In an opinion piece published in Pipeline Valor Econômico, Just Climate Co-Chief Investment Officer Eduardo Mufarej said the science of climate change isn’t about how people feel or where they stand politically - it’s about science, first and foremost.
Lately, it feels like every conversation somehow gets dragged into never-ending ideological debates. Whether you’re scrolling social media or tuning into the news, it’s about who said what and ‘my facts’ are better than ‘your facts.’ But there’s one topic that really doesn’t belong in this discussion: the science of climate change.
The polarisation of people’s values and beliefs about how society should function has led too often to the breakdown of respectful and constructive debate. But the science of climate change isn’t about how you feel or where you stand politically. It’s about science, first and foremost. Scientists have been tracking rising global temperatures, melting ice caps and more intense weather patterns for decades. This isn’t a debate—there’s no debate that 2024 was the hottest year on record. It’s data, facts and evidence. And those facts are telling us that we need to do something, fast.
What is debateable is how we as a society agree to address climate change today, and how we plan for the future. Mixing up the science of climate change with ideological debates only distracts from the more important debate of what we’re collectively going to do about it.
A Lot of People Are Profiting from the Status Quo
One reason this problem persists is that maintaining the status quo benefits a lot of powerful players. Fossil fuel companies, certain industries and even political groups have a vested interest in keeping things as they are. For them, climate action threatens their bottom line. But the reality is, this can’t go on. The status quo isn’t sustainable—not for the planet, not for society, and ultimately not even for those profiting from it. The longer we wait, the worse the consequences will be for everyone.
The Decarbonisation Imperative
Climate action isn’t just about avoiding current and future problems—it’s also about seizing an enormous economic imperative. Transitioning to clean energy, developing sustainable technologies and investing in green infrastructure can create jobs, spark innovation and drive economic growth. Society and investors can’t afford to miss this chance. By delaying action, we’re not just risking the planet—we’re leaving potential progress and prosperity on the table.
Let’s Keep It Simple
The science of climate change should not be regarded as another ideological issue—it’s a survival issue. The planet doesn’t care about politics. Rising sea levels, floods, heatwaves, stronger hurricanes and massive wildfires aren’t waiting for us to sort out our ideological differences. They’re happening now, and they’re affecting everyone, no matter where you sit on the political spectrum.
This doesn’t mean we should ignore the fact that climate change hits some communities, including some which did little to contribute to it, harder than others. That’s real, and it’s worth talking about and acting on. But those conversations need to stay focused on how to fix the problem.
What We Need to Do
We need to treat climate change for what it is: a scientific challenge that requires global cooperation and to debate how we’ll respond. That means focusing on solutions—clean energy, better infrastructure and smarter policies—without turning it into another front in ideological wars. We’ve got enough of those already.
At the end of the day, climate change isn’t about “pro” or “con.” It’s about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the future we leave. The stakes are too high, and the clock is ticking. Change is coming; the question is whether we embrace it or let it slip away.
Eduardo Mufarej is Co-Chief Investment Officer of Just Climate. This content was published by Pipeline Valor Econômico on 9 March 2025 in Portuguese. This is an English translation.