Journal Article

Editorial

Witcher, Robert

2022

Overview

In 1969, in their only chart-topping hit, Zager and Evans wondered whether society's overdependence on technology and exploitation of the environment might lead to the extinction of humankind by the year 9595. Such is the speed of the so-called ‘Great Acceleration’ that has defined the half century since that song was written, some might now doubt whether humanity will survive another 700 years, let alone 7000. For these concerns are no longer the stuff of protest songs and science fiction. Speaking in July, UN secretary general António Guterres warned that climate change presents us with a choice, “Collective action or collective suicide”.1 A few weeks later, a group of scientists published an article arguing that the possibility of a “worldwide societal collapse or even eventual human extinction” as a result of catastrophic climate change is “a dangerously underexplored topic”.2 By coincidence, this summer also saw the passing of the pioneering scientist and originator of the ‘Gaia Hypothesis’, James Lovelock.3 Against the consensus, in the 1970s, Lovelock developed the idea of the Earth as a living and complex system capable of self-regulation to ensure suitability for all forms of life. Today, many of his ideas are core to how we understand climate and environment. Lovelock himself, however, became increasingly sceptical about the long-term prospects of human civilisation, envisaging a more vengeful Gaia, increasingly prepared to prioritise her own long-term survival over suitability for human life.4 Without doubt, all of the concerns have been reinforced over the year since the pivotal COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow at the end of 2021, which has illustrated the quickening pace of extreme- and record-breaking weather events and underlined the challenges we face in reducing greenhouse gases and restoring the environment to ensure a future for humanity.

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Subject: Adaptation / Archaeology / Climate change / Collaboration / Collective action / Cultural heritage / Culture / Drought / Environment / Environmental policy / Excavation / Exploitation / Extinction / Fiction / Greenhouse gases / Group identity / Humans / Long term / Rainforests / Records & achievements / Rivers / Science fiction & fantasy / Scientists / Self control / Self regulation / Songs / Suicide / Suitability / Survival / Weather