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‘Excellent, inspiring calls for a new politics as the only solution to our climate catastrophe … she can lift your spirits with a metaphor, a parable … urgent and nourishing’

P EN GU IN P RES S ON FIRE

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‘An urgent book that never surrenders hope, committed to the idea that we can act and insistent that we must. Klein’s message could not be more timely’ C O R Y D O C T O R O W, L O S A N G E L E S T I M E S

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p e ng u i n b o ok s

ON F I R E

‘Naomi Klein makes a keenly argued, well-researched and impassioned case . . . You need to read this book’ David Grinspoon, Washington Post ‘Superb’ Robert Macfarlane ‘Her nose for the cultural zeitgeist is astute . . . An invigorating message of climate hope through social transformation. Bring on the revolution’ Fred Pearce, New Scientist ‘A hero’ Owen Jones ‘Naomi Klein’s work has always moved and guided me. She is the great chronicler of our age of climate emergency, an inspirer of generations’ Greta Thunberg ‘She sets out her argument with a precision that matches her passion . . .

This is a scorching volume for a heated time. The fire next time, it turns out, is now’ David Shribman, Boston Globe ‘In On Fire, the longstanding critic of corporate globalisation argues for a much more comprehensive economic reboot . . . a long-lensed critique about humanity's relationship to nature’ Jonathan Ford, Financial Times ‘I didn’t know this would change my life. It told me what I had to do, and it motivated me to do it’ Jane Fonda ‘A hopeful vision of the future . . . In these extraordinary times it should appeal to a new set of readers looking for extreme solutions to match the extremity of the crisis. This is Klein doing what she does best’ Harriet Constable, Geographical Magazine ‘A powerful and righteous blast against defeatism’ Andrew Lynch, Business Post ‘Klein’s logical, rational vision drew me into her panoramic view of the state we’re in. Naomi Klein is a brilliant prose writer. Her language is clear, simple and direct . . . On Fire is a book for our era, a timely reminder of how the world economy has developed and what this will mean for our children’ Anne Garvey, Jewish Chronicle

‘On Fire is possibly Klein’s best book. It burns with anger at the way the rich and powerful have failed to act on climate change because it means challenging their right to make money. I urge you to read this book’ Martin Empson, Socialist Review ‘Naomi Klein is the intellectual godmother of the Green New Deal – which just happens to be the most important idea in the world right now’ Bill McKibben ‘The greatest theorist of climate change’ Amitav Ghosh ‘Masterful . . . What separates Klein from many other advocates for a Green New Deal is her balanced combination of idealism and politics-based realism . . . Another important addition to the literature on the most essential issue of our day’ Kirkus Reviews

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author of the international bestsellers No Logo, The Shock Doctrine, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate, and No Is Not Enough: Defeating the New Shock Politics. In 2017 she joined The Intercept as Senior Correspondent. Recent articles have also appeared in the Guardian, The Nation, The New York Times, the New Yorker and Le Monde. In November 2016 she was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in Australia.

ON

Naom i K l e i n On Fire

The Burning Case for a Green New Deal

The Burning Case for a

GREEN NEW DEAL

NAOMI KLEIN SIMON & SCHUSTER NEW YORK

LONDON

TORONTO

SYDNEY

P EN GU I N B O O K S

NEW DELHI

P E NGU I N B OOK S UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia India | New Zealand | South Africa Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published in the United States of America by Simon & Schuster 2019 First published in Great Britain by Allen Lane 2019 Published in Penguin Books 2020 001 Copyright © Naomi Klein, 2019 Foreword copyright © Naomi Klein, 2020 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 978–0–141–99130–6

www.greenpenguin.co.uk Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.

For For A RT AH RT UH R UMRAM NA UN EU L EL 1951–2017 1951–2017

TheThe future future isn’tisn’t castcast intointo one one inevitable inevitable course. course.

On On the the contrary, contrary, we could we could cause cause the the sixthsixth great great massmass extinction extinction event event in Earth’s in Earth’s history, history, or we or could we could create create a prosperous a prosperous civilization, civilization, sustainable sustainable overover the the longlong haul.haul.

Either Either is posis possiblesible starting starting fromfrom now.now.

— KI— MKI S TA M N S TA L EN YLRO E YBIN RO SBIN O NS O N

CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS

Foreword Foreword Foreword xiii xiii xiii Introduction: “We Are the Wildfire” Introduction: Introduction: “We“We Are the AreWildfire” the Wildfire” 1 1 1 A Hole in the World A Hole A Hole in the inWorld the World 54 54 54 Capitalism vs. the Climate Capitalism Capitalism vs. the vs.Climate the Climate 70 70 70 Geoengineering: Testing the Waters Geoengineering: Geoengineering: Testing Testing the Waters the Waters 104 104 104 When Science Says That Political Revolution Is Our Only Hope When When Science Science SaysSays ThatThat Political Political Revolution Revolution Is Our Is Only Our Only HopeHope 110 110 110 Climate Time vs. the Constant Now Climate Climate TimeTime vs. the vs.Constant the Constant NowNow 119 119 119 Stop Trying to Save the World All by Yourself StopStop Trying Trying to Save to Save the World the World All by AllYourself

by Yourself 129 129 129 A Radical Vatican?

A Radical A Radical Vatican?

Vatican?

137 137 137

x

x

CONTENTS CONTENTS

Let Them Let Them Drown: Drown: The Violence The Violence of Othering of Othering in a Warming in a Warming World World 149 149 The Leap The Leap Years: Years: Ending Ending the Story the Story of Endlessness of Endlessness 169 169 Hot Take Hot Take on a on Hota Planet Hot Planet 191 191 Season Season of Smoke of Smoke 207 207 The Stakes The Stakes of Our of Historical Our Historical Moment Moment 234 234 Capitalism Capitalism Killed Killed Our Climate Our Climate Momentum, Momentum, Not “Human Not “Human Nature” Nature” 243 243 There’s There’s Nothing Nothing Natural Natural About About Puerto Puerto Rico’s Rico’s Disaster Disaster 253 253 Movements Movements Will Will Make, Make, or Break, or Break, the Green the Green NewNew DealDeal 259 259 The Art TheofArt the ofGreen the Green NewNew DealDeal 272 272 Epilogue: Epilogue: The Capsule The Capsule CaseCase for afor Green a Green NewNew DealDeal 280 280 Acknowledgments Acknowledgments 293 293 Publication Publication Credits Credits 297 297 IndexIndex 299 299

Foreword Foreword

“Do “Do we really we really needneed to fixtoeverything fix everything at once? at once?

Can’tCan’t we solve we solve climate climate change change

firstfirst and and thenthen tackle tackle our our broken broken health health carecare infrastructure infrastructure and and sys-systemic temic inequality?” inequality?”

“Most “Most people people don’t don’t wantwant revolutionary revolutionary change—they change—they wantwant small small steps.” steps.”

“Trillions, “Trillions, you you say—who say—who has has thatthat kindkind of money?” of money?”

As with As with any any thesis-driven thesis-driven book, book, there there was was some some pushback pushback to the to the firstfirst edition edition of On of Fire, On Fire, which which came came out out in September in September 2019.

2019.

I’m I’m not not complaining: complaining: that’s that’s always always beenbeen partpart of the of fun the fun of publishing of publishing books. books.

