The origins of climate crisis
Here's everything you need to identify origins of the climate crisis.
We know systematic exploitation of nature drives the climate crisis; but when and why did it all start? and why is it even important to know that?
Early Humans
Humans and their ancestors known to have lived all across the world, were for the longest time living sustainably with nature which is systematic by the design of nature. Surely something changed at some point in time.
Indigenous people always know how to live sustainably with the nature around them. Many of these pockets of indigenous people went on to successfully develop various systems (of knowledge, religion, governance, technology, etc.) that helped them grow their population sustainably into unique civilizations.
Overlapping Sustainable Systems
As populations grow, so do the resources necessary in sustaining the growing population. Eventually growing populations of different civilizations with their own unique systems that helped them grow, start to overlap.
Unfortunately, as in history, most civilizations see the others as a threat and hence work to ensure there remains none of the other with systems that prioritize their sustenance over their own (through warfare, etc.).
It’s only when knowledge of systems meant for the sustenance of people in the local environment is lost or when systems not applicable to the local environment are imposed either unknowingly (through invasive species, etc.) or knowingly (through desecration, colonization, subjugation, marketization, etc.), that’s when systematic exploitation of nature begins.
As of today, more of our everyday lives is open to be defined by ‘capitalism’ or ‘market dynamics’. This essentially means only those who can ‘afford’ the resources get to ‘buy’ them, leaving others with whatever’s left. Same system, different name.
This is a recipe for disaster, especially during a crisis.
What’s the sustainable way?
There exists one way to sustain competing civilizations. By acknowledging, respecting, and protecting equally the systems that help each population sustain and grow sustainably - into a great civilization. What a way to earn that title innit?
In the world of today and the fast unfolding climate crisis, there exists one way to sustain competing countries. By acknowledging, respecting, and protecting equally the systems that help everyone adapt, survive and grow sustainably.
4 Questions Graph
The graph of total human population plotted against time is one of the simplest, yet it tells one of the most profound stories of humans. Consider the following.
Two parts of the graph stand out: first, the long and gradual growth in human population and second, the short and sudden growth in human population. Both these parts can be understood with respect to time (questions 1 & 2) and growth in human population (questions 3 & 4).
During both periods, human population grew but grew at drastically different rates. What changed? Following questions will help answer that.
Question #1: For the longest time, what were we doing right that ensured the evolutionary success and growth of human population?
Question #2: For the recent past, what are we doing wrong that has brought to the brink of population collapse and climate crisis?
During both periods, human population grew. Although at different rates, what was the system at the time that resulted in most of this growth? What was/is its relationship with nature? Following questions will help answer that.
Question #3: What is the system that resulted in most growth in human population (an indicator of evolutionary success) and their relationship with nature (including other humans)?
Question #4: What was the system that resulted in most growth in human population (an indicator of evolutionary success) and their relationship with nature (including other humans)?
The origins of the climate crisis lie among the answers to these 4 questions.
How to identify the origins of climate crisis?
An even simpler and personal way to identify would be by understanding aspects of your own life and how they came to be.
If any part of your life is meant for/against a few (may or may not include you), it is systematically exploiting nature; and if it was designed by someone else for/against a few, it was to systematically exploit nature through you.
TL;DR summary
Indigenous people know how to live sustainably with the nature around, and their knowledge and systems will be key to effective climate crisis management.
A system that equally acknowledges, respects, and protects *all*, is the key to effective climate crisis management.
Ways to find the origins of climate crisis.
If this is your first time reading the ‘One Earth Letter’ series, here’s a list of all the letters and topics to be expected in this series in an attempt to build a human-friendly guide to the climate crisis; if you liked this one, you might like others as well - start with a topic you are most curious about and let curiosity take it from there. Don’t forget to subscribe though.