of unprecedented circumstances. Fast forward to 2050 again, but this time, the air is damp and clean. The number of trees has multiplied, and reduced temperatures have enhanced living conditions. Houses and buildings generate their own electricity, smart technology curbs unnecessary energy consumption, artificial intelligence replaces appliances, and petrol and diesel vehicles are relics of the past.
In essence, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac present the most likely versions of our future. Some grim predictions will come to pass, but the extent depends on us. “Our future is unwritten. It will be shaped by who we choose to be,” the authors argue, adding, “To survive and thrive, we must understand that we are inextricably linked to everything in nature. We need to cultivate a deep, enduring understanding that we are merely its stewards. This transformation starts with the individual.”
Looking back at the report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it’s clear that there is no time for procrastination. Particularly, the last five years (2016-2020) have been the warmest since at least 1850, the rate of sea level rise has almost tripled compared to the rate between 1901 and 1971, and the Antarctic ice sheet lost mass three times faster on average in 2010-2019 than in 1992-1999.
In the third section of the book, the authors outline ten necessary actions that need to be taken to prevent the timeframe from becoming even more critical. The authors underscore the necessity of leaving the old world behind, arguing that the foundational elements of today’s society must undergo a radical transformation.
A key concern they highlight is the challenge of defending truth in our current climate. The book posits that populist authoritarian leaders are not in search of long-term solutions, but instead opt for easy routes to deflect blame. Concurrently, climate change deniers, thriving in our post-truth era, amplify ignorance and misinformation. A critical approach becomes the only viable countermeasure.
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The authors also pay significant attention to the impact of consumerism, which they argue has birthed a distorted worldview. They suggest that we can all become more conscientious consumers, altering dominant habits and patterns. Unsurprisingly, topics such as the judicious use of technology, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and investing in clean economy models are also discussed in this intriguing study.
The universal need for an ecologically safe environment is acknowledged, and the importance of collective action to combat climate change is emphasized. The authors argue that we need a new narrative; the climate crisis is not a complex issue, but a matter of survival. It is not a challenge for a single nation, but the most critical global issue.
“The Future We Choose” provides a comprehensive overview of environmental challenges, offering potential solutions to avert the catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis. It presents current manifestations of the crisis in an informed manner, addresses key questions, and delves into all aspects of the issue.
This compelling read is certain to provoke thought and reflection, leaving readers to ponder: “What is the future we are choosing?”
