When United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in 2018 described the climate crisis as the “defining moment of our time”, he was a...
When United Nations Secretary General António Guterres in 2018 described the climate crisis as the “defining moment of our time”, he was at least a couple of decades late. He was, however, accurate in forecasting a “dark and dangerous future”.
We are approaching “scientists’ worst-case scenarios,” he said. What makes this even more disturbing is that “we were warned”.
Climate change due to human emissions of greenhouse gasses is simply the biggest existential threat to life on the planet. And yet, we are confronted with two sorts of climate-change deniers among decision makers. One category is committed to extermination by pretending the science isn’t real. The other consists of people who make impassioned speeches about the future of our children while they fiddle around the edges in terms of action.
The good news is that social movement pressure for climate action has finally begun to show on some state governments. There is a much-needed emphasis on action. Unfortunately, much government-speak seems to betray a public relations’ strategy rather than a climate action strategy.
Take the recent comments of Maharashtra’s Environment Minister on the “road map” for climate action in Mumbai. Aaditya Thackeray provided a list of projects his government is pursuing. Under “mitigation” were listed electric buses, sewerage treatment plants, and urban...
