The Silver Lining in the Cloud of Doom

The United Nations report on climate doom is “a code red for humanity.” But will the scientific report on the spiraling catastrophe now enfolding the globe actually push the world’s top polluters — the United States, China and the European bloc — to finally take the necessary drastic action? Don’t hold your breath. Or rather DO hold your breath, or else your lungs will get scarred from the wildfire smoke that is now plaguing the entire planet.

The world’s wealthiest nations have issued reassuring declarations in response to the jaw-dropping UN report. But, of course, they’re still unwilling to move against the biggest fossil fuel polluters — like Exxon, Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell, all of which maintained a wall of silence after the release of the climate bombshell.

So what’s the silver lining in this otherwise apocalyptic news? The UN report will make it easier for environmental groups to sue the energy giants, as Greenpeace did successfully last month against Shell in a Dutch court. The UN report will also reportedly lead to a new wave of demonstrations in world finance capitals like London. Those battling human extinction — because the UN report makes clear that is what’s at stake — must take their epic battle directly at the men (and they’re all male) who are responsible for the climate killing of countless people around the Earth. As I’ve long been arguing, these executives and politicians are guilty of mass murder and should be treated as world-class criminals.

Will humanity move aggressively to save itself? At this point, it doesn’t look that way. Even a progressive state like California can’t muster the political will to take over the outrageously mismanaged public utility Pacific Gas & Electric, the folks who brought us (among a string of disasters) the Dixie Fire, sparked by a downed PG&E power line. The Dixie blaze, which is still burning out of control after a month, has become the second biggest fire in the state’s history and has fouled the air as far away as New York City.

The energy system must be brought under public control and the men who prioritize greed over human survival must be stopped and brought to justice. When the CEOs of Exxon, Chevron, PG&E etc. — and their political puppets — are finally perp-walked into courtrooms, we can all breathe a little easier.