The Future: Ill-fated or Fabulous?

Þýðing: Hólmfríður María Bjarnardóttir

Much like the British Empire in the middle of the last century, the world’s climate is declining. But unlike the fall of the Empire, the decline of the climate does not mean that dozens of nations will be freed from their rulers, but instead marks the end of the world as we know it. Scientists are trying to ignite a glimmer of hope that could start a fire to hopefully burn away the problems that threaten the future. On the one hand, we’re told that it’s not too late to act – that we can still save the day. If we just sort more trash, buy electric cars, only drink tap water, and stop using plastic, then everything will be fine and the world will be back to normal before Christmas. However, some scientists claim it’s too late to reverse the changes, and that their impact is imminent. So we might as well fasten our seat belts and wait in the backseat until we can move to Mars to start the same process again.

Warnings about the world’s imminent death echo in our ears. If the world is doomed and the situation is hopeless, is there any point in taking action? Shouldn’t I just sit on the couch and wait for the end? Are we perhaps already halfway across the river Styx, having paid the ferryman with the futures of the generations to come? These questions twist around in my mind in an infinite loop that never stops bothering me. No matter how many times I ask these questions, I can’t seem to find answers or hope in my heart, only pessimism and despair.

Graphics / Margrét Aðalheiður Önnu Þorgeirsdóttir

If the world's condition were like that of a broken vase, it could be fixed with molten gold and showcased as a monument of the mistakes of the past. Then the right course of action would be to do everything we possibly could. On the news, we hear about the European Union's intention to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and as an added bonus we hear reports that all of Iceland's energy could potentially become “green” around the same time, relieving the country of dependency on fossil fuels. Despite the glimmer of hope that this news brings, the country's coverage of these issues, especially on social media, seems to be nothing but a scourge, emphasizing the negative side of each story that should otherwise ignite a spark of hope in our hearts. What should we do with dead batteries? Isn't it much better to buy used cars than electric cars? These electric cars are rubbish! Why should I stop driving when airplanes pollute so much more? The picture that’s painted is one of a community working together to shoot down every expert proposal and every attempt to change. Negative attitudes towards change, as well as anti-intellectualism, which impacts people’s views on research and expert opinions, can easily spread. This can be seen in all areas of society, whether in terms of vaccinations, masks, the shape of the earth, or climate issues. Whether someone shares these beliefs from the beginning or not, much rain can wear even the hardest marble. Every morning I greet the milkman as he brings me bottles full of hopelessness and uncertainty, and I, being a relentless source of choice anxiety - gulp down every drop.

Maybe we can’t be trusted to fix the world. Many of us only do the bare minimum of what is required, only to meet the demands already placed on us. It’s as if we don’t care unless we’re being threatened with punishment and fines. If people weren’t ordered to sort garbage, I highly doubt it would be done on a large scale. We simply don’t act on these issues if not instructed to do so. The use of fossil fuels is responsible for a large part of climate pollution and yet there hasn’t been much reduction in petrol and diesel cars. And if cars are a problem due to their fuel consumption, then the problem with airplanes is as big, if not bigger. Still, we want to go abroad as often as possible so we can bask in the sun while drinking cocktails or beer. 

I think the solution that is most likely to be effective is to give people orders and rules, whether that means increasing fines for litteringor limiting the number of flights one person can take each year. We must do whatever is needed to minimize the damage that our existence has caused. We as individuals are never going to do what is necessary to bring about real change until it is too late. We all want the world to survive and it is obvious that we do not need guidance, we need instructions.