Global warming wasn’t always seen as a bad thing. Back in the 1890s, people actually looked forward to it. Summers were cold, and winters were unbearable. Many hoped for warmer weather, even as scientists warned of the dangers. In the 1970s, there was talk of global cooling, largely driven by the media and a few scientists. But by 1988, the reality of global warming hit hard. That year, the US experienced its hottest summer on record. Droughts and wildfires surged, and it became clear that climate change was a serious problem.

In 1989, the world responded. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was created. The urgency of the situation became undeniable, and nations banded together to address the crisis. Predictions of environmental collapse spread like wildfire. Scientists agreed: the planet was in trouble.

By 1992, the world was ready to face the challenge head-on. The Paris Convention provided a framework for action. New targets were set, and buzzwords like “Net Zero Carbon” and “Energy Transition” became common. Yet, like most global agendas, there were two sides to the story.

In developing countries like mine, global warming seemed distant. We knew the science, but it didn’t feel like a pressing issue. Our livelihoods depended on carbon-emitting energy sources. When the West talked about reaching Net Zero by 2050, it felt like a distant goal. If the situation was so dire, why wait until 2050?

We also saw it as a way to stifle our development. The global economy is a ‘see-saw.’ If developing countries rise, the West might lose some of its power. We believed climate change was being used as a tool to keep us underdeveloped. The West built their economies using coal and oil, ignoring early climate warnings. But now they were in a dominant position, they want to stop us from using the same resources to grow.

This narrative didn’t sit well with young leaders in emerging countries. They needed solutions that addressed their unique challenges. What was a manageable problem for developed nations was a serious threat to their economies.

Enter Tariku Negasi. He saw both sides of the argument and offered a solution. For the first time, someone proposed an idea that was fair to everyone. Negasi knew he had a winning hand, and he planned to play it at the Summit of 2033. He wrote a speech that combined fear with excitement, showcasing his world-saving solution: Development.

The Summit took place from November 1-12, 2033, in Zurich. Leaders from around the world gathered, along with youth representatives and organizations. The agenda was typical, except for a 20-minute slot titled “Experimental Methods with Tariku Negasi.”

The world needed a hero, and Negasi was ready. After a few unremarkable presentations, it was his turn. He sat with two trusted advisors: a young woman and his mentor, Harry Coleman. As the delegates returned from their break, Negasi reviewed his speech one last time. When the announcer called his name, he confidently approached the lectern.

Negasi’s Speech

“The Secretary-General, Heads of State, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for allowing me to share my dream and a possible solution for humanity.

For over 200 years, we’ve walked this earth, exploiting and polluting it without care. Now, nature is striking back.

If I may borrow the words of António Guterres: ‘We fool ourselves if we think we can fool nature.’ What scientists predicted many years ago is upon us. ‘Nature is striking back with fury.’

Our efforts to combat climate change have been impressive. Billions of dollars have been donated, and we’ve made progress in slowing down the planet’s warming. But there’s more to the solution than meets the eye.”

Negasi spoke about inequality and the West’s “Messiah complex.” He highlighted how Africa, which contributed the least to the problem, was bearing an equal share of the burden. His words captivated the audience. He exuded calm confidence, the kind you have when you know you’re the smartest person in the room.

“This is not a speech about climate change,” Negasi continued. “It’s about more than slowing the rate of warming. Our existence on this planet means we will continue to impact it. The growing population and expanding communities will one day bring us back to this same problem.

I’m proposing a solution that benefits both the rich and the poor. One that could reduce emissions by 80% in just five years. It’s not impossible. I’m not asking for $100 billion a year to fight climate change. I’m asking you to save humanity by supporting the completion of the Mass Decompactor (MaDe). We’re working towards the full deployment of Development, a parallel universe for human existence.

We can’t destroy a planet if we don’t live on it. Every climate solution so far assumes we’ll stay on Earth, but our presence here means we will always create waste. My team and I are working on a sustainable way to save the planet and humanity. In Development, waste can simply be deleted — gone, with no trace.”

Negasi paused, letting the audience process his radical idea. The world was familiar with Dev, but a machine that could delete matter was a new concept.

“I understand your skepticism,” he said. “As leaders, you offer your people hope, often disguised as change. But change is already happening — droughts, wildfires, hurricanes. We have a chance to shape that change for the better.

Science has shown us the problem and the solution. Now, we need the courage to implement it.

With MaDe, we can eliminate more than 80% of fossil-fuel-driven machines. We’re replacing delivery with instant parcel downloads. We can take 75% of cars off the road, keeping only electric vehicles. It’s all powered by green energy — hydro power in the Congo and two solar farms in the Namib Desert.”

Negasi pledged to donate more than half of Dev’s ad revenue to further MaDe’s research. His proposal was a game-changer. He promised to start rolling out MaDe in Africa. He said the continent deserved the first solution, as his project was built on African resources.

At the end of his speech, many leaders skipped their sessions, knowing Negasi had already provided the answers. Dev’s adoption had taken a massive leap forward. Now, all Negasi needed was another challenge to make the world see Dev as a necessity, not an option.