I had a thought just a bit ago. Some good-hearted climate activists are frustrated by those of us who haven’t given up on achieving meaningful reductions in GHG emissions. We should focus, instead, on adaptation & mitigation. They say the science is clear: There’s no hope. 1/n

I get it. What we’re faced with is daunting. And maybe it’s foolish optimism to think we can still make a meaningful difference in how this is all going to play out. But think about this: 2/n

If we were to treat the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. the same way as “adapt & mitigate” climate activists treat climate change, we would say, “It’s too late for anything we do to make any difference. So the best we can do is adjust to the virus and get on with our lives.” 3/n

The problem with that is that there are actions we can take that will definitely make a difference for the better in how many more people are infected by the virus, & we can still save many, many lives by persuading people to wear masks, distance, stay home if possible, etc. 4/n

And it’s not too late for us to make a difference to the climate, either. Yes, we must prepare mitigation & adaptation strategies. But we can also save more of what (& who) can still be saved if we put all of our energy, creativity, & ingenuity into changing our trajectory. 5/n

So let’s not give up yet. There’s still a range of possible futures for both the COVID-19 pandemic & the planet’s climate. The outcomes aren’t set. We can influence both for the better. I’m not going to quit trying to do so & I hope you won’t either. 6/6