“In many countries the public knows the old promise of tomorrow being better than today is finished. But they don't quite know why that is, or what to do about it. ...We seem trapped within the dynamics and momentum of this system. Therefore, my guess is it means that we won't change things. At least not in time to prevent catastrophe from a range of societal stressors, the most unavoidable of which is climate damage. So what to do about it? The first step is to stop pretending that we will prevent things from getting worse. Instead, to consider just how bad things will get and what in that context we could do to help. Once you have let go of those old stories of progress, there is nothing negative in working for a lesser dystopia.” - Jem Bendell.
The Madrid round of annual UN climate talks in December utterly failed – a perfect example of world leaders lacking seriousness about the existential threat we face. Australia continues to burn; a perfect example of how very serious our vulnerability is.
Here in the UK, the party with by far the worst rankings of its climate-policies – so bad that its leader preferred to be represented by a melting piece of ice rather than defend Conservative policies in live televised debate – has been handed electoral victory and a landslide 80 seat majority.
