DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Environment & Climate

Climate change debate needs 'fiction' to spark engagement

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Scientists have revised the most pessimistic climate change scenario, removing projections of a 4.5-degree Celsius temperature rise by 2100.
  • This revision, while lowering the upper limit of potential warming, does not negate the severity of climate change, with global temperatures still projected to rise significantly even if carbon neutrality goals are met.
  • The article argues that "climate fiction" – novels, films, and cartoons – can serve as a crucial tool to engage the public in climate discussions, making the issue more accessible and fostering broader debate beyond expert circles.

The scientific community has recently revised its climate change scenarios, removing the most extreme projection that predicted a 4.5-degree Celsius global temperature rise by 2100. This adjustment, based on updated models and changing energy landscapes, means the "worst-case" scenario is no longer considered plausible. However, experts caution that this does not diminish the urgency of climate action.

The most pessimistic scenario, which assumed continued fossil fuel use and a tripling of carbon dioxide concentration by 2100, leading to a 4.5-degree Celsius rise in global average temperature, has been removed.

— International research teamDescribing the revised climate change scenarios for the next climate report.

Even if all nations meet their 2050 carbon neutrality targets, global average temperatures are still expected to rise by 1.9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This figure remains alarmingly high, underscoring the continued threat of climate change. The debate surrounding the revised scenarios highlights a divide: some critics claim past warnings were exaggerated, while proponents argue that policy changes and technological advancements have yielded positive results.

Even if all countries meet their 2050 carbon neutrality goals, the global average temperature is projected to rise by 1.9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

— Article authorHighlighting the continued severity of climate change despite mitigation efforts.

The article points out a recurring issue in climate discourse: the exclusion of non-experts. The complex nature of climate science, filled with technical jargon and statistics, often leaves the public feeling either overwhelmed or disengaged. This dynamic can inadvertently postpone immediate action, as climate change is perceived as a distant future problem rather than a present crisis.

Climate change should expand from the world of non-fiction to the world of fiction, and thereby re-infuse the world of non-fiction with imagination.

— Amitav GhoshNovelist, emphasizing the role of fiction in addressing the climate crisis.

To bridge this gap, the author proposes "climate fiction" as a powerful medium for public engagement. Unlike non-fiction reports, fictional narratives in novels, films, and cartoons can translate complex climate issues into relatable human stories. These narratives can make the abstract concept of climate change more tangible, fostering empathy and encouraging broader societal discussion. By bringing climate change to the forefront of fictional plots, rather than relegating it to a mere background element, society can begin to address the crisis with the urgency and imagination it demands.

Fiction provides a space where everyone, experts or not, can speak freely and engage in dialogue about climate issues.

— Article authorAdvocating for the use of fiction as a platform for climate discussion.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog