Efficiency is giving way to adaptivity in the age of resilience, says American economic and social theorist Jeremy Rifkin in an interview with People's Daily reporter He Jieqiong.
The cover of the new book
Rifkin is considered to be one of the most popular thinkers of our time. The author of more than 20 bestsellers, Rifkin on Monday has just released the Chinese version of his new book, The Age of Resilience, which gives a sweeping new interpretation of the history of civilization and a transformative vision of how our species will thrive on an unpredictable Earth.
“The planet is warming from climate change, and the earth is rewilding in real time,” Rifkin emphasized that in the interview, adding, “This is the most critical turning point which will determine our future.”
The Age of Resilience says that we have to reconceive all the ways that we organize our life on this earth to move from an age of progress, which is dying, to an age of resilience where we can begin to flourish in new ways.
“In the last two years since the pandemic, things have changed,” Rifkin said. “I don't see people talking about efficiency anymore in the business community or in governments. They're talking about adaptivity, and I don't see them talking about progress, they're talking about resilience.”
Regarding China's role in the global response to climate change, Rifkin claimed, “When we look back at this transition period in history, China will be seen as a leader, a first mover.”
(Video produced by He Jieqiong, Liang Peiyu, Ni Tao and Ye Dangqiang)