Fatalism Feeds the Fire: Why Giving Up on Climate Isn't an Option
- Rachel Bailleau
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Climate change can feel crushing. Sometimes it seems hopeless, like nothing we do could matter. But giving up isn’t an option.
You might have heard people say things like :
“The world’s burning anyway, so let’s dance while it does.”
“It’s too late. I might as well live for today.”
“We're screwed anyway. The faster the world crashes, the better."
This kind of fatalism is seductive. It lets us off the hook, because if the world is doomed, we don't need to waste our time trying to do anything about it. It is an invitation to be lazy, and it lets us make more selfish choices without the aftertaste of guilt.
But hopelessness is not helpful. It’s just another form of avoidance. Giving up on climate is not an option, and we can do better.
So let's take a look at whether we really are screwed. And how we can move from a place of climate grief and eco anxiety to a sustainable, concrete contribution to a better world.
Where we stand on 1.5 °C, and why it still matters
The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. That means countries have promised to cut pollution and protect the climate. They're using the world before factories and cars (around the 1700s) as the starting point for measuring how much the planet has warmed.
One or two degrees might seem like really small numbers. But on a global scale, even a 2 °C rise can lead to more extreme weather, rising sea levels, and the loss of habitats for people and wildlife. Even the half-degree between 1.5 and 2°C is huge in terms of the impacts on people and wildlife.
Here's where we are at:
We’ve already warmed about 1 °C since the 19th century
In 2024, global average temperatures likely hit around 1.55 °C. But remember that’s a single year spike for now, not a sustained long‑term average.
Right now, we're hovering right around the 1.5 °C threshold, and that means every fraction matters.
I can't emphasise enough that the difference between 1.5 °C and 2 °C is enormous:
Around 420 million fewer people would experience frequent extreme heat, and 65 million fewer would face vicious heatwaves at 1.5 °C versus 2 °C.
Millions of lives would be saved by staying closer to 1.5°C, people and wildlife alike. Coral reefs, insects, plants, and vertebrates all fare significantly better closer to 1.5 °C .
What most people don't realise about climate change
I don't need to go into the details about the impacts of climate change. If you're reading this, you're likely already concerned about the climate-related disasters and conflicts that are unfolding.
But I hope that you also know this:
All the solutions we need to reverse climate change and restore the living earth are already here. From clean energy to rewilding, heat-resilient crops to circular business models, we already have the tools to act.
We don't need to wait for a clever invention or scientific breakthrough. With the knowledge, tools and resources we already have today, we could absolutely fix the climate and biodiversity crises.
So the problem isn't that we can't do it. It's not that we don't care either; surveys have consistently shown that most people really care. The problem is that even if we have started implementing solutions, we need to roll them out much faster.
That's why climate doom is so dangerous. Because it slows us down, right when we need to hit the ground running.
Let's not forget that implementing climate solutions isn’t “too expensive”. It’s one of the smartest financial investments we can make:
Globally, air pollution from fossil fuels costs around $2.9 trillion every year ($8 billion a day), draining public health systems and causing millions of premature deaths. And that’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Staying closer to 1.5 °C could also prevent billions in crop damage by reducing heat stress, drought, and pest outbreaks. That protects farmers’ livelihoods and helps stabilise food prices.
Stabilising the climate could also save governments hundreds of billions in disaster relief and rebuilding costs from storms, floods, and wildfires that are already being intensified by global warming.
According to Project Drawdown, investing $23–26 trillion in proven climate solutions between now and 2050 could save us $96–143 trillion in avoided climate damage, health costs, and energy savings. It makes more financial sense to act than do nothing!
We’re not past the point of no return
So what does all of this mean? Yes: we’ve hit tough milestones. Yes: people are already suffering today. Yes: climate change is already here. But action makes a real difference. The IPCC tells us that acting hard and fast still gives us a chance to hold warming below or near 1.5 °C, and it will save countless lives and a dizzying amount of money.
We need a shift in our culture's mindset: a growing sense that climate breakdown isn’t inevitable and it isn't acceptable for any of us. This shift will only take root when enough of us speak up, stand up, and normalise the idea that caring matters.
Giving up on climate change isn't an option
Fatalism tells us, “It’s too late.” But science, existing solutions, and human resilience reply: It’s not too late, and giving up is the one path we cannot take.
Every fraction of a degree matters. Every life, species, and community counts. We’re at a crossroads, but there’s a path forward. So what's your next step?
What now?
Are you ready to be part of the solution? You can sign up for my monthly newsletter (on my homepage) where I share free articles, events, and tools to help turn climate grief into a force for good. You’ll receive actionable ideas and support to help you take climate action with purpose.
If you need more personal support, you can book Eco Positivity coaching with me below.
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