History Quote by Jonathan A. Moo
““Yet what is inescapably different about today is that never in the history of human life have so many people been so threatened by the changes our planet is undergoing; never have some of the planetary changes we are witnessing occurred so quickly, with so little time for adaptation; and never before has one species (us) been identified as the primary cause of such rapid, large-scale changes. It is this recognition of our vulnerability and our culpability, along with the fear that things are on the verge of getting much, much worse and there is little we can do about it, that lies behind the despair so prevalent in this age. We increasingly observe the temptation to such despair among scientists, environmentalists, those who work for development and aid agencies, and even portions of the general public. In our own work and ministry—and, indeed, as we did research for the science portions of this book—we have occasionally wrestled with such despair ourselves.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Environmental Ethics and Human Responsibility, 2022
Human activity is causing unprecedented rapid planetary change, leading to widespread despair and a sense of helplessness.
In simple terms: We are causing fast climate change and feel hopeless.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the issue and seek collective action.
Themes
environment
climate change
despair
responsibility
human impact
Mood
concerned
reflective
urgent
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community activism
- education
- personal lifestyle changes
- mental health support
Key Concepts
sustainability
psychology
ethics
collective action
Questions to Reflect On
- What actions can individuals take now?
- How can hope be fostered in climate discourse?
A Different Perspective
Optimism and agency can be undermined by focusing solely on doom.
![“[A] group of leading academics argue that humanity must stay within defined boundaries for a range of essential Earth-system processes to avoid catastrophic environmental change. . . . They propose that for three of these—the nitrogen cycle, the rate of loss of species and anthropogenic climate…” quote by Jonathan A. Moo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9aa/jonathan-a-moo-78364_climate-change_a-group-of-leading-academics-argue-that_1049065.jpg)
