There is one item of discussion I would like to recommend for Paris climate talks that will start in a few days: what shall we do if all our attempts to stop climate change fail? A reasonable question, this. As well as a reasonable item for discussion between representatives of all the countries on the planet. Still, I wonder whether it will be discussed at all, let alone addressed in an appropriate way. Thus this recommendation.

As far as I understand the situation that humanity faces at present, the only way out of the conundrum we are facing is disaster management. Protracted disaster management, that is. Chances are that this is the only response that faces many generations, perhaps as many as forty of them. And the only way forward is to start with the underlying principles (for example, see my “Ten Principles of Disaster Management,” January 19, 2015, on the World Wide Web).

Sooner or later, disaster management may well become a way of life for the human species. Mastering it as soon as possible is thus an important consideration at present. Each country across the globe needs to institute the disaster-management effort at the lowest communal level—such as villages, small towns, or urban neighborhoods. Underpinned by law, the sustained communal effort offers the best chances for survival. Again, Paris climate talks need to usher it in the case all attempts to stop climate change fail.

Addendum I (November 26, 2015)

For good measure, I posted this piece on the Croatian Climate Change Panel website. I am the coordinator of the panel’s disaster management team, after all. I sent it by electronic mail to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the administration of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Having done all this, I feel that I have done my bit. The fact that no-one anywhere will pay it any attention is not my concern, though. As ever, my conscience is clear, and that is all that I am concerned about.

Addendum II (November 27, 2015)

Zoran Skala, a colleague from the disaster-management team, added a supportive comment to this piece on the CCCP website. So far, so good. We both hope that Paris climate talks will address this crucial issue, but both of us are aware that this is not very likely at this stage of international negotiations concerning climate change. The Paris deal will focus on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Across the globe, the hope is still that this policy will avert calamity. It takes a particular blend of pessimism and optimism to put due emphasis on disaster management. Pessimistic as I am, I always surprise myself about my underlying optimism. Posting this piece on the CCCP site is yet another example of my undying optimism about my fellow humans. To my comfort, this is where Zoran and I appear to be on the same page.