Scholars' Oath To The Future Launched At Un Climate Conference

In a world that's increasingly defined by its climate challenges, where discussions about the environment often teeter between climate honesty and climate bright siding, we find ourselves at a pivotal juncture. The climate science consensus of the past, which often erred on the side of caution, failed to predict the severity of the volatility and damage we are currently witnessing. It's time to confront this failure and shift our approach, embracing a more honest and proactive stance.

Climate Science: Lessons from the Past

The climate science establishment, as we might call it, missed the mark by sidelining the most concerning science, thereby obscuring the harsh realities of our environmental predicament. This failure, however, holds invaluable lessons. We need to acknowledge the shortcomings and understand why this establishment was reluctant to communicate the worst-case scenarios.

It's crucial that scholars, climate scientists, communicators, and journalists reflect on their past choices. They must contemplate the reasons behind their cautious and reticent approach, and why they often pushed away information that was too troubling to consider. This retrospective analysis is essential as we navigate this new, troublesome, and, to quote The Guardian, "scary" era of climate change.

Embracing Radical Approaches

The climate landscape is evolving rapidly, and we cannot afford to adhere to the status quo. With the risk of new funding distorting the sense-making process, we must adopt more radical approaches to address the climate crisis effectively.

And that brings us to a groundbreaking initiative known as the Scholar's Oath to the Future. This extraordinary pledge, unveiled by 165 scholars from 34 countries, is a remarkable commitment to acknowledging past failings and charting a new path forward.

The Scholar's Oath: An Apology and A Renewed Commitment

The Scholar's Oath to the Future is a profound apology and a renewed commitment. It is an apology to the younger generations, whom we are meant to serve, and an oath to learn from past mistakes as we seek to make a more meaningful contribution in the future.

The younger generations, acutely aware of the bleakness of our situation, understand that pollution and devastation have surpassed the planet's capacity to cope. They see through the fallacy that dominant economies can sustain this destruction. Their clarity in assessing the dire state of the world is a beacon of hope.

An Uncompromised Vision of the Future

Younger generations are less likely to assume the future will mirror the past. They refuse to remain silent about uncomfortable truths, unencumbered by the fear of jeopardizing income, reputation, or influence. They do not seek solace in false narratives to numb their own pain, living in a future that older generations prefer to dismiss as mere "negative thinking."

This global assembly of scholars, spanning various disciplines and regions, has long recognized that the trends are moving in the wrong direction for humanity and the planet. We've seen our efforts to reverse concerning trends fall short, and we've allowed credible lies to permeate policy discussions, all while justifying our complacency with self-serving explanations.

Rejecting Credible Lies

Today, powerful entities, including rich countries, large corporations, elite institutions, and mainstream media, continue to support these credible lies to maintain the global economic status quo. These lies perpetuate age-old processes of domination and exploitation, adapting to modern times.

The Scholar's Oath to the Future is a pledge not to compromise anymore. When unsettling analyses emerge, scholars will share them. When injustice arises, they will name it. When distortion by national or corporate interests occurs, they will challenge it. Even in the face of potential backlash, they will acknowledge their fear and overcome it.

The Promise of Renewed Commitment

To the younger generations, scholars pledge to respond to criticism with curiosity and a commitment to make amends. They understand that their role is to contribute to a future that is still within reach. It is an apology and a promise to learn together, to reduce harm, uphold universal values, and enable futures that may still be possible.

This pledge will not remain mere words on paper. Scholars will promote mutual support and reaffirm this commitment each year. Dr. Yay Tao and 165 scholars from 34 countries have already signed the Scholar's Oath to the Future, and they eagerly anticipate engaging with young people to turn this renewed commitment into tangible action.

As we embrace this new climate of responsibility, the Scholar's Oath to the Future serves as a powerful testament to the collective will to confront the climate crisis head-on, learn from the past, and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future. The younger generations, with their unyielding vision, provide the impetus for change, and scholars are ready to stand beside them in this monumental endeavor.