To Solve the Climate Crisis, We Must First Solve the Democracy Crisis

Bill McKibben, famed environmentalist and founder of 350.org, is shocked that Copenhagen was a sham in which the developed countries never intended to even attempt the carbon cuts we realistically need. The leaders of these countries are willing to commit us to 3C+, which means the end of us; once 2C is exceeded, irreversible and uncontrollable feedbacks will kick in and global temperatures will shoot up by 6C or more. Agriculture is impossible at those temperatures, meaning civilisation and most of humanity are finished.

Bill McKibben is a dedicated soul, and has done more about the climate crisis than most people – but did he really think candlelight vigils were going to persuade people who have been disseminating lies about global warming for years? These people are neither wise nor good. They care only about themselves and their cronies, and seem wilfully blind to anything that impedes the flow of lucre.

The title of this article, by-the-way, is a quote from Al Gore, and he is right. Again. The reason Copenhagen failed is simple: vested interests who care more for money than anything else, certainly more than the truth, influenced governments to sabotage the cuts we need. My country, Canada, is one of the worst offenders, and the U.S. is hardly better.

Governments used to protect the people; now they protect whatever vested interests buy them off. The United States Congress is surely the most corrupt democratically elected body on the planet; Canadian politicians are no better.

We will not get action on climate until we demand it – with pitchforks if necessary. Our ‘leaders’ have realised they can safely ignore rallies, vigils (even those with candles), demonstrations, and individual acts of disobedience. We either reclaim our power or those wielding it will drive us to oblivion.

That is why a group of us formed ggod. No more talk, no more rallies. Save the candles for when the lights fail. We need action – and we must start holding deniers accountable. If we charge Rex Tillerson and the others who have been funding climate denial with crimes against humanity, we cut off the funds and we set an example to the greediest people in the land: The free ride is over.

The failure at Copenhagen has made some things abundantly clear. First, the developed countries are too corrupt to lead wisely. Our governments are beholden to vested interests too blinded by love of money to see that their actions are suicidal. Second, we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. If we perish now, we cannot blame our ‘leaders,’ for they have been revealed to be emperors with no clothes, much less courage or wisdom. It is now clearly up to us.

I urge everyone to sign the petition urging the Maldives and other sinking countries to charge Rex Tillerson with crimes against humanity. Beyond that, we must do whatever it takes to rescue ourselves and our planet. Climate change is life or death; are you going to go quietly? Or are you going to fight?