​Can the climate still be saved? Scientists like oceanologist Mojib Latif are disillusioned. Neither the warnings from climate researchers nor public protests have prompted sufficient action from politicians and big business interests.

Why? This question is the subject of this film. One factor is the sluggish political action of governments in almost every country in the world — despite numerous climate protection conferences. The lack of political action can often be traced to large fossil fuel companies, which have prevented the implementation of effective environmental and climate protection measures, fearing for their profit margins.

For some time now, young people have also been fighting for radical change. Against ruthless companies and politicians who are incapable of acting, in their view. “Fridays for Future” and “The Last Generation” want to see an immediate change of course. Mojib Latif sympathizes with their concerns. But he wonders what their forms of protest, which he finds too radical, really achieve. In large parts of society, they tend to provoke anger, which can serve to increase society‘s lack of understanding. Have there ever been successful forms of protest? Perhaps other approaches are needed to convince people.

Ultimately, however, each individual person — and their human brain – may be at the root of the problem. Why? Solving complex problems in the long term is not the human brain’s strongpoint, says neuroscientist Henning Beck. “The structure of our brain negatively influences our behavior when tackling big problems.”

DW Documentary