A distinguishing characteristic of human beings is to remain optimistic even during the direst times. As the saying goes an optimist will always see a glass half full. Optimism helps people remain on clear positive thinking. There are stories of injured soldiers who survived during wars and conflicts by keeping hopes alive. Optimism is also a foundation for many innovations and discoveries with resilience and persistence. While acknowledging the massive contribution of the notion of optimism we also must admit the fact that optimism also makes us often see more than what exists. No doubt, optimism builds confidence and positively flourishes the working environment and social cohesion, which motivates peers and coworkers. But there is time to understand the limits of optimism and establish a boundary to move on when expectations are not realised. Relying solely on optimism can distort realism and judgement. This is when optimism becomes a harmful trait, not knowing when to stop anticipation which delays taking actions.
Toxic positivity
People have remained optimistic in finding a solution to manage adverse effects of climate change through technology. Several technical innovations have been put to use such as solar panels, wind turbines and tapping geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy to replace fossil fuel-based energy while complementing hydropower generated renewable energy. There are innovations such as carbon capture to remove carbon particles from the atmosphere, which traps heat causing warming of the atmosphere. But given the linear demand for energy to meet the needs of a growing population and our consumption-based lifestyle, the innovations and discoveries made little difference in controlling warming of the environment, pollution of land, rivers and oceans. The politicians and the businesses continue to neglect the warning signs since the beginning of the crisis. They have conveniently downplayed the environmental data presented by the scientific community while pointing towards national projects on renewable energy as the solution. This optimism of relying on future technology to solve persistent climate crisis while ignoring scientific data has become a 'toxic positivity' of the decision makers of all times.
What is also undeniable is that the national economy everywhere has occupied a centre stage of the overall development agenda. Virtually all components of development are driven by energy, which relies largely on non-renewable energy based on fossil fuels. At the same time our industries are also dependent on finite natural resources for almost all goods manufactured to sustain our lifestyle. People also believe that nature has the capacity to adjust and bounce back with thoughts such as pollutants in the air and sea will be solved by dilution; the pollutants in the air will be brought back to soil by rain, etc. On a larger picture, with the amount of oil, gas and minerals extraction, which cannot be replenished, the entire idea of sustainable development is simply a 'wishful thinking'.
Not all green energy is green
Nature will not bounce back without major support from us, the human beings. For nature to recover from the damages we have done we must reshape policies, markets and our personal choices which could help nature to recover or at least delay the damages. A lot of natural resources excavated can never be replenished. Current national development policies based on our idea of future technological deliverance to fix pollution and loss of biodiversity so that we continue to expand production and consumption must be reassessed. The obsession of politicians to rely on 'green energy' to mitigate the damages done by non-renewable sources of energy without fully understanding its deliverable capability is foolhardy at best. Globally energy produced from renewable sources, including nuclear sources, reached 40.9 per cent in 2024. It is a laudable achievement. In 2024, the world produced 4,578 terawatt-hours of energy using hydropower, which is just about 14 percent of global energy consumption. It is the best source of green energy without any pollutants or any harmful byproducts. Other sources of energy include solar-6.9%, wind-8.1%, nuclear-9% and misc-2.9%. All these energy sources, except hydropower have non-degenerating harmful byproducts such as solar cells, nuclear wastes, ageing storage batteries, etc. Our optimism has not taken into account the dangers of many of these byproducts polluting the environment. With changing weather patterns and disappearing glaciers, water reservoirs required for hydropower generation could be at risk in coming decades.
Net zero? Not really
Consumers globally are perhaps unaware that our optimism for indefinite economic growth which sustains their lifestyle is not possible without damaging the environment. Global warming for the majority may simply be just a little warmer summer than last year.
There is an urgent need for consumer education globally that our development plan depends on extraction of natural resources, encroaching forests and unlimited supply of energy. The net impact of which are loss of biodiversity, warming of ocean water which impacts marine life and pollution of the atmosphere which could cause acid rain and unpredictable weather patterns. Our firm belief that nature is resilient and shall bounce back underestimates the 'tipping point' and irreversibility of some of the losses such as coral reef, depletion of fisheries, biodegradation of top soil, extinction of insect species required for pollination, etc.
Our drop in consumption habits may negatively impact GDP growth which is partly maintained by overconsumption. Our 'made to believe' optimism that banning single use plastic bags, straws and recycling of some paper products will stop major climate crises is more harmful than help as people may believe that we are contributing to stop the climate crisis; because it is not. It ignores the negative impact created by energy systems contributing to the climate crisis. Our optimism for the future must focus on reducing demands for consumption with proper budgeting for essentials at the personal level as opposed to being carried away by 'net-zero' slogan which cannot be achieved because of our consumption habits. A note of caution is that with the adoption of AI in various aspects of governance, industries and marketing people's consumption might accelerate rather than decline.
