Rupert Read

Britain is in the grip of its worst-ever, record-shattering midsummer heatwave — even before the impacts of a predicted super El Niño of “Godzilla” strength are fully felt. In this stark context, Rupert Read examines what resilience-building must mean in an era of escalating climate extremes.

As climate impacts intensify, the UK remains dangerously unprepared for systemic shocks, from global heating to biodiversity collapse. Instead of waiting for consensus on long-term solutions, the focus must shift to resilience.

The climate crisis demands urgency, not ideological uniformity. In an already fragmented movement, requiring adherence to specific positions on issues beyond climate action deepens division and opens space for anti-democratic influence.

From scientists to intelligence agencies, repeated warnings about climate and ecological collapse have gone largely unanswered by governments, media and markets.

We need a plan B. In case society starts to, erm, collapse… We need to be prepared…It won’t do to plan to WAIT til we win intellectual debates such as that around growth/degrowth before we get together to prepare…Theo Cox, Liam Kavanagh and Rupert Read outline their new OSF-funded report, just launched this week…

We believe that more historians and archaeologists can step into a public, reflective role, helping societies explore narratives beyond either progress and growth fetishism on the one hand, or nostalgic and fortress mentalities on the other.