Science fiction offers hope in the dark

In the scorching summer of 2025, an apocalyptic heat wave envelops India, claiming countless lives as power grids falter in the oppressive heat. Amidst this chaos, Frank, an aid worker from the United States, fights tirelessly to save those seeking refuge in a clinic in Uttar Pradesh. As he struggles to transport a generator to the clinic, he is confronted by thieves threatening him with violence, one accusing him, saying, “You did this.”

TAKE ACTION: Join the 927 Climate Justice March set for Saturday, September 27, at 12:30 PM in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

This harrowing interaction underscores a deep-seated anger directed at Frank as a representative of climate change and the wasteful lifestyles of Americans, and indeed, the Global North, who are largely accountable for the climate crisis.

Exploring the Crisis

This chilling encounter opens Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future, a seminal work of science fiction that deftly examines the entangled issues of capitalism, colonialism, and climate devastation. This novel articulates the urgent actions required to restore ecological balance for the sake of all living beings, present and future.

Upon its debut in 2020, The Ministry for the Future sparked significant discourse on climate change, engaging activists, economists, UN officials, and even former President Barack Obama, going beyond the typical audiences of science fiction literature.

Similar in its cultural impact to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin on the institution of slavery and George Orwell’s 1984 in political discourse, Robinson’s novel sheds light on ongoing colonial dynamics.

As articulated by Jason Hickel, author of Less is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World, the responsibility for climate change lies predominantly with Western economies, where a small percentage of the global population has generated a vast majority of excess emissions while the brunt of these changes fall on the Global South.

Emerging Movements

The Global South is increasingly vocal, as evidenced by the participation of Gen Z-led protests across nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nepal, where youth movements are challenging their governments in response to climate crises.

In The Ministry for the Future, this emerging activism manifests through a radical group called the Children of Kali, invoking the Hindu goddess associated with creation and destruction to advocate for swift climate action.

While the Global South bears the harshest impacts of climate degradation, South Korea confronts its own climate challenges. In March and early May, wildfires ravaged central and southern regions, resulting in 32 fatalities and displacing approximately 10,000 individuals.

Weather Extremes

July brought devastating floods, leading to 34 deaths and forcing the evacuation of about 10,000 people, while the heat wave of August contributed to an alarming rise in heat-related deaths. Concurrently, regions like Gangneung wrestle with severe droughts. These incidents are not merely natural disasters; they embody the dire consequences of fossil fuel reliance.

In The Heat Will Kill You First (2023), Jeff Goodell argues that fossil fuel companies might soon face lawsuits for the deaths and damage linked to climate-induced calamities, which prompts contemplations of accountability.

For families grappling with the grief of lost loved ones due to the recent calamities, pointing fingers at major fossil fuel entities is not an exaggeration; it represents a pursuit of climate justice.

While attributing extreme weather impacts is complex, a recent study published in the journal Nature indicates advancements in linking extreme heat waves to emissions from the world’s largest polluters.

Collective Action

For those mourning the devastating effects of heat waves, legal accountability becomes a crucial aspect of climate justice, demanding recognition from the culprits of environmental devastation.

Despite its unsettling premise, The Ministry for the Future possesses an optimistic scientific foundation, urging consideration for future generations inhabiting a planet in distress.

Transitioning from the heat crisis of 2025 to the so-called “zombie years” of the 2030s, and ultimately pursuing a cooler planet by 2050, the novel showcases the myriad efforts necessary for reducing atmospheric carbon—ranging from UN initiatives to grassroots movements, and from eco-friendly technologies to innovative approaches in environmental humanities.

In this tale, there isn’t a singular solution to halt climate disarray; the narrative insists on an “all-hands-on-deck” approach, a sentiment echoing through the upcoming 927 Climate Justice March in Seoul on September 27.

This annual march, inspired by the Fridays for Future movement, has rapidly gained momentum since its inception in 2019.

Demanding Justice

Each September, the climate justice demonstrations grow increasingly powerful, amplifying calls for change. This year’s demands include: establishing equitable reduction targets and a transition to a green economy, advocating for sustainable energy policies, halting detrimental growth projects, upholding farmers’ rights, and ensuring safety and dignity for all communities.

The Ministry for the Future resonates strongly with these demands, particularly regarding the critique of capitalism’s relentless pursuit of growth, which exacerbates inequalities and destabilizes our planet.

We saw the devastating consequences of climate-induced displacement in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, which depicted the plight of a family displaced by flooding, reflecting the vulnerability experienced by those least responsible for climate change.

Equitable Solutions

Similar to the elderly displaced by wildfires in Uiseong County earlier this year, rural communities both in South Korea and the Global South face disproportionate vulnerability to climate risks, necessitating urgent calls for equity and justice.

While anger fuels the narrative of The Ministry for the Future and the climate justice protests, there is also a palpable sense of solidarity, celebrating all forms of life as we face biological and ecological extinction.

The novel promotes visionary alternatives to contemporary capitalism, highlighting successful cooperative models that exist today and demand further scaling to meet pressing challenges.

Generational Responsibility

As Rebecca Solnit asserts in Hope in the Dark, “What we dream of is already present in the world.” With climate anxiety on the rise, especially among youth, participation in the 927 Climate Justice March can provide solace and strength through shared experiences.

The demonstrations are vibrant, filled with music, art, and creative expression—an essential outlet in these tumultuous times. Collective joy fuels the movement as we unite to advocate for a cooler planet, not just for ourselves, but for generations yet to come.

About the Author

John R. Eperjesi is a professor in the Department of English Linguistics and Literature at Kyung Hee University in Seoul and a specialist in environmental humanities.

Philosophik is set to release the Korean translation of The Ministry for the Future in Spring 2026. This article was originally published in Korean by OhMyNews.

The 927 Climate Justice March will be held on Saturday, September 27, at 12:30 PM in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.