Physicist and science communicator José Miguel Viñas has published his tenth book, titled Our Climate Problem. The work aims to explain in an engaging and accessible way all the key elements of humanity’s most pressing challenge.
How does Our Climate Problem differ from Viñas’s previous books?
It marks an evolution in his writing approach. The book is not a simple popular science volume; it reads more like an essay that blends scientific insight with broader social perspectives. Viñas notes that his past work focused mainly on weather and climate disclosure, while this title broadens the lens to include population dynamics and societal structures. The aim is to move beyond a purely scientific discussion to explore how social factors interact with climate realities, presenting new angles on the topic.
Does this shift relate to climate change already affecting daily life?
Yes. Viñas explains that this book represents a clear departure from commentary offered a decade ago. At that time, the effects of climate change were discussed in general terms and sometimes observed only indirectly. Now, many of these influences are visible in everyday activities, and not only through heat waves but through a range of extreme phenomena that can occur at any time of year.
In Our Climate Problem, future scenarios are examined, and questions are raised about which outcomes would be most troubling for societies.
For instance, rising temperatures paired with more frequent extreme events could severely impact essential sectors such as agriculture. A region accustomed to certain crops and farming calendars may suddenly face years that undermine those plans. Spain, as an example, could see staple crops like olive trees and vines lose viability in specific climate pathways within 40 to 50 years, with broad implications for an activity-based economy.
“We are now starting to perceive how the effects of climate change affect our daily activities.”
Global warming rising above 1.5 degrees with El Niño looming prompts questions about policy and timing. Viñas emphasizes that the objective is not to avoid the peak entirely but to understand where the rise will stabilize. Projections have shifted over time, with revised estimates suggesting tighter timeframes for emissions reductions. The overarching point is that there is a window of twenty to thirty years to shape the path forward; if emissions are not reduced, the end-of-century impacts could be much more severe.
What about current policies to curb climate change? Viñas observes that progress has happened in fits and starts. Climate summits yield commitments, including aid for developing nations, but the structural changes required are substantial. Minor measures alone are insufficient; society must rethink its institutions, energy systems, and consumption patterns. Large-scale transformation across sectors is necessary for meaningful progress.
He notes a comparison with ozone layer protection: while the Montreal Protocol delivered clear, local gains by targeting specific gases, climate change involves many interacting factors and global systems. Transport emissions, urban design, and energy production all matter, and adjusting them quickly on a global scale is challenging. Yet, thoughtful, country-specific adaptations and coordinated policy efforts can progressively shift the trajectory of emissions and resilience.
There have always been climate critics, but denialism tends to intensify when action is proposed. Viñas argues that denial often intertwines with ideological resistance. If changes imply questioning deeply rooted economic models, some voices react by defending personal freedoms over collective needs. The realism is that a sustainable future requires changes that go beyond surface-level solutions.
“What needs to be done is profound social change, and that means questioning the capitalist model that prevails in the world.”
What went wrong in communicating the emergency of climate change? Viñas suggests that even the scientific community sometimes struggles to convey complex topics clearly. If a hypothetical asteroid were to threaten Earth in a few months, public response would be swift. Climate change, however, has lacked immediacy in perception, so action has lagged. Yet many observers are now noticing that these changes are affecting health and daily life, moving the issue from abstract to personal reality.
What about optimism? Viñas maintains a cautious but hopeful stance. There is room for meaningful changes, and the data remain clear. The belief is that major agreements—if countries align on trade, transportation, and policy—can steer the world toward a more sustainable path. Delays only make the future harder to avert.
In closing, the book invites readers to consider the scale of the challenge and the necessity of coordinated action. It argues for a balance between acknowledging hard truths and pursuing practical, system-wide reforms that adapt to each country’s realities.
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