Speculative fiction serves as both predictions and warnings of what may come in the future. A prominent theme authors of speculative fiction write about is climate change and its devastating effects. One such author, Nalo Hopkinson, in her story “Broad Dutty Water: A Sunken Story”, depicts an apocalyptic aftermath of a flooded world and societal collapse. Hopkinson’s depiction of the effects of climate change is anxiety inducing towards readers, as the world she writes about does not seem far from the reality they live in. Her speculative story is enough to convince readers to start thinking of solutions to the climate crisis. Climate change as an issue, as seen in “Broad Dutty Water: A Sunken Story” by Nalo Hopkinson, is on the rise, therefore …show more content…
Sell all of that back to the factory suppliers, fund ongoing taz maintenance for weeks” (Hopkinson 8). For better or worse, the story’s story has been severely altered. Along with this, climate change has resulted in massive casualties. Hopkinson writes, “hospitals become too overwhelmed with flood, plague, and starvation victims to function adequately” (Hopkinson 6-7). The fatal effects of climate change are examined in a closer view when Jacquee has a flashback to her city being flooded. During this, “she'd yelled for her mummy and daddy” but “there was no sign of them”; she watched “the river maelstrom” destroy her yard and “the rest of the house. crumbling into it” (Hopkinson 16). Jacquee is a survivor, fighting to survive and maintain her identity, while also still mourning the loss of her family and friends. Overall, the world in “Broad Dutty Water: A Sunken Story” is spiraling out of control as a result of climate change. Unfortunately, the story’s imagery may be closer to reality than it may seem. Climate change is on the rise in the world, and humans are at a pivotal moment. It is leading to frequent critical weather incidents, including …show more content…
Places across the world are being wrecked by climate change. A flood in September 2023 ravaged areas of Libya, destroying buildings and infrastructure, all while costing around 20,000 citizens their lives (The Visual Journalism team and BBC Verify). As the death toll from climate change rises, things will only get worse as the greenhouse blanket expands. The United Nations states: As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun’s heat. This leads to global warming and climate change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to human beings and all other forms of life on Earth. United Nations. Pairing this with failed efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, issues will increasingly worsen. It is not difficult to imagine a near future similar to Hopkinson’s story, where family and friends are dead, cities are destroyed, and a diaspora of humans across the