The objections are obvious, which is why I didn’t bother to include them. Anyone can think of them. People don’t bring this idea up, because it’s ridiculous on its face.

But I did bring it up, because I find myself wondering lately about the objections to those objections. Assume the objections; then try to work out a world where this happens anyway. Do we live in a world that’s anything like that world? What would have to be true, for this to end up being what we do?

For example: right now, during this pandemic, we have government medical officers the world over dictating what are effectively bylaws to cities, and what are effectively regulations to businesses. In a climate crisis — say, a country entering permanent heat wave, becoming entirely non-arable where it previously relied on internal food sourcing — could we potentially see see government ecological officers of such countries given similar powers? What would then happen at the UN, if some of those countries were prominent members?

Etc.

Keep in mind that I’m a science-fiction novelist, not a futurist. I care a lot more about the could-happen than the will-happen. :)