Rafe Pomerance (1946-2026), A Hero of Our Time

Rafe Pomerance, a figure lauded as a hero of our time, is presented in the context of long-standing awareness about climate change. An extensive 2018 report by The New York Times, later expanded into the book 'Losing Earth: A Recent History,' detailed how the effects of climate change were understood decades ago.

According to essayist and writer Nathaniel Rich, the failure to mitigate these effects, and potentially avoid them altogether, was not due to a lack of knowledge. Instead, the article implies that political decision-makers exhibited inertia, or worse, were swayed by the "dark action and corruption" of powerful economic interests, notably the oil industries.

The piece, originally published in Público, frames Pomerance within this historical narrative of delayed action on climate change. It suggests that understanding the problem has existed for a long time, but effective responses were hindered by systemic issues and vested interests, positioning Pomerance as a heroic figure in the face of such challenges.