Doom and denial can both lead us towards disengagement, which conveniently serves the interests of fossil fuel companies profiting from inaction on climate change. It is clear that action needs to be taken, and recent developments, such as the climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and California’s lawsuit against carbon polluters, are encouraging signs. However, these actions are long overdue considering the global agreement made over three decades ago to prevent dangerous interference with the climate. This summer alone has shown us the dangerous effects of climate change, from devastating wildfires in Maui to extreme drought, smoke pollution, flash floods, and scorching temperatures in various parts of the world.

While there are still skeptics who dismiss these events as mere weather patterns, the larger context provided by Earth’s longer-term climate history tells a different story. Evidence from ice cores, tree rings, corals, ocean sediments, and other sources shows that we may have just experienced the warmest days of the warmest month in at least 100,000 years. This is not a fluke occurrence but a result of ongoing carbon pollution.

Both climate deniers and “doomers” can contribute to inaction. Climate “doomers” argue that scientists who suggest there is time to act are lying, while climate deniers deny the existence or significance of climate change altogether. However, both these perspectives lead to disengagement, which serves the interests of fossil fuel companies. The truth is that global temperatures are in line with the predictions made decades ago, based on ongoing fossil fuel burning. While this may not indicate runaway warming, it is still a cause for concern and calls for immediate action.

Looking at Earth’s climate history, which spans billions of years, we can see that life emerged even when the planet was much colder and the sun was dimmer. This is because Earth has a natural “thermostat” that keeps the planet within habitable bounds. The global carbon cycle, which regulates the concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, plays a crucial role in this process. This concept, known as the “Gaia hypothesis,” suggests that Earth has mechanisms in place to maintain stability.

However, there is also evidence for the opposing “Medea hypothesis,” which suggests that there are amplifying mechanisms that can cause Earth’s climate to spin out of control. The “Great Oxidation Event” is a prime example, where a rapid rise in oxygen led to a cooling cycle that nearly wiped out life. This shows that there are limits to Earth’s stabilizing mechanisms and that we must be cautious.

While Earth’s climate history offers lessons of both fragility and resilience, we cannot rely solely on natural processes to bail us out. The rate at which we are generating carbon dioxide today is over 10 times faster than in any past episodes. If we do not drastically reduce carbon emissions, we are on track to reach levels of warmth not seen in millions of years within a matter of decades. This unprecedented pace of change poses a monumental challenge to life on Earth.

We still have a window of opportunity to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, but time is running out. We must not succumb to despair. The antidote to doom is action. It is heartening to see meaningful progress, particularly driven by youth climate activists. Their recent court victory in Montana, where the state was found to have violated their constitutional right to a clean environment, sets an important precedent.

However, we cannot solely rely on young activists. Those of us with the power to vote and influence policy must take action now. The fragile moment we find ourselves in requires urgent and decisive measures. By understanding Earth’s past and the lessons it offers, we can navigate the climate crisis and secure a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.