Here on Substack, Teg Gioia has just written an anti-progress article that I tried to rebut with data from OurWorldInData.org. These anti-progress narratives, from people as smart as Ted, drive me nuts and do real harm,
Science fiction has also been struggling with this issue for a while. There are dedicated mags like https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/ (where I have published)
Good list. If I may add one more (or perhaps add a variation on some of the themes you mentioned): highlighting real progress helps us to avoid the paralyzing nihilism of thinking we are doomed. I know "doomer" is tossed around with abandon in our discourse around climate change, but there does appear to be a sense among a small but significant portion of the population that the problem is too big to solve and that no one is doing anything anyways, so we might as well just throw up our hands and let the planet burn. Similarly but less dramatic, climate anxiety does appear to be a real thing for some people. Highlighting the solvability of our problem and the ways in which we are solving it would go a long way towards ameliorating the above.
I mentioned Hannah over the weekend as someone who gives me hope through your articles. Some may consider that you shine a light into some of our darker thoughts of the future. This is good.
Hope can be a nebulous concept sometimes. I like the fact there are people around shining a light, it provides a direction for us to travel. Not in some fantastical unrealistic way, more in a structured and well thought-out path.
However, the points made in this piece are valid and well argued. We must keep moving forward.
You are absolutely correct. It’s funny how so many in the developed world have forgotten how the lives of our ancestors really were. Life was hard.
That’s not to say that our lives today are not also difficult in their own way, but certainly living without A/C, lighting, access to libraries, or a car, would present innumerable challenges.
We cannot enjoy the benefits of modernity by turning back the clock. We can, however, accelerate forward and watch as our technology dematerializes our usage of atoms and improves the efficiency of our energy consumption.
I don't think it's an exaggeration at this point to say that @Hannah Ritchie is a civilizational treasure. Her data-driven writing and analysis outlines a powerful vision of technological and moral progress, and helps make it happen faster.
Thank you. I agree with a lot of the points made by “pro-progress” posters. I use Hans Rosling when I teach, for example. The data is very clear on substantial improvements in life expectancy, lowering infant mortality, etc. And I especially appreciate you writing “I agree with critics that only talking about progress risks complacency.” What I too often have seen is a blind faith in technology to solve our problems and what seems to be an unwillingness to question whether the roots of the industrial revolution which have brought so much material gain are simply unsustainable. Part of the issue may be the medium-- if we were having these discussion over a beverage
Progress, but progress does not "just happen" without a fight. In Colorado, the fossil gas industry has just rolled out a petition campaign to prevent the state or municipalities from "discriminating" among heating fuels. One of the reasons Ford's BEV pickup is not selling is the crescendo of anti-EV wailing which is targeted right at the folks who might buy one.
The tech in China and the EU for HPs, BEVs, PHEVs, wind & solar and the grid is amazing. In the USA we are flailing, going off on every tangent though in a few markets solar will have a good year, about half of what it should be. And the de-growther beliefs infects a lot of the "climate movement," leaving them with "stop/end/etc. fossil fuels" as 95% of their message.
Excellent article! Given the 'funk' a lot of people are generally in these days whether from misinformation, the economic situation, climate changes or still adjusting to a post? pandemic world. Perspective is always useful. Seemingly, humans get into routines either planned or driven by life rules, yet still seem surprised when it snows when winter arrives. Reflection is always a useful practice particularly when real data is involved. Thx.
Spectacular as always! Highlighting stories of progress is what I try to do with my newsletter.
Here on Substack, Teg Gioia has just written an anti-progress article that I tried to rebut with data from OurWorldInData.org. These anti-progress narratives, from people as smart as Ted, drive me nuts and do real harm,
Science fiction has also been struggling with this issue for a while. There are dedicated mags like https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/ (where I have published)
and
https://solarpunkmagazine.com/ (where I have not)
trying to shift the bias away from reflexive dystopian thinking, for precisely the reasons you describe here.
I wish I had something useful to add. Maybe the old adage applies,
"When it comes to the zero-carbon energy transition, please lead, follow, or stay out of the way."
