ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how human activities produced the “wicked” problems that constitute what should be called the global climate-ecosystem-biodiversity mega-emergency. It begins by describing the human activities that are disrupting the climate system, damaging ecological systems, and exterminating biodiversity. It then describes why the commitments made at the Paris Climate Accord agreed to by many nations in 2015 cannot prevent global temperatures from overshooting the 2.7 degree Fahrenheit (3.6 Celsius) temperature threshold that scientists have determined will activate relentless harmful and possibly irreversible physical impacts. The chapter closes by describing how the physical impacts of a disrupted climate system will affect the ability of humans to meet their basic needs and produce an era of constant pandemic-level mental health and psycho-social-spiritual problems that I call the “Traumacene.”
