Narrative Matters: Fighting not drowning - facing a harsh climate future with wisdom, hope and courage

Abstract

The most recent 2021 IPCC climate science update reminds us yet again that accelerating the transition to a just and resilient zero-carbon future clearly remains humanity's most urgent task. A great deal of hard work and a lot of luck may enable us to avoid some of the most dangerous climate change and ecological tipping points. Current and future generations are however on a journey into a world of more frequent and severe extreme weather events; more heatwaves, fires, floods and famines and more rapid extinctions of animals, birds and insects. Awareness, that this is going to be a very long emergency is a source of deep distress for many people passionately committed to decisive climate ac..