True Optimism is Messy
How to find the right optimism for climate action
In today’s newsletter:
The view on climate optimism by Kim Stanley Robinson
New study shows there is no climate emergency
Climate positive flight routing — could this actually work?
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Cruel Optimism
As an outspoken climate optimist, oh have I been questioned on my optimism! I understand that optimism is tricky and that if it becomes a word merely intended to make people feel better, it can even do more damage than good.
Optimism, therefore, cannot be a bandaid we use to make scary times feel better. It must be the core of our actions, the fuel we use to continue the run.
It’s not about hoping for things to turn out OK or to even believing that they will, it’s understanding that without the willpower to keep going, there is no chance of a positive outcome at all.
In other words. Optimism is only real if it sparks action.
A few weeks ago I featured Ministry for The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson as the Climate Book of The Week. I recently stumbled across this article with him that I found fascinating in so many ways, especially in what he has to say about optimism.
Laidman (interviewer):
I’m far from the first person to note how optimistic this book is. It’s all about solutions. It’s not always pleasant how your world gets there, but it gets there. Are you really that optimistic?
Robinson:
The basic answer is, yes, if you think of optimism as pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will. It’s very important to contextualize optimism, or else you’d get into what’s cruel optimism, which is, “Everything’s going to be OK, so stop worrying. That’s cruel optimism because it’s not going be OK without immense effort.
Optimism of the will means you beat people with the reminder that we could still get to a good outcome, and we’re not doing it. But we could. And since we could, we should. This is the basic optimism-of-the-will argument. The scientists are telling us that if we decarbonize fast and if we even invent some carbon drawdown methods and put them to use, and pay for them, we could dodge the mass extinction event. The window for that is closing.
I love this answer so much because it speaks the truth — optimism can be harmful, even cruel if used the wrong way. In my book, I refer to it as toxic positivity and it’s very important we learn how to distinguish between the two and also how to create optimism that’s empowering and meaningful.
If you’re a returning reader for some time, you might know I call this becoming an Optimist In Action.
What we must recognize now is that the years ahead will be steeped in a lot of chaos. That is what the world looks like when old systems fall apart in order to build something new, something better. It’s chaotic and it’s messy. Much like a caterpillar in the cocoon before turning into a butterfly, chaos is unfolding in the dark. And in these messy times, we have to remember who we want to be and what we wish to believe in.
We must continue to activate that light, fuel that stubborn optimism, and continue the journey forward. Because at the end of the day, that will to continue is all we’ve got.
Robinson:
The future is going to be messy, and there will be defeats, and there’s going to be a constant stream of people on social media going, “Oh my God! We’re lost! We’re doomed!” And even saying it before there’s loss, “Oh my gosh, we’re doomed. We’ve lost.” Like we’re in the middle of a giant race and one of the racers just sits on the ground and starts crying and saying, “Woe was me.” It’s not appropriate. The race is still on.
Instead of Climate Optimism
1,200 Scientists and Professionals Declare: “There is No Climate Emergency”
A more click-baitable headline than that could be hard to find! Isn’t it the news we all want? But as I’m sure you understand, this article is more alarming than hopeful. Yes, the study is real and, apparently, 1,200 “scientists and professionals” have signed it. However, it doesn’t measure against the millions of scientists worldwide that have agreed on that climate change is real and that yes, humans are the ones causing it.
Luckily, these new “findings” have already been debunked.
Experts Debunk Viral Post Claiming 1,100 Scientists Say ‘There’s No Climate Emergency’
Not only has the post been debunked but it’s shown to have “strong political, professional and financial connections to the fossil fuel industry and influential right-wing and libertarian think tanks.”
I’m sharing these two articles today instead of the usual climate optimism news to bring awareness to the fact that intentional denilism and doubt planting still very much exists. It doesn’t mean that we should give into it or that we should spend much time fighting in that corner. If we do, we will only lose energy and focus we need to make a new and better world emerge.
We need YOU, your passion, and your energy to create the world of tomorrow. So as you continue to come across opposition like this, remember that it stems from fear, and continue on this journey as a guiding light moving foward.
Could This Actually Work?
In this video I came across recently on Instagram, it’s proposed that carefully calculating weather patterns when flying, to avoid passing through very cold and humid air, you eliminate the creation of these “airplane clouds” we’re so used to seeing across the skies. This Which — he says — will have a huge positive impact on climate change.
What do you think? It wouldn’t be the first time the thoughtful use of data helps us make smarter acts and choices but can it scale? And if so, what would it take to make sure an entire industry adopts these new standards? Watch the video and let me know your thoughts!