Adapting to Climate Change   

You’d probably say, if you knew me well, that I’m not a very discriminating fellow in most ways.

The word “discrimination” is often used when referring to biases and unfair treatment against certain categories of people, races, or cultures. We can also discriminate in favor of places or things that we prefer. To have discriminating or refined tastes is considered by many as a compliment. Often wealth or higher status affords more opportunities for indulging in discriminating choices and pursuing life’s luxuries.

I confess that I don’t have many discriminating or refined tastes. For most kinds of goods, the basics are usually fine for me. Some of this attitude probably comes from having Depression-era, middle-class parents who raised my siblings and me on a philosophy of practicality (and more than a few reminders of "we can't afford that").

As a teenager having a sexy or socially appealing auto held little appeal for me. A cousin once claimed that I viewed a car as merely something to travel from point A to point B. I don’t spend extra on most items, because I don’t derive that much extra pleasure from many possessions having a premium price.

People often want many of the luxuries of life. They desire possessions or life experiences beyond the common or mundane. Some strive mightily to attain these luxuries. This pursuit, when excessive, though, can be viewed as personal greed or avarice. To achieve personal satisfaction or to “keep up with the Joneses,” people often desire luxury brands or items with more “bells and whistles.” They also want an increasing number of distinctive goods and experiences.

  

The tune “The Bare Necessities” was written by Terry Gilkyson and sung by Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman for Disney's 1967 animated feature film The Jungle Book. Its lyrics recommend a focus on the essentials of life and having a lifestyle of focusing on the things that truly matter.  

It seems to me that one consequence of folks pursuing many material possessions or life luxuries is their leaving larger carbon footprints in their lives. They can even face a dilemma of needing to get rid of some of their existing stuff to be able to have space to get more stuff. They can resolve this dilemma, if wealthy enough, by buying more space (housing or storage units) to contain the increasing amount of stuff that they possess. It can seem that at some point, though, that their possessions begin to possess them. Economists describe diminishing marginal returns or the declining perceived value of goods as people accumulate more of these.

Mitigation and adaptation are two approaches usually suggested for our addressing the many negative consequences of increasing climate change. Regardless of the level of our success in reducing some of the worse effects of climate change, we will be forced in the future to make some lifestyle changes.

    

My father once explained based upon his and his parents’ experiences that it was very difficult to adapt from having adequate resources to having steadily declining ones. This process can mirror the stages of grief over death - from initial denial to eventual acceptance - as people come to terms with these losses. These observations raise a question for me about the next decade or two. How will different individuals, families, and societies adapt to the sacrifices necessitated by climate change?

Wealthier individuals might initially find shelter from climate change's earlier consequences within their gated communities or protected enclaves. Their greater resources can act as a buffer against more immediate climate-related shocks. Despite their material advantages, though, the wealthy could lack the psychological resilience down the road to adapt to prolonged adverse conditions.

Historically, poorer communities globally have borne more of the brunt of environmental degradation. These communities are also much more likely to face more severe impacts of future climate change. Those who argue for more “environmental justice” urge this acknowledgement and decision-making reforms.  

Paradoxically perhaps, experiences with adversity might better prepare us mentally for climate change adaptation. As we confront the more demanding challenges of climate change, we need to consider not just the physical and economic impacts, but also the psychological and social aspects of forced adaptation. Our ability to navigate climate crises could depend as much on our mental fortitude as on our material resources.