We seem to be stuck, staring at insurmountable challenges. The pandemic is the opening act for climate change, and we need to get much better at anticipating and preparing for these types of challenges. Simply rebuilding bridges once they fall, or houses once they are swept away, is both expensive and risks human lives. Anticipation and preparation costs more now, but is much less costly over time. We have managed-or at least reacted to-the Aids...

Refers to the importance of wildness to Thoreau and of preserving Walden Pond as a means of approaching the larger problems of environmental concern.