Prosperity must be for all, not only for a select few. And for us to flourish, we must address the climate crisis.
The climate crisis is the result of greed - of the biggest industrial corporations amassing wealth through destructive ways that continue to hurt the planet and the people living in it. For centuries, drilling fossil fuels have been framed as essential to economic growth, wealth abundance, and prosperity - but this prosperity is only felt by the richest 1%. For the rest of us, everyday is a test for survival.
This notion of prosperity that corporations have created has never been sustainable. While oil and gas companies gain more profits, many suffer from the consequences of burning fossil fuels and other climate impacts. And despite urgent calls from affected communities, Big Oil continues to lie about the damages they have caused to the environment.
We are in a fossil-fuel driven climate chaos. Last year was the hottest year on record, and we have seen unprecedented weather disasters that have claimed the lives of millions. Typhoons have swept through homes in various parts of the world, flooding has ruined communities, and droughts are exacerbating food scarcity.
In Asia, extreme weather events like heat waves have threatened access to food, health, education, and energy. During the 2022 heatwave in China, wildfires damaged some parts of the Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China, destroying indigenous biodiversity. And cultural heritages are also at risk. Ancient relics that have survived wars and revolutions are now eroding because of extreme humidity.
China has been aiming to realize their goal of 'common prosperity' that aims to strengthen social equality and economic equity. But with China continuing to pursue new coal approvals, this would only fuel the worsening climate crisis, which would further widen the gap between communities that are impacted and the richest 1%. For prosperity to be sustainable, it should be grounded in nurturing the environment, prioritizing the well-being of people, and protecting our culture. We can start by addressing the climate crisis.
The good news is that communities around the world are already taking action.
What can we do to achieve real prosperity?
We can seek inspiration from stories of unity and resilience during the Chongqing wildfire. Thousands of citizens from different walks of life immediately volunteered to help firefighters extinguish fires that devoured the Jinyun Mountain.
