Sir, – William Reville is correct to be concerned by climate anxiety among young people (“Climate anxiety can stop people vigorously tackling global warming”, Science, August 18th).
He also states that “most things are actually improving”, which is true up to a point. Life expectancy is greater than at any time in history, fewer humans are starving now than ever before (as a percentage of population), poverty is much lower now, and there are many more examples of progress over recent times.
However, it is highly unlikely that this “progress” is sustainable for much longer as we have been damaging the planet to achieve this impressive progress through climate change, the biodiversity crises, etc.
This planetary destruction can be reversed but it will require a massive change in how society operates. We do not have much time; for example, ocean acidification is increasing and in the next few decades this may get to the point where the future of life in the oceans is threatened.
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We must point out how serious the situation is and how we can avoid very severe damage to the environment that would threaten humanity’s future.
This is possible. We must also stress that we can reverse the damage over time. This will necessitate huge changes in the way we live in the next few decades if we are to succeed. We will not do people any favours by sugar-coating the situation, and if they understand how serious the situation has become, and that there are solutions, then hopefully we will see less climate anxiety and huge efforts going into making a new and better world. – Yours, etc,
NICK ARMSTRONG,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.