What What did did come come as some as some surprise, surprise, however, however, was was howhow few few of of the disagreements the disagreements I encountered I encountered focused focused on the on book’s the book’s mainmain arguarguments. ments.

I didI did not not hear,hear, for example, for example, thatthat capitalism capitalism has has the the capacity capacity to solve to solve the the climate climate crisis crisis without without real real change change to the to the existing existing eco-economic nomic structure. structure.

Or that Or that lowering lowering emissions emissions fast fast enough enough to keep to keep us us safesafe can can be done be done withwith a few a few tweaks tweaks to market to market incentives incentives and and some some gee-whiz gee-whiz technological technological fixes. fixes.

Besides Besides the the shrinking shrinking poolpool of hardof hardcorecore climate-change climate-change deniers, deniers, I didI did not not eveneven hearhear thatthat the the threat threat of of ecological ecological breakdown breakdown was was exaggerated, exaggerated, and and thatthat we had we had plenty plenty of of timetime to fix toit. fix it.

What What I hitI up hitagainst up against mostmost frequently frequently was was a powerful a powerful sense sense of of doom. doom.

Mostly, Mostly, there there was was agreement agreement thatthat a Green a Green NewNew Deal–scale Deal–scale government government response response is our is our onlyonly hopehope of preventing of preventing catastrophic catastrophic

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ON FIRE ON FIRE

warming warming but,but, particularly particularly among among some some journalists, journalists, it was it was taken taken as as a given a given thatthat it’s just it’s just not not going going to happen. to happen.

NotNot because because the the theory theory behind behind the need the need for itfor is it mistaken, is mistaken, but but because because it is it just is just . . . too . . .much. too much.

TooToo much much ambition. ambition.

TooToo much much speed. speed.

TooToo much much disruption. disruption.

AndAnd definitely definitely too too much much money. money.

ThisThis edition edition comes comes a mere a mere one one yearyear later,later, but but those those objections objections I encountered, I encountered, dressed dressed in the in the cloak cloak of common-sense of common-sense seriousness, seriousness, nownow sound sound like like dispatches dispatches fromfrom another another world. world.

As IAswrite, I write, our our world world is literally is literally on fire: on fire: cities cities are burning are burning in uprisings in uprisings against against rac-racist police ist police violence violence layered layered on top on top of untenable of untenable economic economic injustice. injustice.

TheThe firesfires of climate of climate disruption, disruption, meanwhile, meanwhile, continue continue unabated: unabated: sincesince I chose I chose the the titletitle for this for this book, book, hugehuge swaths swaths of the of the Amazon Amazon rainforest rainforest havehave burned, burned, as have as have largelarge partsparts of Australia. of Australia.

AndAnd thenthen there there is the is the coronavirus coronavirus pandemic, pandemic, which which has has thrust thrust the the entire entire globe globe intointo an era an era of rapid of rapid and and radical radical change. change.

Radical Radical changes changes to our to our individual individual habits, habits, expectations, expectations, and and routines. routines.

RadiRadical changes cal changes to government to government and and fiscal fiscal policy. policy.

Radical Radical changes changes to the to the relationships relationships between between powerful powerful nation nation states. states.

AndAnd radical radical changes changes to the to the natural natural world world around around us—from us—from sudden sudden drops drops in air, in water, air, water, and and noise noise pollution pollution to abrupt to abrupt shifts shifts in the in the behavior behavior of countless of countless wildwild species. species.

If nothing If nothing else,else, the past the past few few months months havehave put put the lie theto liethe to idea the idea thatthat late late capitalist capitalist societies societies are are incapable incapable of seismic of seismic transformatransformationstions on aon deadline. a deadline.

Indeed, Indeed, fromfrom India India to Europe to Europe to Argentina to Argentina to to the the United United States, States, we have we have witnessed witnessed the the mostmost aggressive aggressive governgovernment ment interventions interventions in the in the economy economy sincesince the the Second Second World World War.War. In the In U.S., the U.S., car manufacturers car manufacturers havehave started started making making medical medical equipequipment. ment.

Spain Spain has has nationalized nationalized all its all private its private hospitals. hospitals.

AndAnd thenthen there there havehave beenbeen the shutdowns: the shutdowns: deliberate deliberate decisions decisions to close to close down down all but all but essential essential businesses, businesses, as well as well as schools as schools and and other other corecore ser- services, vices, in order in order to deprive to deprive the virus the virus of new of new opportunities opportunities to spread. to spread.

FOREWORD FOREWORD

xvii xv xvii

I write I write this this in New in New Jersey Jersey nearnear the the end end of our of our thirdthird month month of of “shelter “shelter in place” in place” orders. orders.

On On mostmost days,days, wellwell overover 100 100 people people herehere die from die from the the virus—a virus—a marked marked decrease decrease fromfrom our our peak, peak, but but still still the the second second highest highest death death raterate of any of any statestate in the in the United United States, States, the the country country withwith (so far) (so far) the largest the largest coronavirus coronavirus death death toll toll in the in world. the world.

Where Where I live, I live, everyone’s everyone’s life has life has changed, changed, though though by no bymeans no means in the in the samesame way.way.

For For my my neighbors neighbors laboring laboring in hospitals in hospitals and and in in Amazon Amazon warehouses—two warehouses—two of the of the biggest biggest locallocal employers—work employers—work has has beenbeen likened likened to going to going to war to war without without bodybody armor, armor, withwith death death stalking stalking every every shift.shift.

Those Those of usofwho us who teach teach at the at nearby the nearby public public uni-universities, versities, in sharp in sharp contrast, contrast, spend spend our our daysdays toggling toggling between between homehomeschooling schooling our our ownown kidskids (if we (if have we have them) them) and and teaching teaching students students overover video video calls.calls.

We We trade trade strategies strategies for dealing for dealing withwith student student anxi-anxiety over ety over evaporating evaporating future future plans. plans.

We We raiseraise funds funds for the for thousands the thousands of immigrant of immigrant families families in our in our statestate in dire in dire need. need.

Driving, Driving, flying, flying, and and shopping shopping havehave all been all been pared pared down down to the to most the most essential essential trips. trips.

Given Given howhow much much the virus the virus had had already already spread spread before before mostmost gov-governments ernments began began taking taking it seriously, it seriously, these these drastic drastic lock-down lock-down meameasures sures havehave beenbeen embraced embraced as the as the onlyonly wayway to prevent to prevent the the global global death death toll toll fromfrom racing racing intointo the millions. the millions.

AndAnd yet the yet economic the economic and and human human costscosts havehave beenbeen cataclysmic. cataclysmic.

Landmark Landmark retailers retailers are disapare disappearing. pearing.

Small Small family-owned family-owned businesses businesses faceface an existential an existential threat. threat.

And,And, as ofasearly of early JuneJune 2020, 2020, 40 million 40 million people people havehave beenbeen added added to to the unemployment the unemployment rollsrolls in the in United the United States States alone. alone.

In the In the faceface of this of this kindkind of economic of economic carnage, carnage, other other drastic drastic government government measures measures havehave alsoalso beenbeen taken. taken.