Good list. If I may add one more (or perhaps add a variation on some of the themes you mentioned): highlighting real progress helps us to avoid the paralyzing nihilism of thinking we are doomed. I know "doomer" is tossed around with abandon in our discourse around climate change, but there does appear to be a sense among a small but significant portion of the population that the problem is too big to solve and that no one is doing anything anyways, so we might as well just throw up our hands and let the planet burn. Similarly but less dramatic, climate anxiety does appear to be a real thing for some people. Highlighting the solvability of our problem and the ways in which we are solving it would go a long way towards ameliorating the above.
Thanks Hannah. This is a really important topic. I am glad that you addressed it.
For those who are not aware, there are a lot of progress-related Substack columns.
Here is my latest list:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/subscribe-to-progress-related-substacks
This is exactly why I started my newsletter. I catalog weekly what improvements we are making in the world using the biological sciences!
I mentioned Hannah over the weekend as someone who gives me hope through your articles. Some may consider that you shine a light into some of our darker thoughts of the future. This is good.
Hope can be a nebulous concept sometimes. I like the fact there are people around shining a light, it provides a direction for us to travel. Not in some fantastical unrealistic way, more in a structured and well thought-out path.
However, the points made in this piece are valid and well argued. We must keep moving forward.
Great article, Hannah.
We need to cut through the cynicism about progress, typically made by people who:
1) are enjoying the benefits of progress from previous generations
2) do not take the time to actually understand what progress is.
For more defenses of progress:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/evidence-of-progress
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/a-manifesto-for-the-progress-based
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/does-material-progress-lead-to-happiness
Fabulous. An amazing creative GM at dynamic BigCorp 1980s gave this to me:
You Limit Yourself
Could also be We Limit Ourselves, but "I"s do and "We"s talk, for the most part
I have a blog scheduled for Feb. 7 on you and cereals!
https://www.mattball.org/
This week (yesterday and tomorrow) are about energy abundance.
Hope everyone is reading you, Hannah!
You are absolutely correct. It’s funny how so many in the developed world have forgotten how the lives of our ancestors really were. Life was hard.
That’s not to say that our lives today are not also difficult in their own way, but certainly living without A/C, lighting, access to libraries, or a car, would present innumerable challenges.
We cannot enjoy the benefits of modernity by turning back the clock. We can, however, accelerate forward and watch as our technology dematerializes our usage of atoms and improves the efficiency of our energy consumption.
I don't think it's an exaggeration at this point to say that @Hannah Ritchie is a civilizational treasure. Her data-driven writing and analysis outlines a powerful vision of technological and moral progress, and helps make it happen faster.
Thank you. I agree with a lot of the points made by “pro-progress” posters. I use Hans Rosling when I teach, for example. The data is very clear on substantial improvements in life expectancy, lowering infant mortality, etc. And I especially appreciate you writing “I agree with critics that only talking about progress risks complacency.” What I too often have seen is a blind faith in technology to solve our problems and what seems to be an unwillingness to question whether the roots of the industrial revolution which have brought so much material gain are simply unsustainable. Part of the issue may be the medium-- if we were having these discussion over a beverage
Progress, but progress does not "just happen" without a fight. In Colorado, the fossil gas industry has just rolled out a petition campaign to prevent the state or municipalities from "discriminating" among heating fuels. One of the reasons Ford's BEV pickup is not selling is the crescendo of anti-EV wailing which is targeted right at the folks who might buy one.
The tech in China and the EU for HPs, BEVs, PHEVs, wind & solar and the grid is amazing. In the USA we are flailing, going off on every tangent though in a few markets solar will have a good year, about half of what it should be. And the de-growther beliefs infects a lot of the "climate movement," leaving them with "stop/end/etc. fossil fuels" as 95% of their message.
Excellent article! Given the 'funk' a lot of people are generally in these days whether from misinformation, the economic situation, climate changes or still adjusting to a post? pandemic world. Perspective is always useful. Seemingly, humans get into routines either planned or driven by life rules, yet still seem surprised when it snows when winter arrives. Reflection is always a useful practice particularly when real data is involved. Thx.