Thoughts for Tomorrow
Adaptation and Pies in the Sky
Things are what they used to be. Someone being interviewed in a respectable newspaper says, "Climate change? Weather? Yeah!, always gone up and down, not unusual." Rogue climatologist distorting the facts, fossil fuel lobbyist peddling disinformation? Not a bit of it. He is, (always seems to be men!), a performer and influencer with a massive fan base that apparently hangs on to every dismissive word about the climate emergency. Why oh why is the message still not getting through? By now, ignorant climate talk should be taken as shocking, or maybe satirical, just for a laugh but no, the interviewer chose to let it go and leave unsaid whatever she might really be thinking.Why is climate wisdom so underrated even now? It's not that the facts haven't been established. Of course mitigation towards 'net zero' is a worthy objective in reducing emissions but we're way past the point where it can stop climate and environmental breakdown of one type or another. Our lifestyles will have to change whether we like it or not. Isn't adaptation to whatever devastation is on its way, just as important an objective as net zero?
Unfortunately, adaptation on a grand scale carries complex problems for modern societies especially when extremes such as societal collapse cannot be ruled out. The current preoccupation by governments with global politics and their solid belief that economic growth is sustainable, is preventing serious consideration of how human communities must adapt for the sake of planetary wellbeing. Nature and humans are not separate and when everything's said and done, nature and the planet are likely to win in the survival stakes!
Image created by ChatGPT.
Ideas on adaptation are not in short supply and there are many options. Various ideas on sustainable lifestyles are freely available for anyone who cares to look. The worst option is indifference! One common factor that I wholly support is that much more can be done by local communities to promote self-sufficiency and encourage disconnection from the remote supply chains that are, or will be, threatened by the changing climate.....'Pie in the Sky' you say? Not at all. Creating sustainable and flourishing worlds at grass roots level is not unrealistic. Indigenous populations have done it for centuries!
Really effective adaptation should be properly coordinated at an international level with no country left behind. Sadly, the billionaires occupying the most powerful positions in global politics and industry have other ideas and they control social media and many newspapers. Adaptation in the form of isolationism has taken root in the new world order. What are this elite really up to? Do they genuinely believe there's no climate change emergency or . . . do they understand very well and are preparing the scene for the survival of the fittest, notably themselves and their rich friends? Another pie in the sky? Well, what do you think?