Central Central banks banks havehave injected injected trillions trillions intointo markets; markets; governments governments havehave spent spent hundreds hundreds of billions of billions bailing bailing out out failing failing industries; industries; families families and and individuals individuals in need in need havehave received received direct direct government government aid aid as well as well as rent as rent and and mortgage mortgage relief. relief.

But But compared compared to the to the gusher gusher of funds of funds directed directed at at wealthy wealthy companies, companies, often often withwith no oversight no oversight and and no strings no strings attached, attached,

xviii xviii xvi

ON FIRE ON FIRE

the the aid to aidindividuals to individuals (and(and small small businesses) businesses) has has beenbeen a pittance, a pittance, at at leastleast herehere in the in United the United States.

States.

AndAnd many many of those of those mostmost in need— in need— migrant migrant workers workers and and undocumented undocumented immigrants—have immigrants—have beenbeen shutshut out out of aid of programs aid programs entirely. entirely.

So my So my point point is not is not to romanticize to romanticize the the forms forms of change of change thatthat the the Covid-19 Covid-19 pandemic pandemic has has ushered ushered in. Itin.isItonly is only to observe to observe thatthat these these seismic seismic shifts shifts to public to public policy policy and and private private liveslives havehave unfolded unfolded overover a period a period of less of than less than threethree months. months.

By the By the timetime you you readread these these words, words, the the world world will will havehave changed changed again: again: some some economies economies will will havehave reopened reopened entirely, entirely, others others maymay havehave closed closed for afor second a second time; time; the the pandemic pandemic maymay be receding, be receding, it may it may wellwell be roaring be roaring backback withwith greater greater ferocity. ferocity.

What What we do weknow do know for certain, for certain, however, however, is that is that the the ideaidea thatthat we humans we humans cannot cannot do what do what is required is required to confront to confront the the climate climate crisis crisis because because it’s “too it’s “too much”—whether much”—whether too too much much change change or too or too much much money money or too or too much much effort effort or too or too much much sacrifice—was sacrifice—was always always a convenient a convenient myth myth peddled peddled by those by those in whose in whose interests interests it it was was for things for things to remain to remain the the same. same.

Clearly, Clearly, when when societies societies decide decide to treat to treat an emergency an emergency as anasemergency—precisely an emergency—precisely whatwhat the the activactivists profiled ists profiled in this in this book book havehave beenbeen calling calling for—all for—all manner manner of posof possibilities sibilities instantly instantly bloom. bloom.

AndAnd when when governments governments are are genuinely genuinely understood understood to be tomaking be making changes changes in the in the interest interest of protecting of protecting life life and and keeping keeping people people safe,safe, and and when when these these changes changes are imposed are imposed on on individuals individuals and and big big business business alike, alike, mostmost of us of are us are willing—even willing—even eager—to eager—to do our do our part.part.

Does Does this this mean mean our our chances chances of winning of winning a Green a Green NewNew DealDeal are are better better nownow thanthan before before the the pandemic? pandemic?

On On good good days,days, I hold I hold out out hopehope thatthat theythey are. are.

TheThe kindkind of bold of bold platform platform described described in these in these pages pages is anis attempt an attempt to address to address multiple multiple crises crises at once—to at once—to simulsimultaneously taneously fightfight climate climate breakdown, breakdown, poverty, poverty, underemployment, underemployment, and and systems systems of racial of racial and and gender gender domination. domination.

A Green A Green NewNew DealDeal doesn’t doesn’t ask anyone ask anyone to wait to wait for justice. for justice.

AndAnd the pandemic, the pandemic, more more thanthan

FOREWORD FOREWORD

xix xix xvii

any any event event in my in lifetime, my lifetime, has has provided provided us all uswith all with a crash a crash course course in in whywhy disaster disaster response response demands demands this this kindkind of intersectional, of intersectional, multimultifaceted faceted approach. approach.

When When the lockdowns the lockdowns firstfirst began, began, there there was was a great a great dealdeal of talk of talk about about howhow we were we were all inallthis in this together together and and “viruses “viruses don’t don’t discrimidiscriminate.” nate.”

But,But, as with as with natural natural disasters, disasters, suchsuch talk talk turned turned out out to be tofar be far fromfrom true.true.

In fact, In fact, Covid-19 Covid-19 revealed revealed itselfitself as a as ruthless a ruthless detective, detective, shining shining a spotlight a spotlight intointo every every corner corner and and crevice crevice of our of our society society where where life life and and labor labor werewere being being abused abused and and discounted. discounted.

ThatThat is is where where it spread it spread like like wildfire. wildfire.

ThatThat is where is where it killed it killed in its ingreatest its greatest numbers: numbers: wherever wherever bodies bodies werewere overworked, overworked, traumatized, traumatized, stressed, stressed, or poisoned. or poisoned.

It spread It spread in Amazon in Amazon warehouses, warehouses, where where every every move, move, every every ges-gesture,ture, and and every every second second is measured is measured to increase to increase worker worker productivproductivity and ity and efficiency. efficiency.

It spread It spread in industrial-scale in industrial-scale meatpacking meatpacking plants, plants, where where amputations amputations havehave longlong beenbeen considered considered an acceptable an acceptable risk risk of of going going to work. to work.

It spread It spread in bunkhouses, in bunkhouses, where where migrant migrant farmworkfarmworkers, ers, stripped stripped of all ofrights, all rights, sleepsleep between between shifts. shifts.

It spread It spread in all inthe all the places places where where humans humans werewere treated treated as interchangeable as interchangeable extensions extensions of of machines. machines.

It also It also tooktook enormous enormous tollstolls in the in the darkest darkest places places where where human human liveslives werewere being being locked locked up, up, hidden hidden away, away, and and written written off. off.

Prisons.

Prisons.

Border Border camps. camps.

Favelas.

Favelas.

In care In care homes homes thatthat treattreat our our elders elders and and the the people people whowho carecare for them for them as profit as profit centers, centers, not not people people in in needneed of respect of respect and and dignity. dignity.

Anyone Anyone can can catch catch the the virus, virus, true.true.

But But bodies bodies weakened weakened by the by stresses the stresses of poverty, of poverty, pollution, pollution, and and systemic systemic racism racism havehave proven proven far less far less ableable to fight to fight it off. it off.

Racism Racism and and inequality inequality havehave alsoalso shaped shaped the the response response to the to the crisis. crisis.

Because Because eveneven though though governments governments werewere willing willing to put to put economic economic activity activity on hold on hold in the in the name name of human of human health health when when it it seemed seemed like like everyone everyone was was at risk, at risk, onceonce it was it was clearclear thatthat the the virusvirus presented presented the the greatest greatest threat threat to those to those whowho had had already already beenbeen

xx

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discounted—working-class discounted—working-class people, people, poorpoor people, people, Black Black and and brown brown people, people, old old and and disabled disabled people—the people—the callscalls to “open to “open up the up the econeconomy” omy” grewgrew louder louder and and more more violent. violent.

When When Minneapolis Minneapolis police police of- officers ficers werewere filmed filmed casually casually choking choking the life the out life out of George of George Floyd, Floyd, an an African African American American manman whowho had had allegedly allegedly paidpaid for cigarettes for cigarettes withwith a a forged forged $20 $20 bill,bill, it was it was the last the last straw. straw.

Cities Cities wentwent up inupflames in flames of rage. of rage.

ThisThis conflagration conflagration is a isliving a living rebuke rebuke to those to those whowho havehave longlong insisted insisted thatthat we can we can craftcraft a response a response to the to climate the climate crisis crisis thatthat hives hives it offitfrom off from the many the many other other crises crises we face. we face.

In truth, In truth, every every large-scale large-scale disaster, disaster, whether whether it begins it begins in the in body the body or begins or begins in the in atmosphere, the atmosphere, contains contains virtually virtually every every other other disaster disaster within within it. Whatever it. Whatever was was bad bad before before the the disaster disaster getsgets downgraded downgraded to unbearable. to unbearable.

AndAnd whoever whoever was was treated treated as disposable as disposable before before getsgets downgraded downgraded to sacrificial. to sacrificial.

ThisThis is one is one of the of wrenching the wrenching lessons lessons of the of coronavirus the coronavirus pandemic, pandemic, and and it is itwhy is why we must we must embrace embrace holistic holistic change. change.

Indeed, Indeed, these these times times of rapid of rapid and and startling startling change change make make a great a great many many things things feel feel more more possible possible thanthan just just a few a few months months ago.ago.

Having Having heldheld countless countless conferences conferences and and meetings meetings overover video, video, many many profesprofessionals sionals are now are now rightly rightly questioning questioning the necessity the necessity of large of large portions portions of of theirtheir pre-Covid pre-Covid air travel, air travel, a revelation a revelation thatthat could could havehave largelarge climate climate benefits. benefits.

TheThe systemic systemic violations violations of worker of worker rights rights in meatpacking in meatpacking plants, plants, meanwhile, meanwhile, havehave convinced convinced many many more more people people thatthat cutting cutting meatmeat fromfrom theirtheir dietsdiets is a moral is a moral imperative: imperative: another another potential potential boon boon for the for climate. the climate.

Several Several cities cities thatthat opened opened up dramatically up dramatically more more bikebike laneslanes and and pedestrian pedestrian roads roads during during the the pandemic pandemic (to facilitate (to facilitate so- social cial distancing) distancing) havehave decided decided to make to make these these changes changes permanent, permanent, in in order order to reduce to reduce air and air and noise noise pollution pollution and and improve improve quality quality of life. of life.

AndAnd bigger bigger questions questions are being are being asked. asked.

If governments If governments can can pay pay millions millions of workers of workers theirtheir full full salaries salaries (or close (or close to it) toto it)shelter to shelter in in place—as place—as theythey havehave donedone in several in several countries countries including including the the NethNetherlands erlands and and Germany—then Germany—then whywhy can’tcan’t governments governments pay pay millions millions

FOREWORD FOREWORD

xxi xxi xix

more more to perform to perform green green jobs,jobs, like like planting planting trees, trees, remediating remediating pol-polluted luted land,land, and and building building energy-efficient energy-efficient affordable affordable homes? homes?

Why Why can’tcan’t theythey be paid be paid to retool to retool theirtheir skillsskills to shift to shift fromfrom high-carbon high-carbon sectors sectors to zero-carbon to zero-carbon ones? ones?

Yes,Yes, it’s all it’sexpensive. all expensive.

But But if our if our gov-governments ernments could could pump pump trillions trillions of new of new currency currency intointo a faltering a faltering market, market, surely surely there there is money is money to be tofound be found for afor planet a planet on fire. on fire.

I amI not am not claiming claiming these these will will be easy be easy fights fights to win. to win.

I have I have beenbeen studying studying disasters disasters longlong enough enough to know to know thatthat politics politics is more is more likely likely to to shiftshift in the in opposite the opposite direction. direction.

In Hungary In Hungary and and Israel, Israel, we are we seeing are seeing an acceleration an acceleration of authoritarian of authoritarian rulerule under under cover cover of pandemic; of pandemic; fromfrom the West the West Bank Bank to Hong to Hong Kong, Kong, we are we seeing are seeing obscene obscene power power grabs. grabs.

Military Military tanks tanks are rolling are rolling through through the streets the streets of US of US cities, cities, egged egged on on by aby president a president whowho has has strongly strongly hinted hinted he will he will question question the the legitilegitimacy macy of the of coming the coming presidential presidential elections elections if they if they don’t don’t go his go way. his way.

Meanwhile, Meanwhile, in the in the name name of “getting of “getting backback to growth,” to growth,” the the veryvery industries industries at the at heart the heart of the of climate the climate crisiscrisis are in arethe in process the process of winof winningning a slew a slew of regulatory of regulatory and and tax victories tax victories on top on top of their of their bailout bailout billions. billions.

In the In the United United States States and and China, China, governments governments havehave slashed slashed many many rulesrules restricting restricting air and air and water water pollution. pollution.

Australia’s Australia’s government government has has promised promised to cut to the cut “green the “green tape” tape” and and usher usher in a in “gas-led a “gas-led recovrecovery.”ery.”

In India, In India, an iconic an iconic elephant elephant sanctuary sanctuary is being is being opened opened up to upcoal to coal mining. mining.

In Brazil, In Brazil, loggers loggers and and miners miners are using are using the virus the virus as cover as cover to to further further razeraze the Amazon. the Amazon.

At the At same the same time,time, the trillions the trillions injected injected intointo the markets the markets are already are already being being usedused to prepare to prepare the ground the ground for brutal for brutal economic economic austerity—to austerity—to claim claim thatthat there there isn’tisn’t enough enough money money to pay to pay the salaries the salaries of teachers of teachers and and firefighters, firefighters, let alone let alone to introduce to introduce an aman ambitious bitious green green infrastructure infrastructure program program like like the one the one called called for here. for here.

TheThe question question is: will is: will these these ploys ploys work? work?

It isItalways is always worth worth re- remembering membering thatthat the Shock the Shock Doctrine, Doctrine, as I have as I have called called it initthe in past, the past, is is not not the only the only wayway thatthat societies societies havehave responded responded to previous to previous deepdeep cri- crises. The ses. The Green Green NewNew DealDeal is inspired is inspired

by Franklin

by Franklin Delano Delano Roosevelt’s Roosevelt’s

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original New Deal, a sweeping economic stimulus program introduced during a time of profound crisis much like our own. It is emphatically not a narrow carbon-pricing scheme that is all too easy to sideline as a costly folly during an economic downturn. It is a blueprint for a different, healthier, and fairer economy, one that would create tens of millions of desperately needed jobs and revitalize some of the most neglected parts of our nations. And there is strong evidence that this is well understood among voters, even in the United States, where the White House regularly uses the Green New Deal as a punching bag. A poll conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication in April 2020, at the peak of the Covid lockdown and bailouts, found that 70 percent of those surveyed support a Green New Deal, including virtually all Democrats, 69 percent of independents, and 48 percent of Republicans.

Clearly, as climate-change fueled disasters careen into communities that are already in crisis because of Covid-19, mass unemployment, and systemic racism, the need for a bold, holistic vision of the future has never been more glaring.

In other words, the future is up for grabs. In an April 2020 essay, Arundhati Roy likened the pandemic to a portal. “We can choose to walk through it,” she wrote, “dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data banks and dead ideas. Or we can walk through lightly, with little luggage, ready to imagine another world. And ready to fight for it.”

This is critical to understand. There is no returning to where we were before this crisis hit; we are going somewhere new. It could be a lot worse, clearly. But it could also be significantly better. The outcome will depend on what we choose to carry with us—and what we are willing to leave behind.

INTRODUCTION: “WE ARE THE WILDFIRE”

ON A FRIDAY IN MID-MARCH 2019, THEY STREAMED OUT OF SCHOOLS IN LITTLE

rivulets, burbling with excitement and defiance at an illicit act of truancy. The little streams emptied onto grand avenues and boulevards, where they combined with other flows of chanting and chatting children and teens, dressed in leopard leggings and crisp uniforms and everything in between.

Soon the rivulets were rushing rivers: 100,000 bodies in Milan, 40,000 in Paris, 150,000 in Montreal.

Cardboard signs bobbed above the surf of humanity: THERE IS NO PLANET B! DON’T BURN OUR FUTURE. THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE!

Some placards were more intricate. In New York City, a girl held up a lush painting of delicate bumble bees, flowers, and jungle animals. From a distance, it looked like a school project on biodiversity; up close, it was a lament for the sixth mass extinction: 45% OF INSECTS LOST TO CLIMATE CHANGE. 60% OF ANIMALS HAVE

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At the At the center center she she had had painted painted DISAPPEARED DISAPPEARED IN THE IN THE LAST LAST 50 YEARS. 50 YEARS. an hourglass an hourglass rapidly rapidly running running out out of sand. of sand.

For For the the young young people people whowho participated participated in the in the firstfirst everever global global School School Strike Strike for Climate, for Climate, learning learning has has become become a radicalizing a radicalizing act. act.

In early In early readers, readers, textbooks, textbooks, and and big-budget big-budget documentary documentary films, films, theythey learned learned of the of the existence existence of ancient of ancient glaciers, glaciers, dazzling dazzling coralcoral reefs, reefs, and and exotic exotic mammals mammals thatthat make make up our up our planet’s planet’s many many marvels. marvels.

AndAnd then, then, almost almost simultaneously—from simultaneously—from teachers, teachers, older older siblings, siblings, or sequels or sequels to those to those samesame films—they films—they discovered discovered thatthat much much of this of this wonder wonder has has already already disappeared, disappeared, and and much much of the of the rest rest of itofwill it will be be on the on extinction the extinction block block before before theythey hit their hit their thirties. thirties.

But But it wasn’t it wasn’t onlyonly learning learning about about climate climate change change thatthat moved moved these these young young people people to march to march out out of class of class en masse. en masse.

For For a great a great many many of them, of them, it was it was alsoalso living living it. Outside it. Outside the legislature the legislature building building in Cape in Cape Town, Town, South South Africa, Africa, hundreds hundreds of young of young strikers strikers chanted chanted at at theirtheir elected elected leaders leaders to stop to stop approving approving newnew fossil fossil fuelfuel projects. projects.

It It was was just just one one yearyear ago ago thatthat this this city city of four of four million million people people was was in the in the clutches clutches of such of such severe severe drought drought thatthat three-quarters three-quarters of the of the populapopulationtion faced faced the the prospect prospect of turning of turning on the on the tap tap and and having having nothing nothing come come out out at all. at CAPE all. CAPE TOWN TOWN IS APPROACHING IS APPROACHING DROUGHT DROUGHT “DAY“DAY ZERO ZERO ,” ,” readread a typical a typical headline. headline.

Climate Climate change, change, for for these these kids,kids, was was not not something something to read to read about about in books in books or toorfear to fear off in offthe in the distance. distance.

It It was was as present as present and and urgent urgent as thirst as thirst itself. itself.

TheThe samesame was was truetrue at the at the climate climate strike strike on the on the Pacific Pacific island island nation nation of Vanuatu, of Vanuatu, where where residents residents live live in fear in fear of further of further coastal coastal erosion. erosion.

Their Their Pacific Pacific neighbor, neighbor, the the Solomon Solomon Islands, Islands, has has already already lost lost five five small small islands islands to rising to rising water, water, withwith six more six more at severe at severe risk risk of of disappearing disappearing forever. forever.

“Raise “Raise youryour voice, voice, not not the sea the level!” sea level!” the students the students chanted. chanted.

In New In New YorkYork City,City, ten ten thousand thousand kidskids fromfrom dozens dozens of schools of schools found found one one another another in Columbus in Columbus Circle Circle and and proceeded proceeded to march to march to to

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Trump Trump Tower, Tower, chanting chanting “Money “Money won’t won’t matter matter when when we’re we’re dead!” dead!”

TheThe older older teens teens in the in the crowd crowd had had vividvivid memories memories of when of when SuperSuperstorm storm Sandy Sandy slammed slammed intointo theirtheir coastal coastal city city in 2012. in 2012.

“My“My house house got got flooded flooded and and I was I was so confused,” so confused,” recalled recalled Sandra Sandra Rogers.

Rogers.

“And“And it really it really made made me look me look intointo it because it because you you don’t don’t learn learn these these things things in school.” in school.”

NewNew YorkYork City’s City’s hugehuge Puerto Puerto Rican Rican community community was was alsoalso out out in force in force on that on that unseasonably unseasonably warm warm day.day.

Some Some kidskids arrived arrived draped draped in the in the island’s island’s flag,flag, a reminder a reminder of the of the relatives relatives and and friends friends still still suf-suffering fering in the in the aftermath aftermath of Hurricane of Hurricane Maria, Maria, the the 20172017 storm storm thatthat knocked knocked out out electricity electricity and and water water in large in large partsparts of the of territory the territory for for the better the better partpart of a of year, a year, a total a total infrastructure infrastructure breakdown breakdown thatthat tooktook the lives the lives of roughly of roughly three three thousand thousand people. people.

TheThe mood mood was was fierce, fierce, too,too, in San in San Francisco, Francisco, when when more more thanthan a thousand a thousand student student strikers strikers shared shared stories stories of living of living withwith chronic chronic asthma asthma because because of polluting of polluting industries industries in their in their neighborhoods— neighborhoods— and and thenthen getting getting a whole a whole lot sicker lot sicker when when wildfire wildfire smoke smoke choked choked the the Bay Bay AreaArea just just a few a few months months before before the the strike. strike.

TheThe testimonies testimonies werewere similar similar at walk-outs at walk-outs all over all over the the Pacific Pacific Northwest, Northwest, where where smoke smoke fromfrom record-breaking record-breaking firesfires had had blotted blotted out out the the sun sun for two for two summers summers running. running.

Across Across the northern the northern border border in Vancouver, in Vancouver, young young people people had had recently recently succeeded succeeded in pressuring in pressuring theirtheir city city council council to to declare declare a “climate a “climate emergency.” emergency.”

Seven Seven thousand thousand miles miles away, away, in Delhi, in Delhi, student student strikers strikers braved braved the the ever-present ever-present air pollution air pollution (often (often the the worst worst in the in the world) world) to to shout shout through through white white medical medical masks, masks, “You“You soldsold our our future, future, just just for for profit!” profit!”

In interviews, In interviews, some some spoke spoke of the of devastating the devastating floods floods in Kerin Kerala that ala that killed killed more more thanthan fourfour hundred hundred people people in 2018. in 2018.

