We're almost in a supertropical world now

July 12, 2024

Adrian Glikson reports how climate scientists have become increasingly cautious about what they report for fear of having their credibility undermined by climate change deniers. Many climate scientists consider the climate risks that we face to be far more serious than anyone is prepared to publicly acknowledge. Glikson’s ‘supertropical’ world is close.

We need urgent action to cut global fossil fuel emissions. We must do this in the face of the fossil fuel industry’s, and other climate deniers’, resistance. Those in positions to implement this urgent action this are mostly populist politicians, swaying with the breeze of public opinion, or autocrats, exercising their power largely divorced from the concerns of their peoples. Given that this crisis has been growing in intensity for decades, and that at every stage it has been denied or dismissed as overblown by so many in power, how can it be genuinely addressed at this very late stage?

There may be no safe, measured roads ahead: the barriers of vested interest – financial or political – seem unlikely to accommodate the major changes that our planet needs.

Violet Coco pins her hopes on a popular uprising to power the changes we need. She may be right.