#38 — HOPES AND FEARS

MY HOPES

Somehow, in the nick of time, humans around the globe realize that preventing catastrophic warming is a dire necessity, worthy of a wartime effort. People in the northern hemisphere find that they can live good lives with a little less. They accept their responsibility to the people in the global south, who have done little to cause this problem, but have had to suffer much from its bitter result. They open their hearts and their borders to climate refugees.

We build a new, more diverse and equitable global energy system based on renewable wind and solar, safe nuclear, geothermal, hydro and tidal power. We find that, being released from the global tyranny of fossil fuels, we are able to lead healthier lives and that world conflicts are reduced. Many third world countries that had little to sell in a petroleum based world economy find that their solar resources are in high demand for clean hydrogen fuel.

Our brush with one environmental apocalypse makes us finally realize that the human race treads too heavily on the planet in a hundred other ways. We see that Planet Earth is a rare and beautiful gift, and that we have nowhere else to go. We find that indigenous cultures can help show us that meaningful lives can be lived by being a part of nature, rather than simply seeking to exploit it.

MY FEARS

A combination of science denial fueled by greed prevent many governments from meeting their commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. By the time the consequences of this delay force action, it is too late to prevent a global temperature rise of over 2 Celsius degrees.

Polar ice shelves begin to collapse, causing sudden sea level rise. Half a billion people flee to higher ground causing a tidal wave of climate refugees. Democratic governments slide into authoritarianism, driven by nativist elements whose ranks swell in response to refugee pressures. Borders slam shut, forcing refugees to either fight or starve. The combination of isolationism and global unrest hinder any unified approach to climate mitigation. Both climate and geopolitical forces descend into positive feedback loops.

Far fetched?

If you think my second scenario is far fetched, consider how close the US, arguably the world’s most stable democracy, is to succumbing to nativist fears brought about by relatively minuscule refugee pressures. Consider how many European governments are facing authoritarian challenges grounded in refugee issues.

Things you can do to help:

VOTE!

Thanks for reading,

Doug Hylan, Brooklin, Maine

We have just entered the most consequential decade in human history. The scientific assessment of climate change suggests this can either be our final hour, or our finest.

From THE FUTURE WE CHOOSE by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac