Heading into 2026, .earth domain users are proving that empathy remains essential to how we connect and move forward.
Sixty years ago, Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” which is simple song with an enduring message. It was written during a time of political upheaval, war, and social unrest. Today, the song feels less like nostalgia and more like a warning that we did not listen to closely enough.
As we move into 2026, the world is facing overlapping and overwhelming crises. Climate change, widening inequality, political polarization, and rapid technological change are reshaping daily life for billions of people. Beneath all of it runs a quieter but equally dangerous trend, which is the rejection of empathy.
A Cultural Backlash Against Empathy
In recent years, empathy has increasingly been framed as a weakness rather than a strength. This shift became especially visible when Elon Musk publicly criticized empathy in a widely discussed interview, echoing rhetoric that has also gained traction among Republican political leaders in the United States. In this worldview, caring too much is portrayed as inefficient, naive, or even harmful.
This framing is not accidental, as empathy challenges systems built on exclusion and hierarchy. When empathy is undermined, it becomes easier to ignore human suffering, whether in the context of social programs, climate response, or global humanitarian crises.
Empathy Has Always Been Central to Human Progress
The idea that empathy is soft or new could not be further from the truth. The very word empathy emerged in the early twentieth century, rooted in philosophy, psychology, and aesthetics. Over time, it became central to how humans understand moral responsibility, cooperation, and social cohesion.
Across cultures, empathy has been recognized as a stabilizing force. It allows societies to adapt during periods of stress and transformation. When people can see themselves in others, trust becomes possible and collective action follows.
The .Earth Domain Tribe Advances Empathy
Despite cultural pushback, empathy is far from disappearing. Many individuals and organizations are actively working to protect and strengthen it, including within the .earth web domain tribe:
- HeartWork.Earth: This organization explores the emotional and relational labor required to care for one another in a fractured world. