Something new, something better: The climate crisis and social transformation

The climate crisis represents one of greatest threats to humankind, but also one of the greatest opportunities for positive social transformation. Given the many social ills that already degrade wellbeing, many people desire a more equitable, just, and livable world. Some people may believe because of climate change “we are doomed,” yet I argue this represents a misunderstanding of the situation. We have the means to curtail global warming and enhance social wellbeing through making key systemic changes. Drawing from the work of Herbert Marcuse and André Gorz, I examine the opportunity for social transformation in the face of the climate crisis and how we can envision and pursue a “better” society in terms of human flourishing and sustainability. I discuss their concept of “destructive production” and their support for work time reduction and advertising restrictions. These strategies represent key, yet overlooked, steps to help mitigate climate change and improve wellbeing.