While many of us stay awake at night, haunted by the distant horrors of war, another unsettling tale unfolds slowly but surely, and it should command our immediate attention. The climate crisis, the once a looming threat I have often written about in this newsletter, has steadily escalated. Yet, as often before, it remains overshadowed by more immediate and visible events.
It seems a diabolical scheme of fate to have an aggregation of global crises occurring simultaneously to distract from the one that should take supremacy in the world’s attention and focus. As horrifying as are the cruel conflicts whose horrors shock us to our core, the one that will take a far greater number of lives and throw our planet into nightmarish chaos, is the ever escalating climate crisis.
It’s difficult to tear away our focus when our eyes and ears are assaulted with the heart wrenching scenes of war. We can’t be unaffected by the images that make us question humanity. But neither can we be come immune to seeing massive flooding that move cars and buildings, storms so powerful they can decimate a major city, or temperatures so extreme they cause widespread uncontrolled fires.
Only fools or greedy opportunists will deny this isn’t normal or that the cause is questionable. For decades we’ve been warned. For decades we’ve failed to act.
The Paris Agreement must be given a massive blood transfusion to save the life of our planet.
Some days as an editor you have to decide what breaking news catastrophe gets page one and above the fold. We are inundated with monumental catastrophes of late. The climate crisis needs to remain above the fold.
It is THE crisis, above anything else. If we don't solve this one, the whole planet, and all 8 billion of us plus the next generations, will suffer beyond imagination.
Once again your text draws our attention to a very urgent problem and its dramatic consequences we must face : fast climate change.
There is urgency, but realistically, I give great attention, and have a daily thorough reflection for a new adapted and protective behavior in all daily situations.
No trivializing.
Neither can we continue considering the catastrophic climate change as a common place.
yes, we should all do what we can. Apart from less flying, eating less meat, etcetera we should vote all the governments out that allow for this insanity of destroying our only home to go on.
There's always something to draw attention away from the climate emergency.
And as you said Otis barely made the news here.
The situation reminds me of changes in our personal lives. Putting things off because xyz has to happen/be resolved first. That's not how you make change happen. The time is now! We can only change what we make a priority.
I remember the global effort to safe the ozone layer when we all stopped using hairspray. A similar effort is clearly needed NOW.
The Montreal (ozone) agreement remains a wonderful example of what we can succesfully do, although it was far easier, especially since the business community had a clear interest as well and the causes of the problem were much less complicated.
It’s certain that current wars, as terrible as they are, must not distract the attention of leaders, but also of voters, from essential climate issues.
What seems serious is that discussions on climate issues are still part of the debates...
So what about the influence of these debates on populations, on voters and particularly on younger generations?
Some articles that I have read report a "weariness" of these voters in a world where problems become their daily life and accumulate, in addition to the occurrence of these wars: economic difficulties which worsen, national debates which are too politicized , problems linked to immigration, rise of terrorism. ...
And where it seems difficult for some voters to prioritize urgency between these crises.
A press article recently particularly caught my attention.
It is very interesting to read because it summarizes the “shocks” that can slow down climate action and also the risk of a possible advance of a new “climate-skeptical” populism:
“EU CLIMATE ACTION SLOWLY: WHAT ISSUES AS THE 2024 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS APPROACH?
Many voters make the same mistake as their leaders: once they enter the voting booth, they vote based on the latest news or on short-term interests instead of looking at the long-term picture. Still, generally the best functioning democracies in the world seem to have a better track record in dealing with environmental issues than flawed democaries or non-democratic countries.
Nov 1, 2023·edited Nov 1, 2023Liked by Alexander Verbeek 🌍
"Climate change is a lot like death, we all understand its inevitability but few of us truly accept it." Along with all the atrocities happening in the world, we were jarred by news of the death of "Friends" actor/author Matthew Perry. "When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year" You can say that again. For our planet; for humanity.
The annual "Dia de Muertos" Day of the Dead, is being celebrated world wide today. Marigolds, along with other cultural offerings, are placed on "ofrendas" to signify the beauty and fragility of life. I am making an ofrenda for the first time. These cultural traditions remind us our lives & the life of our planet is fragile.
"We are all living on this planet like we have another one to go to." This incredibly beautiful burning planet is all we have so yes, The Paris Agreement is always a good idea. As ever, thanks for the reminder, Alex.
It seems a diabolical scheme of fate to have an aggregation of global crises occurring simultaneously to distract from the one that should take supremacy in the world’s attention and focus. As horrifying as are the cruel conflicts whose horrors shock us to our core, the one that will take a far greater number of lives and throw our planet into nightmarish chaos, is the ever escalating climate crisis.
It’s difficult to tear away our focus when our eyes and ears are assaulted with the heart wrenching scenes of war. We can’t be unaffected by the images that make us question humanity. But neither can we be come immune to seeing massive flooding that move cars and buildings, storms so powerful they can decimate a major city, or temperatures so extreme they cause widespread uncontrolled fires.
Only fools or greedy opportunists will deny this isn’t normal or that the cause is questionable. For decades we’ve been warned. For decades we’ve failed to act.
The Paris Agreement must be given a massive blood transfusion to save the life of our planet.
yes, and the first option is COP 28, but I don't see signs of a drastic change in government's policies.
Some days as an editor you have to decide what breaking news catastrophe gets page one and above the fold. We are inundated with monumental catastrophes of late. The climate crisis needs to remain above the fold.
It is THE crisis, above anything else. If we don't solve this one, the whole planet, and all 8 billion of us plus the next generations, will suffer beyond imagination.
That is the way to stay above the fray. 🌎 FIRST!
Yes, planet first!
Yes
Once again your text draws our attention to a very urgent problem and its dramatic consequences we must face : fast climate change.
There is urgency, but realistically, I give great attention, and have a daily thorough reflection for a new adapted and protective behavior in all daily situations.
No trivializing.
Neither can we continue considering the catastrophic climate change as a common place.
yes, we should all do what we can. Apart from less flying, eating less meat, etcetera we should vote all the governments out that allow for this insanity of destroying our only home to go on.
There's always something to draw attention away from the climate emergency.
And as you said Otis barely made the news here.
The situation reminds me of changes in our personal lives. Putting things off because xyz has to happen/be resolved first. That's not how you make change happen. The time is now! We can only change what we make a priority.
I remember the global effort to safe the ozone layer when we all stopped using hairspray. A similar effort is clearly needed NOW.
Thanks for continuing to raise awareness.
The Montreal (ozone) agreement remains a wonderful example of what we can succesfully do, although it was far easier, especially since the business community had a clear interest as well and the causes of the problem were much less complicated.
It’s certain that current wars, as terrible as they are, must not distract the attention of leaders, but also of voters, from essential climate issues.
What seems serious is that discussions on climate issues are still part of the debates...
So what about the influence of these debates on populations, on voters and particularly on younger generations?
Some articles that I have read report a "weariness" of these voters in a world where problems become their daily life and accumulate, in addition to the occurrence of these wars: economic difficulties which worsen, national debates which are too politicized , problems linked to immigration, rise of terrorism. ...
And where it seems difficult for some voters to prioritize urgency between these crises.
A press article recently particularly caught my attention.
It is very interesting to read because it summarizes the “shocks” that can slow down climate action and also the risk of a possible advance of a new “climate-skeptical” populism:
“EU CLIMATE ACTION SLOWLY: WHAT ISSUES AS THE 2024 EUROPEAN ELECTIONS APPROACH?
https://www.taurillon.org/l-action-climatique-de-l-ue-au-ralenti-quels-enjeux-a-l-approche-des
Many voters make the same mistake as their leaders: once they enter the voting booth, they vote based on the latest news or on short-term interests instead of looking at the long-term picture. Still, generally the best functioning democracies in the world seem to have a better track record in dealing with environmental issues than flawed democaries or non-democratic countries.
"Climate change is a lot like death, we all understand its inevitability but few of us truly accept it." Along with all the atrocities happening in the world, we were jarred by news of the death of "Friends" actor/author Matthew Perry. "When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month or even your year" You can say that again. For our planet; for humanity.
The annual "Dia de Muertos" Day of the Dead, is being celebrated world wide today. Marigolds, along with other cultural offerings, are placed on "ofrendas" to signify the beauty and fragility of life. I am making an ofrenda for the first time. These cultural traditions remind us our lives & the life of our planet is fragile.
"We are all living on this planet like we have another one to go to." This incredibly beautiful burning planet is all we have so yes, The Paris Agreement is always a good idea. As ever, thanks for the reminder, Alex.
Thank you Sharon, I so much agree!