I have lived a life that has taken me all over the world, including thousands of sea miles in large and small vessels. I became a business specialist in energy efficiency, witnessing man’s ability to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions while witnessing man’s reluctance to do so. I have witnessed the increasing polluting of our oceans, the decline and loss of species. I have witnessed the triumphs of mankind to save species, reverse diseases or tame the natural environment. 

Charles Dickens said it better than me 160 years ago:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

I find myself in the world of Dickens when I consider Climate Change, which is why I am writing. I am a first-time novelist. My novel is a political thriller themed on combatting Climate Change.

Climate Change is real. The science overwhelmingly points to mankind’s footprint on the planet as the major cause, whether it be from burning of fossil fuels, deforestation or farming of ruminants for food and clothing. 

Most Climate Change deniers deny that Climate Change is man-made. They will acknowledge global warming and its effects but blame other natural causes, conspiracy theories, millennial rhythms, God’s will; or seize on “evidence” that it is about to reverse. 

I decided to write a story that is an allegory of our times: one that exploits so called evidence that global warming can be reversed. All that is needed are numerous volcanic eruptions to cloak the world with ash and aerosols, producing global cooling. Problem solved. Foolish? Incredulous? A Season of Darkness? A Winter of Despair? Yes, all those things.

To learn more, you will have to read the book.

In writing the novel my aim is to alarm the readers. I want the readers to be alarmed that we live in a world where we can elect people capable of destroying it. I want readers to acknowledge that not only is Climate Change real but that we are already too late. Action now will not stop the planet warming for the next 100 years. I want readers to realise that foolhardy ideas in today’s world can become believable policy. 

But I want to give some hope. Most good thrillers have the protagonist triumphing in the end, overcoming a moral dilemma and changing for the better. If the novel is an allegory of our world with good triumphing over evil, then there is hope that mankind can triumph.

My hope is that readers will finish the book reflecting deeply. Consider their preference in leaders, think about their choices for heating, cooling, food, travel, charity, health, wealth and consumption. 

Maybe some small actions by a few will be like the flapping of a butterfly’s wings in the Amazon that can ripple across the globe to make change for the better.

Mark Rutherford

Sydney, Australia