In 2009, a “future history” movie called “The Age of Stupid” conjectured a state of the planet in 2055, with an opening narrative that “the conditions we are experiencing now [that is, in 2055] were actually caused by our behavior in the period leading up to 2015.” The economics and politics of 2009-2015 are no longer “what might happen,” so this is a chance to see if that 2009 look-ahead was overly dramatic – and perhaps to form an opinion of whether extending the (perhaps now credible?) curves into 2055 might create some urgency for “emergency brake” maneuvers.

Let’s make this week’s note a brief three-pointer:

Point 1: The wildfires that are a major element of what was a predictive outlook in 2009…are now bearing out that prediction. So, it was not an hysterical exaggeration of what might happen:

A wildfire burning out of control in southern France has forced the evacuation of over 10,000 people ​from two dozen small towns and villages near the Spanish border. Authorities urged residents in parts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, to remain indoors and keep windows and doors shut due to toxic smoke from a recycling plant engulfed by wildfire flames.

Point 2: Alleviating wildfire-causing temperature rise is not a good thing to postpone, because there are compounding effects and tipping points. Transition from fossil-fuel electrical power generation to nuclear and renewable energy sources is hampered by a hotter climate:

During Europe’s heat wave in June, several nuclear facilities in France and Switzerland had to reduce output or temporarily shut down because the rivers they use for cooling had become too warm. Renewable energy sources are affected as well. Low water levels can hamper electricity production from hydropower, for instance.

…and speaking of hydropower:

Lake Powell has dropped to its lowest point of 2026, and officials do not expect the downward trend to reverse soon. Persistent drought, hotter conditions, and heavy water use are still squeezing one of the West’s most important water supplies. If levels sink too much, hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam could be forced to stop.

Lake Powell generates power for about 5.8 million households and businesses in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

Point 3: the full length video of “The Age of Stupid” is on line, free, and is only an hour and a half. Imagine an engaging grounding of the realities of climate change, in terms of both macro trends and individual household and personal actions, delivered to the screen in a way that feels like what would happen if James Burke of “Connections” collaborated with Monty Python. It’s not an uplifting watch. It’s worth the time I’ll save you by having kept this short. Let’s see if I can make that a habit.