Jonathan Franzen – What if we stopped pretending?

In this 4th episode of the 2nd season of Planet A, Dan Jørgensen talks with the American writer Jonathan Franzen. 

Franzen is the author of numerous short stories and essays, but is most widely known for his novels “The Corrections”, “Freedom” and “Purity”. Furthermore, he has been a contributor to “The New Yorker” Magazine since 1994 and written seminal essays on climate change and environmentalism.

During the interview, Franzen talks about his essay “What if We Stopped Pretending?” that sparked controversy due to its argument that humanity may no longer be able to stop climate change. The essay attracted vocal criticism and Franzen was accused of being a climate denier.

Franzen also explains how he first got interested in environmental conservation and what his love for birds has meant for his approach to life. He expands on his views described in another essay; “Has climate change made it harder for people to care about conservation?” explaining how concerns about climate change can overshadow other environmental issues.

Furthermore, the discussion explores the narratives that surround climate change. Franzen argues that climate action should be motivated by a moral imperative, love for nature and the hope of a better future – not by fear mongering.

During the interview Franzen mentions Jem Bendell, a British professor of sustainability leadership and founder of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria. He is founder of the Deep Adaptation Forum to support responses to hypothetical societal disruption from the perceived dangers of climate change - also called climate anxiety in more popular terms.

Franzen’s upcoming novel “Crossroads” will be published in October 2021 as the first installment in a trilogy entitled  “A Key to All Mythologies?”