What Would Successful Climate Action Look Like?

Photo by Evan Demicoli on Unsplash | Can we stop producing crap?

I like to try to envision a world in which a serious ongoing climate program — with meaningful emergency measures suitable to the severity and scale of the crisis — actually happens. What would that look like? What would be happening that isn’t happening now? What’s happening now that would be stopped?

Before I begin, a disclaimer is necessary. First of all, I’m not a climate scientist and I believe we need to be enacting the recommendations of climate scientists, assisted by engineers and other true professionals in relevant fields. If and only if the climate science community endorsed my specific recommendations would I like them to be enacted. What I really want us to do is listen to the scientists.

However, in the absence of such a vision and set of plans by climate scientists, I offer my view as at least a theoretical starting point. In any case, I think we need to put forward a positive vision instead of merely reacting to proposals by those who are enthralled by the systems that are killing us. We can’t afford to be defensive. We need to set the stage and direct the conversation. We must be solutions-oriented, and break free of the timid unimaginative ideas that serve to merely excuse slow or ineffective ideas — which is what we have now.