--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Climate change is an existential threat…" description: "\"Climate change is an existential threat to our economy, and ultimately to civilisation as we know it.\" — Clive Lewis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/clive-lewis-5613_change_climate-change-is-an-existential-threat_1921263.jpg" --- # Climate change is an existential threat to our economy… ![“Climate change is an existential threat to our economy, and ultimately to civilisation as we know it.” quote by Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/clive-lewis-5613_change_climate-change-is-an-existential-threat_1921263.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/clive-lewis-5613_change_climate-change-is-an-existential-threat_1921263.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a76/clive-lewis-5613_change_climate-change-is-an-existential-threat_1921263.jpg) > “Climate change is an existential threat to our economy, and ultimately to civilisation as we know it.” [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Climate change threatens economic stability and the foundations of civilization. **In simple terms:** Climate change endangers economy and civilization. Key Takeaway Act now to protect future societies. Themes environment economy civilization Mood urgent concerned Type political environmental When to use this quote - government planning - business strategy - community resilience - investment decisions Key Concepts sustainability risk management policy systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - What policies can balance growth and climate action? - How can individuals influence systemic change? A Different Perspective Economic impacts may be delayed, causing complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation/) [Civilisation Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilisation-know-2951556/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Existential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential/) [Existential Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existential-threat-322347/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Ultimately Civilisation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ultimately-civilisation-2951557/) ## Related quotes > [When we watch a play under the standard circumstances, we've lost volition and time is passing. A still play feels like an existential threat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/when-we-watch-a-play-under-the-standard-circumstances-we-ve-lost/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [For my generation, coming of age at the height of the Cold War, fear of nuclear winter seemed the leading existential threat on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/for-my-generation-coming-of-age-at-the-height-of-the-cold-war-fear-of/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [For those who control the levers of power in Washington, and for the global special interests, they partner with these people that don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/for-those-who-control-the-levers-of-power-in-washington-and-for-the/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Around the world, climate change is an existential threat - but if we harness the opportunities inherent in addressing climate change, we can reap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/around-the-world-climate-change-is-an-existential-threat-but-if-we/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Well, Israel, obviously, thinks of the Iranian nuclear program as an existential threat to Israel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/well-israel-obviously-thinks-of-the-iranian-nuclear-program-as-an/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [The single biggest existential threat that's out there, I think, is cyber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-single-biggest-existential-threat-that-s-out-there-i-think-is/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [For years, I referred to climate change as an 'existential' threat to human civilization, and called it a 'crisis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/for-years-i-referred-to-climate-change-as-an-existential-threat-to/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [So when you're dealing with an existential threat like death or like climate change, if you see it as 'we are all toast anyway,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-inglis/so-when-you-re-dealing-with-an-existential-threat-like-death-or-like/) [Bob Inglis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-inglis/) > [My reading of the threat from Iran is that if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it is an existential threat to the State of Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/my-reading-of-the-threat-from-iran-is-that-if-iran-acquires-nuclear/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [The caliphate will have been dismantled. 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If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [It was a truism that all civilizations were basically neurotic until they made contact with everybody else and found their place within the ever-changing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-truism-that-all-civilizations-were-basically-neurotic-until/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It will work,” Sanha affirmed. “The A.I. was created to be good. Just like a human, it cannot fundamentally change that part of itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simpson/it-will-work-sanha-affirmed-the-a-i-was-created-to-be-good-just-like/) [David Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simpson/) > [Climate change is an existential threat to the health, national security, economic prosperity, and future of the American people and our planet. Our habitat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-phillips/climate-change-is-an-existential-threat-to-the-health-national/) [Dean Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-phillips/) ## More by Clive Lewis > [Labour under Jeremy Corbyn is not afraid to take on the very wealthiest, committing to the most comprehensive anti-tax avoidance plan ever presented by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/labour-under-jeremy-corbyn-is-not-afraid-to-take-on-the-very/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Central to being a humanist, which I am, is the core understanding that doubt and criticism are essential attributes in the quest for knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/central-to-being-a-humanist-which-i-am-is-the-core-understanding-that/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Poor people can't cut their emissions - they don't make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/poor-people-can-t-cut-their-emissions-they-don-t-make-them/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I think many of the virtues and values of the army are very similar to the virtues and values of socialism, of the Labour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-think-many-of-the-virtues-and-values-of-the-army-are-very-similar/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [The 21st century has more potential than perhaps any other in our brief evolutionary history. We stand on the cusp of computing, genetic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/the-21st-century-has-more-potential-than-perhaps-any-other-in-our/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [We were the first country in the world to carbonise our economy and to reap the huge economic rewards that followed and it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/we-were-the-first-country-in-the-world-to-carbonise-our-economy-and/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [At times of constitutional uncertainty and social division, parliament needs a greater, not a lesser role, in defining our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/at-times-of-constitutional-uncertainty-and-social-division-parliament/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [My vision for the country is of warmth and energy. A country that starts every conversation and every project - either in business or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/my-vision-for-the-country-is-of-warmth-and-energy-a-country-that/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I'm known for wearing tweed jackets, khaki pants and suede shoes. I've only worn a suit in parliament under duress, when I was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-m-known-for-wearing-tweed-jackets-khaki-pants-and-suede-shoes-i-ve/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [E.U. law provides agency workers with the right to equal treatment, and all workers with maximum working hours. It forces governments to take environmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/e-u-law-provides-agency-workers-with-the-right-to-equal-treatment-and/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [On their deathbed, do people think: 'I wish I'd spent more time with my Ferrari'? Or do they say: 'I wish I'd spent more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/on-their-deathbed-do-people-think-i-wish-i-d-spent-more-time-with-my/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [I don't consider myself a subject, I think I'm a citizen of this country and I think the vast majority of people consider themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-subject-i-think-i-m-a-citizen-of-this/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Chasing new runway capacity to cater to ever more frequent leisure flights by Britain's wealthiest households isn't just iniquitous - it's bad economic policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/chasing-new-runway-capacity-to-cater-to-ever-more-frequent-leisure/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Understandably, the electorate places great faith in the professional soldiers and strategists that run our military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/understandably-the-electorate-places-great-faith-in-the-professional/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) > [Climate change is a humongous challenge but it also presents numerous economic opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-lewis/climate-change-is-a-humongous-challenge-but-it-also-presents-numerous/) [Clive Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) [Explore all 100 Clive Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-lewis/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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