Idea Lab

Climate Stories

The year is 2070 and the citizens of Watauga County, NC are at the ends of their rope. The county is overcrowded as many have moved here to survive and get away from their own harsh and changing climates. Forest fires are so frequent that people need to be drafted into the Fire Prevention Services. The surrounding area has been filled with ashes and smog, forcing civilians to wear gas masks when times get tougher. Now, firefighters not only defend civilians against the danger of fires and the arsonists that support them, but mutant animals as well. Ever since the nuclear disaster of 2068, mutant animals have emerged to kill all in their sight. Bears have crossed over into the city especially as their homes are being destroyed by fires and the fish becomes scarce from the nuclear blast. Fall is a thing of the past, whereas our ancestors had months of colors surrounding them, we now have Fall Day, also known as Leaves Day. The best views for Fall Day are held exclusively for the elite and climate controlled museums are held year round so that people from all around can see what once was. 
There is such a great class divide between the rich and poor as never seen before. As the rich live in their homes in the sky and ski across the little snow left during the winter in peaceful bliss, poor people have no choice but to endure all of the surrounding chaos on the ground. The poor live off of the smallest of rations and live in their overcrowded tenements, surrounded in darkness by the homes in the sky which kills off the already scarce agriculture.  On the other end, the rich have resorted to food bidding where the best food can be found, such as unmutated meat and fresh, nontoxic produce.