Generally, I think it's worthwhile to consider how writers digest the societal and environmental changes of their life, in terms of their process. Because what comes out on the other end tends to be persuasive (especially if lots of good writers are telling similar, powerful stories) and thus affect the next stage of society, right? In my case I'm interested in climate change.
"Born into this -- into these carefully mad wars -- into bars where people no longer speak to each other -- into hospitals that are so expensive its cheaper to die -- born into this -- walking and living through this -- made crazy and sick by this -- made violent -- made inhuman -- money will be useless -- explosions will continually shake the earth"
(sections taken from Bukowski's Dionsauria, We -- a terrifyingly apt description of an America today and an apocalyptic vision of America 50 years from now, pending climate change effects)
Personally, I feel that massive change on earth and in our geopolitical landscape is inevitable within my lifetime. It's why I read guys like Roy Scranton and survivalist notebooks to at once ease my anxiety and increase it tenfold. Personally, I try to grapple with feelings of guilt and helplessness while also trying to adopt a ruthless realpolitik (while still staying optimistic) about what I'll do when things really turn south. But more importantly, I can't be the only writer who feels like this in some regard. So I wonder, how is an entire generation of writers who are potentially petrified with a helpless anxiety in the face of climate change writing? Will our stories change anything or just be a time capsule? It's difficult to even self-analyze my own writing let alone others, but I am confident there will be shared resonancies and themes to be found in the years to come.