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From Pessimism to Action

  • Honest pessimism requires confronting reality before acting.
  • Jem Bendell's 2018 paper "Deep Adaptation" argues climate change is irreversible and near-term societal collapse is either likely, inevitable, or already unfolding, while critiquing sustainability efforts as insufficient.[1]
  • Bendell was once dismissed as alarmist, but subsequent climate data and events have proven him largely correct, with many measures exceeding predictions.
  • Even if the worst projections are wrong, preparedness pays off: if we are ready for the worst, we can face coming crises and help others.
  • Maintaining a realistic pessimistic outlook best informs rational decisions about the future.

References

  1. Bendell, J. (2018). Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy. IFLAS Occasional Paper 2. Institute for Leadership and Sustainability, University of Cumbria. https://www.lifeworth.com/deepadaptation.pdf

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