The UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell recently announced, in rather dramatic tones, that we have just 2 years to save the world from climate change.
If you thought I was going to extend the melodrama, I’m happy to report that I harbour no such mala fide intentions.
I was less concerned about the announcement than about the fact that no one seemed to be taking it seriously. The news was in sidelines in most mainstream media, tucked between juicy news such as local robberies, political intrigues & movie-town whispers.
For once – and rightly – the headlines were more on how we might have much less time to save the world: the Iran-Israel & Russia-Ukraine wars, and a possible Donald Trump presidency later this year.
In fact, if there was any reaction at all to this news, it had to do with a few experts blasting it as ineffective rhetoric.
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Essentially, it appears that no one has even a couple of minutes to listen to the trivial “fact” that we have just 2 years left to do something effective about climate change.
But a more emphathetic thought was flowing through my neurons – and it had nothing to do with climate-changing or global-apocalypsing.
I was more interested to know about what happens when such a UN top shot (let’s call him John) goes home after making such announcements. Here’s how possibly the scene will play out once John bounces into his habitat.
“There John, you are back.”
“Yes, dear, by all accounts it appears that I’m. Home sweet home. By the way, did you listen to the important announcement I made today about us having only 2 years to save the world?”
“Did you, really? How impressive! But oh John, I didn’t listen – I was completely occupied. Selena was here with all the local gossip that took almost all my time, and then I had to attend this important town debate on Instagram vs. Twitter, and then…”
John raises a knowing hand.
“I got it, mate. You had far more important things to focus on”
“I have always been amazed by your ability to grasp things so fast, John. But about the 2 years to save the world announcement thing, did anyone else you know in the world call you about it?”
“No”
“Not even one?”
“None”
“No one even on the elevator?”
John, being a polyglot, feels it is time to diversify to end the monotony.
“Nada”
“No one at our local Starbucks?”
“Nulla”
“No one from the newspaper gang?”
“Zilch”
John’s wife finally appears to start thinking deeply about this looming global disaster, but through a personal lens.
“It seems a pity John that no one seems to care. You must be feeling rather disoriented”
Whatever else be his shortcomings, John knows how to pay things back at the right time, and in style.
“Not really, dearie. I have got used to it, thanks to getting some serious practice at home every day.”
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(See all my decarbonization posts from 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐙𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐢 – https://shorturl.at/jx137 )
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