What’s Apocalyptic Optimism And Can It Save The Planet?

We know what you’re thinking. 

The words apocalyptic and optimism are pretty weird bedfellows. 

And you'd be right, of course. 

(We thought the same thing here at The Upside.)

But for Dana R. Fisher, a professor of sociology at American University who recently coined the term, saving ourselves from climate change depends on the crisis worsening.   

Apocalyptic optimism draws hope from the idea that impending disaster can be a powerful catalyst for change. 

And we don’t have to look far for a recent example of how a crisis can motivate positive action. 

Just take the pandemic. 

The world’s response to COVID-19 proved that the systemic changes needed to avoid environmental catastrophe are possible. 

But motivating that kind of social shift on the climate front is a greater challenge — especially without a vaccine to help. 

In the meantime, we should prepare for the worst. 

Perhaps in doing so, society will finally begin to reorient itself towards responding meaningfully to the climate crisis.   

At least, that’s how an apocalyptic optimist would look at it, anyway.