The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis

Artificial intelligence is defined as machines that mimic human intelligence based on algorithms using logic and methods of reasoning. One kind of AI is machine learning, in which machines use the data they collect to improve their performance. This could aid people in combatting climate change by helping efficiently allocate energy.

As used in this book, climate change refers to the warming of the planet as a result of human activity rather than natural causes. The emission of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels is climate change’s driving cause.

Confirmation bias is the phenomenon of seeking out information and opinions that support one’s existing beliefs, ignoring any evidence to the contrary. It is a potential obstacle to the fight against climate change, as it fuels phenomena like climate change denialism.

A greenhouse gas is a gas in the Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs energy, preventing it from escaping into space. When the sun’s rays warm the Earth, this warmth naturally moves upward and out of the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap that warmth much like a greenhouse does, increasing the Earth’s surface temperature. Among the gases that most contribute to this effect are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Usually measured by calendar year, GDP is the monetary value of a country’s goods and services. The authors argue that contemporary societies overvalue GDP, which causes countries to ignore not only climate change but also important measures of human wellness like health and education.

This geological period lasted for almost 12,000 years, from about 9,700 BCE to the mid-20th century. It was a period of stable climate following the last ice age and allowed humans to flourish on the Earth. Some scientists consider this period to extend into the 21st century, while others argue it has given way to the Anthropocene epoch.

This is a term coined by former governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney; it refers to what might happen without a carefully managed transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. Since so much of the world economy is invested in assets connected to fossil fuels, an abrupt change could cause the value of fossil fuel assets to drop sharply, resulting in economic hardship. The book’s discussion of this scenario reflects its orientation towards climate justice.

Also called “carbon neutrality,” net-zero emissions would occur when the Earth naturally absorbs the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity. As of the time of the book’s writing, humans emit more greenhouse gases than this. The goal in combatting climate change is to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.

This was the historic international treaty on climate change adopted by 195 nations at the end of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. The authors of this book were the architects of this agreement.

Rewilding is a kind of conservation effort that returns land to its natural state. It involves removing any harmful human effects and then reintroducing native plant and animal species. This often requires human intervention to start, but once the process is set in motion, nature maintains the ecosystem.

This is a Japanese term that translates literally as “forest bath.” It refers to “spending mindful time in the woods” as a way to boost physical and emotional health (74). The authors draw attention to forest bathing as an example of humanity’s interdependence with the natural world.

These are criteria proposed by the United Nations that reflect a country’s overall well-being. They are intended to be a substitute for GDP, which only measures economic output and which many people feel is not sufficient in characterizing the true state of a country. There are 17 SDGs in all: No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Reduced Inequalities; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life on Land; Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and Partnerships for the Goals.