In your book "The Age of Resilience" you invite the reader to re-imagine their existence on Earth and, in general, the way they relate to other species. At what point in history do we find ourselves?

We are facing extinction. Let me explain. For the last few hundred years, we have lived under the domination of a system that is based on the use of oil, coal and gas to fuel what we have called the fuel age. However, this way of life has had serious consequences for our planet. We have released a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperature and catastrophic climate change. For every degree Celsius increase in temperature, the atmosphere retains 7% more precipitation from the ground, resulting in increasingly intense and destructive weather events. From flash floods and droughts to hurricanes and heat waves, we are witnessing the devastating effects everywhere. This change drastically alters ecosystems, threatening the lives of countless species, including our own. Scientists warn us that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of life on Earth, and this time, the onus is on us humans.

Is there a way to avoid extinction?

Yes, it is possible, because we have the resources to do so: new technologies, the wonders of science and the accuracy of mathematics, and the appeal of the capitalist market to promote the economic well-being of society. Moreover, what we are seeing is that young people are now very frightened.

Not only young people, but also older people...

Yes, also older people, parents, grandparents. But it is in the younger people where the key lies. Despite the seriousness of the situation, there is hope. Generation Z has realised that our planet is much more powerful than we had thought. They are beginning to understand that the planet is not here to be dominated and exploited, but is a complex and dynamic system of which they are an interdependent part. This recognition gives us the opportunity to change our relationship with the Earth and to adopt a more respectful and sustainable approach to nature. It is time to stop commodifying and exploiting the planet's resources and to start working in harmony with the hydrosphere and other natural systems.

In a sense, this is good news.

Of course it is. One of the highlights is the remarkable involvement and awareness of Generation Z in relation to the climate crisis. We have witnessed mass demonstrations led by young people, who have peacefully taken to the streets to demand urgent action on the global climate emergency. For the first time in history, we are witnessing an entire generation identifying themselves not just as individuals, but as an endangered species. These young people recognise their fellow human beings as part of the same evolutionary family, transcending political, religious and tribal divisions.

António Guterres, UN Secretary General, said that humanity has opened the gates of hell. Do you agree with this statement?

Yes, completely. But let me share a reflection on this. The entire infrastructure of our planet is an asset: communications, energy, mobility, logistics, water, buildings, environment. This is because we have developed a world that is not prepared to face an extinction event and climate change. Whether in the design of buildings, road systems or groundwater management, this new challenge has not been taken into account. The current crisis is the most severe since humans have inhabited this planet, some 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. Our entire infrastructure was designed for a temperate climate era, the Holocene. However, we are now in the Anthropocene era, where the hydrosphere is the dominant force. In fact, this planet is more accurately a water planet than a terrestrial one. We are still discovering the importance of the hydrosphere. It determines all forms of life. Without the hydrosphere, there is no lithosphere. The hydrosphere even influences soil formation and is essential for the balance and sustainability of our planetary environment. It determines plant and animal life, as well as the composition of the atmosphere with the oxygen it provides. It also influences the biosphere as a whole.

We are now witnessing how the waters are rebelling. And the real irony of all this is that we once thought we could dominate this planet. We have not, we have commercialised it, we have privatised it, we have used it, we have polluted it for the benefit of a single species. The opportunity now is for a new generation to enter industry, governance and civil society to begin to transform our world. Politicians, mostly from previous generations, are not adequately addressing today's challenges. We need new ideas and a renewed approach at all levels: industry, academia, civil society and government. The first phase was to see the younger generation protesting in the streets. Now, the next stage involves this generation entering different sectors of society and starting to implement the ideas that have emerged, taking them beyond what we have achieved so far. However, the problem is that we will not achieve this by watching videos on TikTok. These issues require deep reflection and serious engagement.

Speaking of old and new models, what does it mean for the progress of humanity that in the 21^st century countries are still settling their differences with wars?

What we are witnessing in the world today, while it may seem discouraging, is actually showing us a glimmer of hope. We are seeing a significant shift in geopolitics, where borders are closing and countries are increasingly competing for limited resources. This dynamic reflects a zero-sum game in which each nation fights for its survival in a world facing resource scarcity, loss of laws and environmental degradation. We are at a tipping point, an extinction event, and this geopolitical chaos is a sign that the old paradigm is coming to an end. In my conversations with government and business leaders I notice a shift in the discourse. It is no longer about progress, but about resilience and adaptability. However, many still do not fully understand what this shift entails. We are in transition from geopolitics to the politics of the biosphere. This means that governance will no longer be limited to sovereign nation states, but will also encompass bio-regional forms of governance. Climate events do not respect political boundaries; they affect ecosystems that transcend these artificial divisions.

Many of today's leaders still don't buy into climate change. In the United States, a global warming denier may become president again. 

I'm going to tell you a story that happened in San Antonio, Texas, that is truly inspiring and exemplifies how strategic decisions can transform an entire state in terms of sustainable energy. Texas, a traditionally Republican state, was at a crossroads a few years ago on how to approach its energy future. Despite an initial inclination towards nuclear power plants, a thorough analysis revealed that this option entailed considerable costs and risks. Wind power was seen as a more consistent and less risky resource. Then, in a bold and visionary decision, Texas opted for a transition to sustainable energy. A gamble driven in large part by farmer investment. It is now a national leader in this technology. It is not the only example. General Motors plants in Kentucky and Tennessee [both Republican] also use renewable energy in the production of electric trucks and are testament to this trend. It is fascinating to see how even in politically conservative territories significant changes are taking place. Figures like Trump and other political leaders should be aware of these developments and their benefits. Sustainable industries are now expanding into states that tend to support Trump. So even though he opposes wind energy, it is his supporters who are now working in these industries.

Almost 30 years ago you published "The End of Work", where you discuss the use of new technologies and production processes. What does AI now mean for future employment?

Well, to some extent, AI is overrated. While it will certainly have its uses, particularly in fostering a more distributed, localised and democratic infrastructure (e.g. in power grid management, microgrid development and optimisation of mobility and logistics), it is wrong to believe that AI will be able to predict everything about the future. AI has inherent limitations. By the time data is collected, it is already outdated and AI does not take into account the butterfly effect and negative externalities. Every action on this living planet has far-reaching consequences, altering fundamental aspects of our environment moment by moment. Nature is not a collection of passive resources, but is dynamically animated. Therefore, while data may seem valuable to us, it is often divorced from the true nature of our dynamic planet, which is characterised by continuous change and flux.

What would you say to those who feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face?

That there is hope embedded in our neural biology. Human beings possess empathic neurons, discovered in the 1990s, that allow us to experience the emotions of others as our own. This empathic impulse transcends cultural boundaries and has the potential to unite humanity in a shared desire for collective flourishing. While there have been historical fluctuations in empathic awareness, the current era marks a significant shift towards empathy for humanity as a whole, pointing to a promising way forward. Life is a priceless gift, and while we may not fully understand its purpose, we know that we desire more. We long to thrive and flourish. Empathy serves as a means to provide mutual support, whether to other human beings or other beings. We must harness this concept, this feeling, this essence of life and mobilise it into a socio-political movement aimed at transforming our way of existence on this planet.

See, «Es hora de dejar de mercantilizar y explotar los recursos del planeta»