Moderator: Good afternoon. We have gathered the heroes who once commanded the realm to hear their valuable opinions on the new great cause of our time, 'sustainable development for the Earth.'
I have lived my entire life for benevolence and righteousness, to save the people in distress. Now that the people of the Earth are suffering from climate change and environmental pollution, how can I, as a lord, pretend not to see? Sustainable development, in the end, begins with a heart that loves the people. To destroy nature, the home of the people, for the sake of immediate wealth and power, goes against benevolence. Though my path may be slow and derided as unrealistic, I will silently walk the path of building a 'kingdom of virtue' where all living beings coexist.
I, Guan Yunchang, would not trade the righteousness of a sworn oath for my own life. Sustainable development is a matter of upholding 'righteousness' with future generations. The prosperity we enjoy now is like borrowing resources from them. To waste and pollute these resources recklessly is no different from an act of betrayal. With my Green Dragon Crescent Blade, I will cut down all injustice that destroys the Earth. To keep the promise with the future with an unwavering, righteous heart—that is the path a great warrior must walk.
I don't know much about complicated things! But my Serpent Halberd will not forgive any unrighteous scoundrels! Aren't those greedy villains who are making the Earth sick the very traitors I must defeat? Where is the time to sit around in meetings! We must find those who cut down forests, pollute rivers, and dump trash in weaker nations, and punish them severely right now. Sustainable development? Isn't that a good thing? Then a good thing must be done immediately, why all the hesitation and calculation!
Your humble servant, Zhuge Liang, reports. The state of the world is already perilous, and the Earth's energy is depleted. This is not the result of a single day, but a problem that has accumulated over a long time. I propose establishing a 'Hundred-Year Plan.' We need a long-term plan that looks not to immediate gains, but to the future a century from now. Just as I predicted the southeastern wind to burn the Red Cliffs, we must predict the flow of the climate through scientific data and unfold the most effective formation for 'green growth.' As my memorial was a pledge of loyalty to the late emperor, our sustainability policy must be a pledge of loyalty to future generations.
At Changban, I broke through an army of hundreds of thousands to rescue my young lord. My spear was not for attack, but for the defense of what must be protected. The many fragile lives on Earth today are like the young lord Adou whom I had to protect. Endangered animals, pristine forests, and polluted oceans are surrounded by the enemy army of human greed. Sustainable development is the practice of loyalty, protecting these fragile lives with one's whole being. If we fail to protect them, any development we achieve will ultimately be a shameful victory.
To win the realm, I chose pragmatism over empty justifications. The world cannot be ruled by benevolence alone. Sustainable development? A fine justification. I will use this justification to win a new realm. I will seize technological supremacy by developing a new weapon called 'green technology,' and control other nations by setting up a new checkpoint called a 'carbon border tax.' I will not speak of empty dreams like Liu Bei. I will gather talent, foster green industries, and control the environment with strong laws to pacify this chaotic era and establish a new order. That is my way.
I am a man who knows how to wait for the right time. Even in my battle against Zhuge Liang, I did not rush; I waited for the enemy to exhaust himself. The issue of global sustainability is the same. Radical attempts to change everything at once may only lead to greater chaos. We must feign compliance on the surface while quietly building our strength. We must accumulate green technology over decades, nurture relevant talent, and wait for the decisive moment when the global political landscape shifts. The one who endures the longest is the ultimate victor.
Between Cao Cao in the north and Liu Bei in the west, I constantly maintained a balance to protect the interests of my land, Jiangdong. The world today is the same. The conflict between the developed nations that led the climate crisis and the developing nations that need growth is tense. Sustainable development must be achieved through 'diplomatic balance' between these two. We must not be swayed by either side but must formulate our own survival strategy by finding pragmatic cooperative measures like Green ODA and carbon credit trading. Wise diplomacy that neither chases empty justifications nor bows to power will be the way to protect our Jiangdong, nay, the entire Earth.
"Having given life to me, Zhou Yu, why did Heaven also give life to Zhuge Liang!" Yet, it was I, Zhou Yu, whose strategy burned Cao Cao's million-man army at Red Cliffs. I value creative thinking that turns the tables. The current fossil fuel civilization is like Cao Cao's great fleet. We cannot win by a frontal assault. We must use 'fire.' The ultimate fire of 'solar energy' and 'nuclear fusion,' that is. We must bet everything on innovative technology that completely changes the existing paradigm. If we only discuss gradual methods like Zhuge Liang, we will eventually miss our chance!
I possess the greatest martial strength in this realm. I can cut down anyone who stands in my way. Sustainable development? Such troublesome words are for the weak. I will side with whoever offers me the greatest benefit right now. If someone promises me immense wealth today, I can cut down forests or dam rivers for them. Tomorrow's problems can be thought about tomorrow. As long as I have my Red Hare and this halberd, I will always be on the side of the strongest. Future generations? What can they do for me?
I held the emperor and seized all the wealth and beauties of Luoyang for myself. What could be more important than the pleasure before my eyes? The Earth's resources are being depleted? I'll just use them all up before that happens. So what if the forests disappear, I need wood to build my palaces. So what if the rivers are polluted, as long as there is wine for my banquets. Sustainable development is just annoying noise that interrupts my pleasure. The future belongs to those who will come, not to me who enjoys the present.