Australia’s Australia’s coal-addled coal-addled resource resource minister minister declared declared thatthat “The “The bestbest thing thing you’ll you’ll learn learn about about going going to atoprotest a protest is how is how to join to join the the doledole queue.” queue.”

Undeterred, Undeterred, 150,000 150,000 young young people people poured poured intointo

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plazas plazas in Sydney, in Sydney, Melbourne, Melbourne, Brisbane, Brisbane, Adelaide, Adelaide, and and other other cities. cities.

ThisThis generation generation of Australians of Australians has has decided decided it simply it simply cannot cannot pretend pretend thatthat everything everything is normal. is normal.

NotNot when, when, at the at the startstart of 2019, of 2019, the the South South Australian Australian city city of Port of Port Augusta Augusta had had reached reached an ovenan ovenworthy worthy 121°F 121°F (49.5°C).

(49.5°C).

NotNot when when halfhalf the the Great Great Barrier Barrier Reef, Reef, the the world’s world’s largest largest natural natural structure structure made made up of upliving of living creatures, creatures, had had turned turned intointo a rotting a rotting underwater underwater massmass grave. grave.

NotNot when, when, in in the the weeks weeks leading leading up to upthe to the strike strike itself, itself, theythey had had seenseen bushfires bushfires combine combine intointo a massive a massive blaze blaze in the in state the state of Victoria, of Victoria, forcing forcing thouthousands sands to flee to flee theirtheir homes, homes, while while in Tasmania, in Tasmania, wildfires wildfires destroyed destroyed old-growth old-growth rainrain forests forests thatthat are unlike are unlike any any ecosystem ecosystem in the in world. the world.

NotNot when, when, in January in January 2019, 2019, a combination a combination of extreme of extreme temperature temperature swings swings and and poorpoor water water management management led the led entire the entire country country to wake to wake up to up apocalyptic to apocalyptic images images of the of the Darling Darling River River clogged clogged withwith the the floating floating carcasses carcasses of one of one million million deaddead fish.fish.

“You“You havehave failed failed us all usso allterribly,” so terribly,” saidsaid fifteen-year-old fifteen-year-old strike strike organizer organizer Nosrat Nosrat Fareha, Fareha, addressing addressing the the political political classclass as a as whole. a whole.

“We“We deserve deserve better. better.

Young Young people people can’tcan’t eveneven votevote but but will will havehave to to live live withwith the consequences the consequences of your of your inaction.” inaction.”

There There was was no student no student strike strike in Mozambique; in Mozambique; on March on March 15, the 15, the day day of the of the global global walkouts, walkouts, the the whole whole country country was was bracing bracing for the for the impact impact of Cyclone of Cyclone Idai,Idai, one one of the of worst the worst storms storms in African in African history, history, which which drove drove people people to take to take refuge refuge at the at the topstops of trees of trees as the as the wa- waters ters roserose and and would would eventually eventually kill more kill more thanthan one one thousand thousand people. people.

AndAnd then, then, just just six weeks six weeks later,later, while while it was it was still still clearing clearing the the rub-rubble, ble, Mozambique Mozambique would would be hit be by hit Cyclone

by Cyclone Kenneth, Kenneth, yet yet another another record-breaking record-breaking storm. storm.

Wherever Wherever in the in the world world theythey live,live, this this generation generation has has somesomething thing in common: in common: theythey are are the the firstfirst for whom for whom climate climate disruption disruption on aon planetary a planetary scalescale is not is not a future a future threat, threat, but but a lived a lived reality. reality.

AndAnd not not in a in few a few unlucky unlucky hot hot spots, spots, but but on every on every single single continent, continent, withwith

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pretty pretty much much everything everything unraveling unraveling significantly significantly faster faster thanthan mostmost scientific scientific models models had had predicted. predicted.

Oceans Oceans are are warming warming 40 percent 40 percent faster faster thanthan the the United United Na-Nationstions predicted predicted just just five five years years ago.ago.

AndAnd a sweeping a sweeping study study on the on the statestate of the of the Arctic Arctic published published in April in April 20192019 in Environmental in Environmental Re- Research search Letters, Letters, led led by renowned by renowned glaciologist glaciologist Jason Jason Box,Box, found found thatthat ice in icevarious in various forms forms is melting is melting so rapidly so rapidly thatthat the “Arctic the “Arctic biophysibiophysical system cal system is now is now clearly clearly trending trending awayaway fromfrom its 20th its 20th Century Century statestate and and intointo an unprecedented an unprecedented state, state, withwith implications implications not not onlyonly within within but but alsoalso beyond beyond the the Arctic.”

Arctic.”

In May In May 2019, 2019, the the United United Nations’ Nations’ Intergovernmental Intergovernmental Science-Policy Science-Policy Platform Platform on Biodiversity on Biodiversity and and Ecosystem Ecosystem Services Services published published a report a report about about the the startling startling loss loss of of wildlife wildlife around around the the world, world, warning warning thatthat a million a million species species of aniof animalsmals and and plants plants are at arerisk at risk of extinction. of extinction.

“The “The health health of ecosystems of ecosystems on which on which we and we and all other all other species species depend depend is deteriorating is deteriorating more more rapidly rapidly thanthan ever,” ever,” saidsaid the the Platform’s Platform’s Chair, Chair, Robert Robert Watson.

Watson.

“We“We are are eroding eroding the the veryvery foundations foundations of economies, of economies, livelihoods, livelihoods, foodfood security, security, health health and and quality quality of life of life worldwide. worldwide.

We We havehave lost lost time. time.

We We mustmust act now.” act now.”

AndAnd so, just so, just as US as US schoolchildren schoolchildren nownow grow grow up practicing up practicing “active “active shooter shooter drills” drills” starting starting in kindergarten, in kindergarten, many many of these of these stu-students dents havehave had had school school daysdays cancelled cancelled because because of wildfire of wildfire smoke, smoke, or learned or learned to pack to pack an evacuation an evacuation bag bag ahead ahead of hurricanes. of hurricanes.

A great A great many many children children havehave beenbeen forced forced to leave to leave theirtheir homes homes for for good good because because prolonged prolonged drought drought destroyed destroyed theirtheir parents’ parents’ livelihood livelihood in in Guatemala, Guatemala, or contributed or contributed to the to outbreak the outbreak of civil of civil war war in Syria. in Syria.

It has It has beenbeen overover three three decades decades sincesince governments governments and and scienscientiststists started started officially officially meeting meeting to discuss to discuss the the needneed to lower to lower greengreenhouse house gas emissions gas emissions to avoid to avoid the dangers the dangers of climate of climate breakdown. breakdown.

In In the the intervening intervening years, years, we have we have heard heard countless countless appeals appeals for action for action thatthat involve involve “the“the children,” children,” “the“the grandchildren,” grandchildren,” and and “generations “generations

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to come.” to come.”

We We werewere toldtold thatthat we owed we owed it toitthem to them to move to move swiftly swiftly and and embrace embrace change. change.

We We werewere warned warned thatthat we were we were failing failing in our in our mostmost sacred sacred dutyduty to protect to protect them. them.

It was It was predicted predicted thatthat theythey would would judge judge us harshly us harshly if weif failed we failed to act to on acttheir on their behalf. behalf.

