Margaret Atwood, beloved author of books such as The Handmaid’s Tale and Oryx and Crake, has written an essay about climate change, It’s not climate change, it’s everything change, in which she explores how we need to develop a completely different mindset to envision a future that will work for us, and how a new genre of literature—“cli-fi” (climate fiction)—is contributing stories to help us think about our climate changed future.
“What are the implications for the way we view both ourselves and the way we live? In brief: in the coal energy culture — a culture of workers and production — you are your job. “I am what I make.” In an oil and gas energy culture — a culture of consumption — you are your possessions. “I am what I buy.” But in a renewable energy culture, you are what you conserve. “I am what I save and protect.” We aren’t used to thinking like this, because we can’t see where the money will come from. But in a culture of renewables, money will not be the only measure of wealth. Well-being will factor as an economic positive, too.”
Accompanying the essay is a series of photographs and animations that beautifully tell the story of over consumption, human endeavor, and climate change.
Well worth a look and a read.
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