Chapter 2 (response)

Chapter 2, while not quite as gloomy as chapter 1, presents another unfortunate reality regarding the ongoing battle between our lifestyles and the planet. Here, McKibben focuses on growth and progression; particularly, economic and industrial growth. In the past, it seems that the answer to most of our problems was simple: we need to grow. However, now McKibben argues that now we must actually regress if we're to have any hope in battling climate change.

Unfortunately, I just don't believe that will ever happen. No country will willingly put themselves at a disadvantage in today's game-like political culture. In one part of this chapter, McKibben explains how Exxon (the fossil fuel giant) has been secretly fighting to convince people that climate change isn't real, or at least isn't as big of a threat as it seems. Suppressing such an important issue just so that they might remain one of the biggest corporations on earth. As terrifyingly real as climate change is, it doesn't feel as real as billions of dollars.