Climate Change
The impending doom in Weather is the probability of a global climate change disaster that topples civilization as we know it. Offill explores humanity’s failure to combat climate change. The effects of this impending crisis are explored at a grass root level with Lizzie who is constantly tormented with the idea of a disaster waiting to happen. A climate change podcast is featured in the character’s daily life as Lizzie tries to at least keep up with the change in the climate. This puts her on edge as she fears an impending extinction-level event. On top of that, she has to deal with other concerns that are more immediate like taking care of her troubled family.
Capitalism
The system which heavily contributed to the catastrophic effects of climate change is at the center stage. The need to satisfy immediate consumer needs has left humanity unprepared for the future which is getting more and more uncertain. Carbon emissions from manufacturing giants in much of the developed parts of the world are at an all-time high. There is however the ambitious goal of a sustainable industrial revolution, pioneered by young entrepreneurs who are more aware of the environment and the dire need to protect it. Lizzie and her clique of environmentalists who believe in this case influence future capitalist visionaries who will combat climate change successfully.
Politics
In the United States, the election of President Trump has brought whirlwind controversy into the climate change conversation. As time passes, global leadership across the board is looking inwards. Globalization is looking bleak and without that cooperation, tacking climate change is looking more like a dream than an immediate reality. The absence of policies to combat climate change and over-exploration of fossil fuels is a clear indication of a political system that has failed to act on factual data for the survival of mankind.
