Firstly, what a question – thank you for posting it. This a deeper aspect of climate change that I feel really needs to be explored.
I am a big believer in finding positivity in adversity, in finding the learning or growth that can be found in any situation, whether “good” or “bad”. Since watching this insightful interview with the greatest showman Hugh Jackman, this has become a big part of my philosophy. In it he discusses how true contentment in life is discovered by learning to find the peace within the negative aspects of our lives. This is what Jackman sees as experiencing ‘God’; not in a religious sense of a God ruling over us, but instead a higher state of consciousness that we as humans can experience as peace or oneness.
Clearly this offers some attractive elements not only in considering climate change, but also in life. Using the climate emergency as a means of exploring the experience of oneness with other beings, human and non-human alike, and the planet could have a transformative effect on the how we relate to climate change and its causes, and ultimately how we relate to life.
When considering the “positives” of climate change on a personal level, I can find numerous examples of finding this wider connection. In particular it has caused me to engage in previously untapped imagination and creativity, and in a deeper questioning of how I relate to the world, the environment and what I value. This has been a common experience for many, especially following the Extinction Rebellion last month. Hundreds of local XR communities have since formed around the country to connect thousands of people together under a common purpose and collective movement to re-imagine society, and to campaign for climate justice and the well-being of this planet and its inhabitant.
I am, however, also aware this is an extremely privileged position that I sit in to express these views above. Quite frankly climate change is going to cause monumental disruption, death and despair, not only in the future but also right now (see Jeremy’s °climo here). With a conservative estimate of a quarter million people dying from climate change a year, and an unprecedented rate of species disappearance, it is no exaggeration to say that billions of humans, animals, sea-life and plants face extinction and untold suffering – including me and you. How do I possibly find positivity in that?
On a personal level, reflecting on this brings grief into my life – far from positivity. And at a global level, it would constitute a devastatingly grave injustice for us to begin painting climate change as something positive knowing all of this.
Following the path of positivity too far could also lead us down a very slippery slope, particularly if searching for positives in the physical climatic changes themselves. Questions arise such as: positive for who? And at what cost? To take a very British example, it has been suggested by a Scottish tea company that due to climate change the Scottish Highlands could become an ideal tea cultivating area. Now, personally I love tea – the 20+ varieties on our shelves suggest a little on the obsessive side. On the face it that sounds fantastic; the world’s best tea on my doorstep. Yet, at what cost would this come? For those climatic changes to have taken place to allow that, how many billions of beings would have had to be sacrificed? How many billions more would have to suffer? How many countless ecosystems would have to become uninhabitable? These are the questions we cannot afford to forget when considering the idea of positives in climate change.
This question therefore poses a somewhat challenging tension that I find difficult to resolve. The only conclusion I can come to is the following:
Positivity must only be sought after in the collective and personal actions taken to tackle climate change, not the physical changes and catastrophes it brings about. We should look for positivity in adversity, but not forget to find humility in avoiding controversy.
Jonathan Hyde, 25, MA Climate Change student
ºclimo 
I believe that there is no positive side to climate change in an ecological and economical sense. However, the changes of the climatic conditions throughout the globe are the first common issue and threat that the global community has to face altogether. This can be a chance to overcome borders and boundaries in between people and unite them for the same cause. This new global togetherness can push mankind’s achievements to unknown limits and has incredible potential. However, at what cost does it come, or will we actually ever achieve it? Either way, it is disappointing to believe that it takes such a devastating future prospect for international and intercultural societies with similar interests to form.
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It’s a good question, but for me it has parallels to the question: were there positives to the slave trade? Yes, if you were a wealthy slave owner in the sugar industry, but obviously not if you had the misfortune of being one of the long-suffering slaves. Likewise, if you’re an owner of an English vineyard then climate change is likely to give you a handsome profit (provided that global civilisation doesn’t collapse). But if you’re one of the suffering millions in places like Chad, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, then worsening drought is a major catastrophe. As you stated above Jonny, it’s estimated that a quarter million people are already dying from climate change a year. And after centuries of colonial abuse, don’t we now owe the global south a massive moral debt? So surely it’s part of our common humanity to pay some kind of compensation / reparations to countries that are going hungry?
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