We can still avoid the worst outcomes of the climate crisis but to achieve that we must remain realistic and optimistic. We do not need compliant optimism simply hoping that all problems will eventually be solved. It will not.
Toxic positivity
People have remained optimistic in finding a solution to manage adverse effects of climate change through technology. Several technical innovations have been put to use such as solar panels, wind turbines and tapping geothermal energy as a source of renewable energy to replace fossil fuel-based energy while complementing hydropower generated renewable energy. There are innovations such as carbon capture to remove carbon particles from the atmosphere, which traps heat causing warming of the atmosphere. But given the linear demand for energy to meet the needs of a growing population and our consumption-based lifestyle, the innovations and discoveries made little difference in controlling warming of the environment, pollution of land, rivers and oceans. The politicians and the businesses continue to neglect the warning signs since the beginning of the crisis. They have conveniently downplayed the environmental data presented by the scientific community while pointing towards national projects on renewable energy as the solution. This optimism of relying on future technology to solve persistent climate crisis while ignoring scientific data has become a 'toxic positivity' of the decision makers of all times.
What is also undeniable is that the national economy everywhere has occupied a centre stage of the overall development agenda. Virtually all components of development are driven by energy, which relies largely on non-renewable energy based on fossil fuels. At the same time our industries are also dependent on finite natural resources for almost all goods manufactured to sustain our lifestyle. People also believe that nature has the capacity to adjust and bounce back with thoughts such as pollutants in the air and sea will be solved by dilution; the pollutants in the air will be brought back to soil by rain, etc. On a larger picture, with the amount of oil, gas and minerals extraction, which cannot be replenished, the entire idea of sustainable development is simply a 'wishful thinking'.
Not all green energy is green
Nature will not bounce back without major support from us, the human beings. For nature to recover from the damages we have done we must reshape policies, markets and our personal choices which could help nature to recover or at least delay the damages. A lot of natural resources excavated can never be replenished. Current national development policies based on our idea of future technological deliverance to fix pollution and loss of biodiversity so that we continue to expand production and consumption must be reassessed. The obsession of politicians to rely on 'green energy' to mitigate the damages done by non-renewable sources of energy without fully understanding its deliverable capability is foolhardy at best. Globally energy produced from renewable sources, including nuclear sources, reached 40.9 per cent in 2024. It is a laudable achievement. In 2024, the world produced 4,578 terawatt-hours of energy using hydropower, which is just about 14 percent of global energy consumption. It is the best source of green energy without any pollutants or any harmful byproducts. Other sources of energy include solar-6.9%, wind-8.1%, nuclear-9% and misc-2.9%. All these energy sources, except hydropower have non-degenerating harmful byproducts such as solar cells, nuclear wastes, ageing storage batteries, etc. Our optimism has not taken into account the dangers of many of these byproducts polluting the environment. With changing weather patterns and disappearing glaciers, water reservoirs required for hydropower generation could be at risk in coming decades.
Net zero? Not really
Consumers globally are perhaps unaware that our optimism for indefinite economic growth which sustains their lifestyle is not possible without damaging the environment. Global warming for the majority may simply be just a little warmer summer than last year.
There is an urgent need for consumer education globally that our development plan depends on extraction of natural resources, encroaching forests and unlimited supply of energy. The net impact of which are loss of biodiversity, warming of ocean water which impacts marine life and pollution of the atmosphere which could cause acid rain and unpredictable weather patterns. Our firm belief that nature is resilient and shall bounce back underestimates the 'tipping point' and irreversibility of some of the losses such as coral reef, depletion of fisheries, biodegradation of top soil, extinction of insect species required for pollination, etc.
Our drop in consumption habits may negatively impact GDP growth which is partly maintained by overconsumption. Our 'made to believe' optimism that banning single use plastic bags, straws and recycling of some paper products will stop major climate crises is more harmful than help as people may believe that we are contributing to stop the climate crisis; because it is not. It ignores the negative impact created by energy systems contributing to the climate crisis. Our optimism for the future must focus on reducing demands for consumption with proper budgeting for essentials at the personal level as opposed to being carried away by 'net-zero' slogan which cannot be achieved because of our consumption habits. A note of caution is that with the adoption of AI in various aspects of governance, industries and marketing people's consumption might accelerate rather than decline.
We can still avoid the worst outcomes of the climate crisis but to achieve that we must remain realistic and optimistic. We do not need compliant optimism simply hoping that all problems will eventually be solved. It will not.
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Or contact Ramesh at ramesh.chauni@gmail.com
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