We are more competent than ever but our competence cuts both ways. Not only are we increasingly competent to solve problems, we also create many new problems Never before did we create so many big problems. Moreover, solving one problem distracts from solving another problem. For instance, Covid distracted from addressing climate change.
Increasing global temperature causes heat waves, floods, droughts, fire storms, failed harvests, extinction of species.
The more work is done by machines, robots and AI, the less work is available to people. Work can no more be the primary distributor of income.
Inequality within and between countries builds pressures that markets and laws can not regulate.
Increasing world population depletes resources and creates conflicts within and between countries.
When everyone can spread 'information', fake news proliferates.
Throughout history, competition between tribes and individuals brought progress. We are products of competition. Survival of the fittest created the current world. Tribal instincts prevent us from seeing problems in a global context. We fight for the interest of our own tribe and do not acknowledge that now the whole world is in danger. Now, the world population is the tribe to defend . We are not wired for that.
Current political upheavals (Trumpism, Brexit, nationalism, populism) are ineffective responses to worldwide problems. People hold their governments responsible for the losses they experience. They demand changes that benefit them. Populists say their government is dysfunctional. They are right. National governments are not equipped to deal with worldwide problems. Making one's nation great is not the answer. On the contrary, nationalism aggravates problems and prevents solutions.
Population control
The sooner the world population stops growing, the less people will die in catastrophes. No government intervention is needed. Young couples can decide to have no more than one child; just individual responsibility. If population and temperature ever drop to a sustainable level, two kids per couple might be acceptable.
Lift the taboo on euthanasia. Everyone should have access to a voluntary, gentle death. Dying for one's country is considered a virtue. When humanity is endangered, dying for the world is a virtue.
Climate control
Millions of years ago, rising sea levels forced land life to retreat to higher elevations. Now we have to do the same; move to higher land or build dikes. It is too late to prevent ice caps melting and sea levels rising. Coral islands are already being inundated. Coastal cities like New York, Miami, Rotterdam, will be next.
Universal basic income
Everyone deserves a livable income; enough for food, shelter and basic amenities ($ 20.000?). A universal basic income will require much less bureaucracy than current welfare systems.
Limit inequality
Limit the top income to twenty times a livable income (20 times $20.000=$ 400.000). Some people make that amount of money in a few hours. Great! They can work more and contribute more to society. Leaving justice to private benevolence is not good enough
Prevent fake news
More civic education? More regulation? We do control counterfeit money; we could control counterfeit information.
None of the required actions will be taken before it is too late. When people deny facts, interpretation of facts is irrelevant and preventive action seems not necessary. Self-interest (individual, family, country) prevails. "Make America great again" still wins elections. We do not acknowledge that we, the world population, are in this together.
To build trust and channel support for painful measures, we need different political structures and methods. See my essay "A better democracy". Lack of trust makes governing impossible, as opposition by "gilets jaunes" in France shows. Left and right combined in protests against a moderate raise in tax on fuel. The government had to retreat; insisting on a carbon tax would have lead to chaos, new elections and ultimately stalemate. Democracy and foresight do not go together. Often elites don't deserve our trust. The list of powerful people who lied or squirted the law is long; Nixon, Clinton, Enron, Maddow, Volkswagen, Trump and his clique. The money managers who created the financial meltdown in 2008 made more money than ever in the bail-out that followed. Outrageous inequality creates resentment.
We are overwhelmed and do not know what to do to build a better world for our children. Worldwide catastrophes within the lifetime of my grandchildren have become unavoidable. Maybe, chaos will trigger new solutions. Survivors will find ways to deal with the new circumstances. But destruction might have gone too far. 90% of species are extinct. Homo sapiens might be next. Bacteria will survive until the sun burns out.
The generations born between 1900- 2000 benefited the most from the industrial and digital revolutions. We created the problems but leave solutions to our grandchildren. They have every right to be angry. We cannot say: "I did not know". We knew, but we denied the consequences and did almost nothing. Edited 4/2025