avoiding extinction vs prevention of genocide

“To deliberately inflict upon the group conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction in whole or part”

UN definition of genocide.

The calculations have been done. The death and and displacement predicted beyond 1.5 is unspeakable.

Bear in mind many environmentalists openly say they’ve lost hope for any limit below 2 degrees. Notice that this analysis doesn’t prompt them to advocate for commitments to plans for the relocation of these people.

I beg them to rethink this.

We are sleepwalking towards disaster for all of us, indeed.

But it is the genocide of these climate vulnerable people we will meet before extinction.

If we let this happen, both through the actions and inaction of wealthy nations, do we even deserve to survive?

This impending genocide is the practical and moral clock on making the change we need.

This is the greatest threat we have faced; indeed, to the human race but crucially, and more urgently, to our humanity.

If our internationalism and solidarity is real we can not, ever, forget to advance change at a pace that can save everyone - if you aren’t able to make the case for that it is vital that you demand commitments to relocation to states like ours.

I understand not everyone can do the former but there is no excuse or justification for neglecting to do the latter.

I say this as an appeal to their reason and humanity because I do absolutely believe that these environmentalists, with whom I’m disagreeing on strategy and rhetoric, have both. I’m not trying to condemn, I’m trying to convince

We must reorient environmentalist aims from avoiding extinction to preventing genocide.

Entire nations are due to disappear under rising seas and there is no action being taken to reduce the risk, nor is there preparation for the worst-case scenarios requiring relocation, and we are talking about the issue of climate breakdown as a matter of our survival?

It’s fair to acknowledge the existential threat Climate breakdown poses to us all, but not if you are silent on the people who we have no plans to save and will make for the victims of this coming genocide.

The problem is, if the aim is just for us to survive then you are doing nothing to prevent this genocide.

When the consequence is known, as the loss of island nations and vast swathes of Subsaharan Africa if temps rise above 1.5 degrees is, we are morally responsible for the consequences of our action and inaction regardless of intention.