CLIMATE: WHAT NOW?

This article was triggered by John Pearce’s excellent analysis ‘Talking Tactics, at https://medium.com/eco-news/the-talking-tactics-bfff426f726

Polling in many nations show that most people are aware of climate disruption and concerned; so why do so few people care enough to push for change? To stop flying and cut driving? Why are global GHG emissions still climbing, despite the grim reality of increasingly damaging and frequent weather events? It’s always someone else that has to act - not us. I call this functional denial — people care, but not enough to actually do anything.

So we’re locked into a vicious circle of public apathy and political cowardice, each fueling the other. Corporate disinformation and media bias/apathy turbocharge this toxic process.

I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that we are simply not going to win this battle; that we are more than likely to see a global mean temperature rise at least of +2.5C above pre-industrial (that’s about 4.5F in old money), possibly more. This will precipitate some measure of economic breakdown, mass migration and regional conflict.

Does that mean I’ve given up? Hell no. I support all forms of activism, even those that I have chosen not to engage in myself. Fellow activists and I write letters to the local papers, make submissions to local and central government, lobby, protest, support legal action, and much more.

Why bother, if we’re doomed? Two reasons: firstly, we will get some wins; policies are changing, more people are aware — even if only marginally. Every 0.1C we can shave off the final temperature rise means the final disaster is a bit less catastrophic. And there may yet come a time when the tide of public opinion turns — when people care enough to break the current deadlock.

Secondly, to give up seems morally bankrupt — too much like being an accessory before the fact. That way lies global economic meltdown, mass migration and regional conflict.

No surrender.