Let’s Talk About Climate Change

A play in motion amidst a crazy backdrop

Act 1: Let’s Face It — We’re Screwed, But Maybe Not Irreversibly

The Department of Energy is getting slashed, temperatures are climbing like a meme stock, and the Boston recycling system is basically an elaborate exercise in wishful thinking. We diligently separate our plastics and paper, only to later learn that most of it is being shipped overseas or dumped in landfills because, frankly, the system isn’t designed to actually work. Meanwhile, Delhi, the capital of an entire nation, has vanished under a smog so thick it could qualify as a new landmass. If you tried to land a plane there, you’d have better luck navigating a black hole.

And then there was Sonam Wangchuk’s visit to Harvard. The man brought a piece of actual glacier ice from Ladakh and placed it in front of us while giving a talk on climate change. By the end of the talk, the ice was gone. It wasn’t a metaphor; it was physics in action. The message? Talk is great. Action is better. The time for grand speeches and empty pledges has long passed. The question is, do we have the stomach for real change, or are we just performing concern?

Act 2: The Tragedy of the Commons — Who Broke This and Why Are We Paying for It?

The tragedy of the commons is not a new phenomenon, but climate change has taken it to a new, global scale. The fundamental issue? The people who are most responsible for climate change are often not the ones suffering through its most immediate and devastating consequences. This is not about blaming singular individuals for leaving their lights on too long or taking one too many flights. This is about systems designed to extract resources, burn fossil fuels, and pass the costs down the line to those who can least afford it.

Consider this: the world’s wealthiest countries emit the majority of greenhouse gases. But who pays the price? Polynesian islands are literally sinking under rising sea levels. Coastal communities in Bangladesh are being displaced as floods and hurricanes become more frequent. African nations that contribute almost nothing to global emissions are battling prolonged droughts, food insecurity, and extreme heat.

This isn’t just about nations either. Big oil companies knew about climate change for decades and actively misled the public while continuing to extract and sell fossil fuels. Major corporations lobby against environmental regulations while making empty sustainability pledges. And yet, who’s asked to bear the burden of change? It’s the average consumer, who’s being told to use metal straws while billion-dollar industries operate with impunity.

Are these years that we’re borrowing from the future? Or are they just years we have stolen outright?

Act 3: Hands Up in Despair or Suit Up as a Climate Warrior?

Option one: Accept our fate, start Googling “best places to live during the climate apocalypse,” and hope your grandkids don’t resent you too much. Move to high ground, stock up on canned food, and start preparing for a dystopian existence in which people trade water bottles like currency.

Option two: Fight back. But how? The most visible climate activists glue themselves to roads, chain themselves to trees, or stage hunger strikes. Admirable, sure, but not everyone has the time, privilege, or inclination to get arrested in the name of climate justice. And even if they did, would it be enough? Governments move slowly, corporations are resistant to change, and individuals often feel powerless. But opting out isn’t a real option either.

Act 4: Is There a Middle Ground?

What if there were a way to integrate climate action into everyday life without making it an all-consuming crusade? What if there were small but meaningful steps that made a difference, provided the cost was worth the impact?

It starts with incremental choices: paying an extra ten bucks to offset your carbon footprint, choosing biofuels even if they cost a bit more (because at scale, prices will drop), supporting sustainable businesses. The key is to embed climate action into things people already do, rather than expecting mass behavioral change overnight.

And let’s be real: there are easy wins. Eating less meat (yes, even if you’re not going full vegan), investing in renewable energy, driving less, flying less — these things add up. Governments need to push for large-scale changes, but consumer demand still has an impact. If enough people shift their behavior, businesses follow. The path to sustainability isn’t only about sacrifice; it’s also about shifting what’s considered normal.

Act 5: My Subjective Take (Incomplete, So Don’t Cancel Me)

I believe the best way forward is to build businesses that are not reliant on green privileges like carbon credits or government subsidies. Sustainability needs to be baked into the core of a company because it makes business sense, not as an afterthought. Green Gear Supply Co. is one example. It’s not just a sustainable alternative; it’s also a better product.

And something is better than nothing. Patagonia may have its flaws, but its trust has conserved real land. We need more solutions like this: pragmatic, effective, and not just symbolic. In a world of overwhelming climate doom, we need to talk more about the wins.

And finally, let’s acknowledge that not all green tech is deep tech. You don’t need a PhD in material science to make an impact. Changing a business model, scaling an existing technology, or implementing sustainable logistics can drive lasting change.

So no, you don’t need to be an engineer, billionaire, or politician to play your part. You just need to start somewhere. And if nothing else, at least stop wish-cycling your plastic coffee cup into the recycling bin. It’s not getting recycled, my friend.

Adhitya Raghavan (MBA ’25) is originally from Chennai, India. He learned about rockets during his undergrad at Princeton, studying Mechanical and Aerospace engineering. Adhitya loves playing sports and attempting to write poetry, and hopes to build his own energy company post-HBS.