What is societal collapse? Lessons from the past can help us understand our future, but only to a point

As the climate crisis accelerates, it's hard not to wonder if today's societies can adapt. Growing worries over climate change have sparked interest in the collapse of ancient civilizations and the rise of the (often apocalypse-themed) "cli-fi" genre in popular culture. But before turning to the past for answers, it is important to think about what collapse is and why it matters.