Reading 2: Tommy Lynch “Why Hope is Dangerous When it Comes to Climate Change” and Genevieve Guenther, “Who Is the We in ‘We Are Causing Climate Change’ ?”
Discussions surrounding climate change are characterized by multiple strains of thought, including both Genevieve Guenther’s examination of the various forces and interests contributing to the ongoing climate crisis and Tommy Lynch’s exploration of the role of hope and pessimism in motivating innovation and action. How can these perspectives be integrated into a comprehensive course of action?
Prompt: Using evidence from both texts and your experiences, suggest practical solutions for a sustainable global future in the face of rising temperatures and resource exploitation. Do we need big, dramatic solutions; smaller, individual steps; or both? Explore the nuances of hope and pessimism, and determine whether apocalyptic thinking is a necessary catalyst for positive change or if a different approach is more effective. In other words, what is the most important thing we need to understand/do to combat the impacts of climate change?
Writer Instructions
Using evidence from both texts and your experiences, suggest practical solutions for a sustainable global future in the face of rising temperatures and resource exploitation. Do we need big, dramatic solutions; smaller, individual steps; or both? Explore the nuances of hope and pessimism, and determine whether apocalyptic thinking is a necessary catalyst for positive change or if a different approach is more effective. In other words, what is the most important thing we need to understand/do to combat the impacts of climate change?
Questions for Consideration:
How have your own observations or experiences contributed to your understanding of climate change and the need for action?
Are there examples from your life that align with or challenge the perspectives presented by Guenther and Lynch?
What do you think about Lynch’s assertion that “Global warming discussions need apocalyptic thinking”?
Who is the implied “we” Guenther is talking about, and who is the “they” that Guenther identifies as being responsible for the catastrophe of climate change?
How does Guenther characterize the “fictional we,” and what implications does this have for individual responsibility?
Who does Guenther identify as currently suffering from the conditions caused by climate change that will continue to be impacted first and worst by the increasingly destructive impacts of climate change?
Can hope alone motivate sufficient action, or is there a need for a more urgent and dire perspective?
Can your proposed solutions account for the complexities of both ecological destruction and the psychological aspects of climate discussions?
Essay must include:
Introduction, 3 body paragraphs, conclusion, be in MLA format, must include evidence from both readings.