Despite years of exposure to the climate science, I don’t believe we are headed for total societal collapse

‘Around one in three Australians are alarmed about climate change and would describe it as a “crisis” requiring greater government attention than any other issue,’ writes Rebecca Huntley. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Last Friday the Guardian published a story under the headline “World close to ‘irreversible’ climate breakdown”. This was not a quote from Greta Thunberg or Extinction Rebellion, but the central message from three United Nations agencies.

They found there was “no credible pathway to 1.5C in place” and current pledges for action, even if honoured, would result in global heating of around 2.5C – in other words, a catastrophic climate breakdown, with devastating consequences for societies around the globe.