From Denials to Sense of Urgency

The question is asked several times and in innumerable venues, why there is so much slowness, denial and indifference in the face of threats and challenges. For effective change to happen, a “sense of urgency” has to be in place. Climate reports and reports about nature destruction have been mainly focused on future, latent damage. But as the frequency, severity, and duration of extreme weather is on the rise, there is a transition from latency to manifest damage. The great question then is how people and politicians will respond – with a sense of urgency for change, or with continued denial, selfishness, and delayed action. Answers to this question will decide responses to the next issues, those of economic growth and de-coupling, economic equality and re-distribution, and AI and robot generated unemployment, inclusion and economic security.