Sunday Best: Feeling optimistic about Glasgow?

Greta Thunberg is looking elsewhere for hope.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story October 31, 2021 World leaders meet in Glasgow this weekend to begin the United Nations' talks on climate change. The stakes are high and the outcome uncertain. So after a "summer of disasters" and chilling warnings about the future of our planet, how optimistic should we be? The Times's editorial board points out that while the Paris Climate Accords five years ago didn't go far enough, the backdrop is different this time: "For starters, the science of climate change has become tighter, tougher and more terrifying," which might just jolt world leaders from stasis. But Greta Thunberg is looking elsewhere for solutions. "The climate crisis cannot be solved within today's political and economic systems," she says in an Opinion Video guest essay. "Hope comes from the people, from democracy, from you." — Jennifer Brown Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images Guest Essay The First Thing We Do, Let's Kill All the Leaf Blowers Nearly everything about how Americans "care" for their lawns is deadly, but these machines exist in a category of environmental hell all their own. By Margaret Renkl Victor J. Blue for The New York Times Guest Essay Why 'Evangelical' Is Becoming Another Word for 'Republican' It's not necessarily a theological affinity for Jesus Christ. Many Americans are being drawn to the evangelical label because of its association with the G.O.P. By Ryan Burge Renaud Vigourt Guest Essay How Will We Live if Covid Is Here to Stay? Rather than debate how to end the pandemic, we need to debate how to live with it. By Katherine Eban Cig Harvey for The New York Times Guest Essay Flowers Can Teach Us the Meaning of Beauty They testify to life's transience, but they are also rugged emblems of resilience. By Megan Craig David Smoler Guest Essay A Farewell to Readers, With Hope A columnist offers lessons learned from decades on the front lines of reporting and explains why he is leaving to run for office. By Nicholas Kristof EDITOR'S PODCAST PICK H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock, via Getty Images I Love True Crime. Should I Feel Guilty? The genre is a guilty pleasure for many. But just how problematic is it? By 'The Argument' Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Subscribe Today New York Times Opinion curates a wide range of views, inviting rich discussion and debate that helps readers analyze the world. This work is made possible with the support of subscribers. Please consider subscribing to The Times with this special offer. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sunday Best from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018