Well, Well, nonenone of those of those emotional emotional pleaspleas proved proved at all at persuasive, all persuasive, at least at least not not to the to politicians the politicians and and theirtheir corporate corporate underwriters underwriters whowho could could havehave taken taken boldbold action action to stop to stop the the climate climate disruption disruption we are we are all living all living through through today. today.

Instead, Instead, sincesince those those government government meetmeetingsings began began in 1988, in 1988, global global CO2CO emissions emissions havehave risenrisen by well by well overover 2 40 percent, 40 percent, and and theythey continue continue to rise. to rise.

TheThe planet planet has has warmed warmed by by about about 1°C1°C sincesince we began we began burning burning coalcoal on an onindustrial an industrial scalescale and and average average temperatures temperatures are on aretrack on track to rise to rise by asbymuch as much as four as four times times thatthat amount amount before before the the century century is up; is up; the the last last timetime there there was was this this much much carbon carbon dioxide dioxide in the in atmosphere, the atmosphere, humans humans didn’t didn’t exist. exist.

As for As for those those children children and and grandchildren grandchildren and and generations generations to to come come whowho werewere invoked invoked so promiscuously? so promiscuously?

They They are are no longer no longer mere mere rhetorical rhetorical devices. devices.

They They are are nownow speaking speaking (and(and screaming, screaming, and and striking) striking) for themselves. for themselves.

AndAnd theythey are speaking are speaking up for up one for one an- another other as part as part of an of emerging an emerging international international movement movement of children of children and and a global a global webweb of creation of creation thatthat includes includes all those all those amazing amazing ani-animalsmals and and natural natural wonders wonders thatthat theythey fell in felllove in love withwith so effortlessly, so effortlessly, onlyonly to discover to discover thatthat it was it was all slipping all slipping away. away.

AndAnd yes, yes, as foretold, as foretold, these these children children are are ready ready to deliver to deliver theirtheir moral moral verdict verdict on the on the people people and and institutions institutions whowho knew knew all about all about the the dangerous, dangerous, depleted depleted world world theythey would would inherit inherit and and yet yet chose chose not not to act. to act.

They They know know whatwhat theythey think think of Donald of Donald Trump Trump in the in the United United States States and and Jair Jair Bolsonaro Bolsonaro in Brazil in Brazil and and Scott Scott Morrison Morrison in Australia in Australia and and all the all the other other leaders leaders whowho torch torch the the planet planet withwith defiant defiant gleeglee while while denying denying science science so basic so basic thatthat these these kidskids could could grasp grasp it easit easily at ilyage at age eight. eight.

Their Their verdict verdict is just is just as damning, as damning, if not if not more more so, so,

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for the for the leaders leaders whowho deliver deliver passionate passionate and and moving moving speeches speeches about about the the imperative imperative to respect to respect the the ParisParis Climate Climate Agreement Agreement and and “make “make the planet the planet great great again” again” (France’s (France’s Emmanuel Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Canada’s Canada’s Jus-Justin Trudeau, tin Trudeau, and and so many so many others), others), but but whowho thenthen shower shower subsidies, subsidies, handouts, handouts, and and licenses licenses on the on the fossil fossil fuelfuel and and agribusiness agribusiness giants giants driving driving ecological ecological breakdown. breakdown.

Young Young people people around around the the world world are are cracking cracking openopen the the heart heart of the of the climate climate crisis, crisis, speaking speaking of aof deep a deep longing longing for afor future a future theythey thought thought theythey had had but but thatthat is disappearing is disappearing withwith eacheach day day thatthat adults adults fail to failact to on actthe on reality the reality thatthat we are we in areaninemergency. an emergency.

ThisThis is the is the power power of the of the youth youth climate climate movement. movement.

Unlike Unlike so many so many adults adults in positions in positions of authority, of authority, theythey havehave not not yet yet beenbeen trained trained to mask to mask the unfathomable the unfathomable stakes stakes of our of our moment moment in the in lanthe language guage of bureaucracy of bureaucracy and and overcomplexity. overcomplexity.

They They understand understand thatthat theythey are fighting are fighting for the for the fundamental fundamental rightright to live to live full full lives—lives lives—lives in which in which theythey are not, are not, as thirteen-year-old as thirteen-year-old climate climate striker striker AlexanAlexandriadria Villaseñor Villaseñor putsputs it, “running it, “running fromfrom disasters.” disasters.”

On On thatthat day day in March in March 2019, 2019, organizers organizers estimate, estimate, there there werewere nearly nearly 2,100 2,100 youth youth climate climate strikes strikes in 125 in 125 countries, countries, withwith 1.6 1.6 mil-millionlion young young people people participating. participating.

That’s That’s quite quite an achievement an achievement for for a movement a movement thatthat began began just just eight eight months months earlier earlier withwith a single a single fifteen-year-old fifteen-year-old girl girl in Stockholm, in Stockholm, Sweden.

Sweden.

GRETA’S GRETA’S “SUPERPOWER” “SUPERPOWER” TheThe girl girl in question in question is Greta is Greta Thunberg, Thunberg, and and her her storystory has has imporimportanttant lessons lessons about about whatwhat it will it will taketake to protect to protect the possibility the possibility of a of liv-a livableable future—and future—and not not for some for some abstract abstract ideaidea of “future of “future generations” generations” but but for billions for billions of people of people alivealive today. today.

LikeLike many many of her of her peers, peers, Greta Greta started started learning learning about about climate climate change change when when she she was was around around eight eight years years old.old.

She She readread books books and and

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watched watched documentaries documentaries about about species species collapse collapse and and melting melting gla-glaciers. ciers.

She She became became obsessed. obsessed.

She She learned learned thatthat burning burning fossil fossil fuelsfuels and and eating eating a meat-based a meat-based dietdiet werewere major major contributors contributors to planetary to planetary destabilization. destabilization.

She She discovered discovered thatthat there there was was a delay a delay between between our our actions actions and and the planet’s the planet’s reactions, reactions, which which means means thatthat more more warming warming is already is already locked locked in, no in,matter no matter whatwhat we do. we do.

As she As she grewgrew up and up and learned learned more, more, she she focused focused on the on scientific the scientific predictions predictions about about howhow radically radically the the earth earth is onis track on track to change to change by by 2040, 2040, 2060, 2060, and and 20802080 if weif stay we stay on our on our current current course. course.

She She made made mental mental calculations calculations about about whatwhat this this would would mean mean to her to her ownown life:life: the the shocks shocks she she would would havehave to endure, to endure, the the death death thatthat could could sur-surround round her,her, the the other other life life forms forms thatthat would would disappear disappear forever, forever, the the horrors horrors and and privations privations thatthat would would await await her her ownown children children should should she she decide decide to become to become a parent. a parent.

Greta Greta alsoalso learned learned fromfrom climate climate scientists scientists thatthat the worst the worst of this of this was was not not a foregone a foregone conclusion: conclusion: thatthat if weif took we took radical radical action action now,now, reducing reducing emissions emissions by 15 by percent 15 percent a year a year in wealthy in wealthy countries countries like like Sweden, Sweden, thenthen it would it would dramatically dramatically increase increase the the chances chances of aof safe a safe future future for for her her generation generation and and the the onesones thatthat followed. followed.

We We could could still still savesave some some of the of the glaciers. glaciers.

We We could could still still protect protect many many island island nations. nations.

