Avoiding the Worst Consequences of Collapse
Jonathan Cloud February 7th, 2025
It’s important to take a moment in the midst of the current political turmoil to consider what‘s really at stake. What we’re seeing from the Trump White House may be a symptom of the breakdown occurring as the new Administration tries to turn back the clock in several critical areas—climate, equity, foreign aid, and public service—while pursuing global triumphalism. But the consequences of a world economy built on fossil fuels, mass consumerism, and conventional agriculture are unavoidable. We need to understand that we are in the midst of collapse, and that chaos and conflict will only accelerate it. Here’s what even ChatGPT recognizes to be the situation we face.
The Reality of Accelerating Collapse
Civilization as we know it is under immense strain. Climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and ocean acidification are just some of the existential crises unfolding at an accelerating pace. These environmental pressures are compounded by political instability, economic fragility, and disruptive social movements seeking to overturn the status quo. We are in the midst of what scientists and historians may come to call the most decisive decade of the 21st century. What we do—or fail to do—will determine whether the future remains habitable for humanity and countless other species
Defining a Habitable Future
A habitable future is one in which humans and ecosystems can thrive within planetary boundaries. It is a future where temperatures remain within a range that sustains food production and human health, where biodiversity supports resilient ecosystems, and where economic and social systems allow for well-being without the relentless exploitation of people and nature. It is a future in which our air, water, and soil are clean, and our societies are structured around cooperation, equity, and resilience rather than competition, extraction, and collapse
Pathways to a Habitable Future
With civilization teetering on the edge, what pathways remain available to us?
- Deep Decarbonization and Ecological Restoration
- Rapidly phase out fossil fuels and transition to clean, renewable energy.
- Regenerate soils, reforest landscapes, and protect remaining wilderness areas.
- Restore biodiversity through large-scale conservation efforts and rewilding projects.
- Building Resilient Communities and Localized Systems
- Strengthen local food systems through regenerative agriculture and permaculture.
- Create decentralized, renewable-based microgrids to ensure energy security.
- Develop circular economies that minimize waste and maximize resource reuse.
- Transforming Political and Economic Structures
- Shift economic incentives away from endless growth toward ecological stability.
- Promote participatory governance models that empower communities.
- Reinvent financial systems to prioritize social well-being and ecological health over profit.
- Preparing for and Mitigating Systemic Shocks
- Invest in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation strategies.
- Strengthen social safety nets and mutual aid networks to support vulnerable populations.
- Foster psychological resilience by promoting education and awareness of systemic risks.
What We Must Work to Preserve
While working to mitigate collapse, we must also protect the foundations of a just and functional society. Key institutions and values that should be preserved include:
Healthcare Systems: Ensuring access to medical care, disease prevention, and public health infrastructure.
International Peace Organizations: Supporting institutions like the United Nations and diplomatic efforts to prevent conflicts.
The Four Freedoms: Upholding freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear, as articulated by Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Human Rights and Civil Liberties: Defending democratic institutions, legal protections, and social justice initiatives.
Scientific and Educational Institutions: Protecting research, knowledge-sharing, and access to education as essential to informed decision-making and societal resilience.
The Urgency of Now
We are running out of time. The window for action is rapidly closing, and halfway through this critical decade, our choices are stark: either we take decisive action to create the conditions for a habitable future, or we continue down the path of destruction, ensuring widespread suffering and ecological devastation. The opportunity to turn things around still exists, but only if we act with unprecedented speed, coordination, and commitment.
The question is not just how to avoid collapse—it is how to build something better in its place.
Obviously, ChatGPT didn’t come up with this out of nowhere—I provided the prompt and tweaked things a couple of times, but key elements came from the AI model. I created this to counter some of the craziness of the early days of the Trump administration and provide a sense of where we ought to focus our efforts.
(Originally published at DeadRiverJournal.org)