The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) released it’s most recent report, Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, on February 28th. But it received little attention, drowned out by news of the war in Ukraine.
Wanting to know more, I skimmed the 36 page “Summary for Policymakers”. In it are dire observations and predictions. Over three billion people (or about half the earth’s population) are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change: drought, floods, food scarcity, wildfires, storms, extreme heat, ecosystem collapse, human and species migration, and sea level rise. If drastic action is not taken now, the 2040s will be miserable for many. Charts and graphs show which areas of the world are most vulnerable. The report concludes that our options are narrowing, and the state of the earth is deteriorating more quickly than previously thought. Tough news. Enough to make me want to crawl into a hole or move to Maine’s north woods and live off the grid.
But then, as I read the last several pages, I discovered some amazing news! The 270 authors from 67 countries said:
Climate resilient development is facilitated by international cooperation and by governments at all levels working with communities, civil society, educational bodies, scientific and other institutions, media, investors and businesses; and by developing partnerships with traditionally marginalized groups, including women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and ethnic minorities (high confidence).
This is strong support for global democracy! Equity, inclusion and climate justice are embedded here, in this finding. The report goes on to define climate justice as follows:
The term climate justice…generally includes three principles: distributive justice which refers to the allocation of burdens and benefits among individuals, nations and generations; procedural justice which refers to who decides and participates in decision-making; and recognition which entails basic respect and robust engagement with and fair consideration of diverse cultures and perspectives.
I have long envisioned that we are on a journey towards a global democracy. Part of global democracy is a “caring economy”. In this economy, life and well being are our highest priorities, rising above maximizing profits and unlimited wealth for a few. As I write in my book, “Caring for people and the earth should be the principle on which exchange of goods and services is based.” To move towards this we need robust civic engagement, fair consideration of diverse perspectives, and broad participation in decision making,
The IPCC report affirms these views, and backs them with science. The 270 authors are scientific experts from developed and developing countries. The report was edited line by line by governments and scientists, and approved by consensus by the IPCC’s 195 member nations.
As dire as the findings are, in reading this report I see that we know what to do. And in our smaller worlds, we are doing it. Each time we listen to diverse views, focus on solutions, and work across sectors, communities and institutions; we are taking steps in the right direction. Instead of crawling into a hole, let us step up and continue to do our best work!