We We might might still still avoid avoid massive massive cropcrop failure failure thatthat would would force force hundreds hundreds of millions, of millions, if not if not billions, billions, of people of people to flee to flee theirtheir homes. homes.

If allIfthis all this werewere true,true, she she reasoned, reasoned, thenthen “we“we wouldn’t wouldn’t be talkbe talking about ing about anything anything else else . . . If . . burning . If burning fossil fossil fuelsfuels was was so bad so bad thatthat it it threatened threatened our our veryvery existence, existence, howhow could could we just we just continue continue like like be- before? fore?

Why Why werewere there there no restrictions? no restrictions?

Why Why wasn’t wasn’t it made it made illegal?” illegal?”

It made It made no sense. no sense.

Surely Surely governments, governments, especially especially in countries in countries withwith resources resources to spare, to spare, should should be leading be leading the the charge charge to achieve to achieve a a rapid rapid transition transition within within a decade, a decade, so that so that by the by time the time she she was was in her in her mid-twenties, mid-twenties, consumption consumption patterns patterns and and physical physical infrastructure infrastructure would would be fundamentally be fundamentally transformed. transformed.

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AndAnd yet her yet her government, government, a self-styled a self-styled climate climate leader, leader, was was movmoving much ing much more more slowly slowly thanthan that,that, and and indeed, indeed, global global emissions emissions werewere continuing continuing to rise. to rise.

It was It was madness: madness: the the world world was was on fire, on fire, and and yet yet everywhere everywhere Greta Greta looked, looked, people people werewere gossiping gossiping about about celebrities, celebrities, taking taking pictures pictures of themselves of themselves imitating imitating celebrities, celebrities, buying buying newnew carscars and and newnew clothes clothes theythey didn’t didn’t need—as need—as if they if they had had all the all time the time in the in the world world to douse to douse the flames. the flames.

By age By age eleven, eleven, she she had had fallen fallen intointo a deep a deep depression. depression.

There There werewere many many contributing contributing factors, factors, some some related related to being to being different different in in a school a school system system thatthat expects expects all kids all kids to be to pretty be pretty much much the the same. same. (“I was (“I was the the invisible invisible girl girl in the in the back.”) back.”)

But But there there was was alsoalso a feeling a feeling of great of great sorrow sorrow and and helplessness helplessness about about the the fast fast deteriorating deteriorating statestate of the of the planet—and planet—and the the inexplicable inexplicable failure failure of those of those in power in power to do to do much much of anything of anything about about it. it.

Thunberg Thunberg stopped stopped speaking speaking and and eating. eating.

She She became became veryvery ill. ill.

Eventually, Eventually, she she was was diagnosed diagnosed withwith selective selective mutism, mutism, obsessiveobsessivecompulsive compulsive disorder, disorder, and and a form a form of autism of autism thatthat usedused to be to called be called Asperger’s Asperger’s syndrome. syndrome.

ThatThat last last diagnosis diagnosis helped helped explain explain whywhy Greta Greta tooktook whatwhat she she was was learning learning about about climate climate change change so much so much harder harder and and more more personally personally thanthan many many of her of her peers. peers.

People People withwith autism autism tendtend to be to extremely be extremely literal literal and,and, as aasre-a result,sult, often often havehave trouble trouble coping coping withwith cognitive cognitive dissonance, dissonance, those those gapsgaps between between whatwhat we know we know intellectually intellectually and and whatwhat we do wethat do that are are so pervasive so pervasive in modern in modern life.life.

Many Many people people on the on the autism autism spectrum spectrum are are alsoalso less less prone prone to imitating to imitating the the social social behaviors behaviors of the of the people people around around them—they them—they often often don’t don’t eveneven notice notice them—and them—and instead instead tendtend to forge to forge theirtheir ownown unique unique path. path.

ThisThis often often involves involves focusing focusing withwith great great intensity intensity on areas on areas of particular of particular interest, interest, and and frequently frequently having having difficulty difficulty putting putting those those areasareas of interest of interest asideaside (also(also known known as compartmentalization). as compartmentalization).

“For“For those those of usofwho us who are are on the on the specspectrum,” trum,” Thunberg Thunberg says,says, “almost “almost everything everything is black is black or white. or white.

We We

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aren’t aren’t veryvery good good at lying, at lying, and and we usually we usually don’t don’t enjoy enjoy participating participating in this in this social social game game thatthat the rest the rest of you of you seem seem so fond so fond of.” of.”

These These traits traits explain explain whywhy some some people people withwith Greta’s Greta’s diagnosis diagnosis become become accomplished accomplished scientists scientists and and classical classical musicians, musicians, applying applying theirtheir super super focus focus to great to great effect. effect.

It also It also helps helps explain explain why,why, when when Thunberg Thunberg trained trained her her laser-like laser-like attention attention on climate on climate breakdown, breakdown, she she was was completely completely overwhelmed, overwhelmed, withwith no way no way to protect to protect herself herself fromfrom the the fearfear and and grief. grief.

She She saw saw and and felt felt the the full full implications implications of of the crisis the crisis and and could could not not be distracted be distracted fromfrom it. What’s it. What’s more, more, the fact the fact thatthat other other people people in her in her life (classmates, life (classmates, parents, parents, teachers) teachers) seemed seemed relatively relatively unconcerned unconcerned did did not not sendsend her her reassuring reassuring social social signals signals thatthat the the situation situation wasn’t wasn’t really really so bad, so bad, as such as such signals signals do for do chilfor childrendren whowho are more are more socially socially connected. connected.

TheThe apparent apparent lacklack of conof concerncern of those of those around around her her terrified terrified Thunberg Thunberg eveneven more. more.

To hear To hear Greta Greta and and her her parents parents tell tell it, ait, big a big partpart of emerging of emerging fromfrom her her dangerous dangerous depression depression was was finding finding waysways to reduce to reduce the unthe unbearable bearable cognitive cognitive dissonance dissonance between between whatwhat she she had had learned learned about about the the planetary planetary crisis crisis and and howhow she she and and her her family family werewere living living theirtheir lives.lives.

She She convinced convinced her her parents parents to join to join her her in becoming in becoming vegan, vegan, or or at least at least vegetarian, vegetarian, and,and, biggest biggest of all, of to all,stop to stop flying. flying.

(Her(Her mother mother is is a well-known a well-known opera opera singer, singer, so this so this was was no small no small sacrifice.) sacrifice.)

TheThe amount amount of carbon of carbon keptkept out out of the of the atmosphere atmosphere as a as result a result of these of these lifestyle lifestyle changes changes was was minute. minute.

Greta Greta was was wellwell aware aware of that, of that, but but persuading persuading her her family family to live to live in a in way a way thatthat began began to reflect to reflect the the planetary planetary emergency emergency helped helped easeease some some of the of the psychic psychic strain. strain.

At At leastleast now,now, in their in their ownown small small ways, ways, theythey werewere not not pretending pretending thatthat everything everything was was fine.fine.

TheThe mostmost important important change change Thunberg Thunberg made, made, however, however, had had nothing nothing to do to with do with eating eating and and flying. flying.

It had It had to do to with do with finding finding a a wayway to show to show the the rest rest of the of the world world thatthat it was it was timetime to stop to stop acting acting like like everything everything was was normal normal when when normal normal would would leadlead straight straight to to