Technology advances thanks to scientists and engineers. But just as no pharaoh ever built a pyramid, capitalism did not develop clean energy technology. The systems under which we live—best described as plutocracy—allows fossil fuel profiteers to impede the use of alternative energy. That’s why adaptation has been so slow.

That said, insofar as they can get away with it under this system, scientists and engineers have done impressive work.

In a sane world, we’d have been on a worldwide crash program to stabilize the climate for decades now. THAT would have been the rational and thoughtful approach. Instead, we’ve had decades of delay and excuses, and now—starting so late—great suffering is unavoidable.

I only want this fixed. I don’t care who does it or who gets the credit. But I have little faith in sitting back and trusting a system that has such a long dismal record of failure to protect our children and our planet. That goes for other systems as well—the Russians, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India—every one of those countries and many more are ruining the Earth under the influence of oil profiteers.