A letter to the Editor of The New Scientist from a Blaise
Bullimore in the UK states in much more compelling language what I have been
thinking and saying for several years
now. The best way to see this is to copy
her letter below (with some revisions).
“I agree wholeheartedly with your exhortation not to blow
the chance to save our climate. But barring a major miracle, it is game over:
not for saving the planet itself of course – ….., it will survive in some state
or other- but for saving a planet fit for supporting humanity and a good slice
of other life forms. The necessary time scales for the essential, tough actions
you describe …leave no room for optimism. Let's set aside for a moment the likes
of Trump and the commitment to exponential growth in the current economic model
(Full disclosure: I never articulated this compelling idea. Thanks, Blaise). ….. At 65, I will be spared the worst of the impacts of climate
change. The fate of everyone under the age of, say, 45 terrifies me, though. Speaking on behalf of
her generation at last month’s climate summit in Poland, 15 -rear old Greta
Thunberg said “We have not come here to beg the world leaders to care for our
future. They have ignored us in the past
and they will ignore us again. We have come
here to let them know that change is coming whether they like it or not.””
