Written by Lan Thuy Pham, 3. september 2010

"Hacking the earth - without breaking the warranty" is the name of Jamais Cascio's presentation. He has recently been named one of the Top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy in 2009. Jamais Cascio is founder of the Open the Future and has coined the term 'bright green'. He warns that his presentation will make you feel uncomfortable and maybe even a bit angry, because it is about the options we don't want to take, but will end up taking eventually.
We have bad habits and have done things to the planet that are difficult to ameliorate now. We are stuck because of economical and political issues. If we have reached a point where we're trying to change, it's already too late. Climate is really complex. We're used cause and effect in our daily lives, but in climate, you do something --- and then the effect follows. CO2 has been put into the atmosphere years ago, but we would still have a problem even if we stop now.
We're currently in the Anthropocene epoch of Earth's history: An era where humans have begun to have a significant impact on Earth's ecosystems end the geological environment. It is also the first time there is an real potential for unprecedented catastrophe and in order to combat it, we have to change all the systems we're used to: transport, building, education, global democracy and so on.
Jamais Cascio asks: "How do we deal?" When a mega volcano erupts, it pours megatons of particles out in the atmosphere. The particles reflects a tiny bit of sunlight (and also results in spectacular sunsets), and the global temperature goes down. Some have suggested that particles are put into the atmosphere to reduce the global temperature, but Jamais Cascio rejects that idea. Instead, we should find the root cause and eliminate it.
We are facing profound challenges in technology and science. But the ethical and political questions are even greater. For instance, who is to decide when to start and stop? And who has liability for the disrupted weather patterns? In short, how do we decide who's in charge? Both countries and companies have the required resources to deal with the problems and can make a massive change if they're allowed.
Jamais Cascio outlines the elements he thinks are necessary: Transparency, an international advisory group where the world as a whole has a hear, a clear mechanism for solving disputes and a ban on non-state projects.
Furthermore, he says it's important to recognise that environmental issues are complex and that they require collaboration, discussion and modesty. The solutions should not be made from up high, but as a collaborative effort by all world citizens. After all, the likelihood of confronting climate problems are distressingly high, and if we leave it to the politicians to solve the problems, there will be a global collected covering-your-ass in the future, because those responsible haven't been so.
Jamais Cascio ends his talk by pointing out that future is not something that happens to us, but something for us to create. It has come upon us that we still have a choice, and therefore, we all have a responsibility.

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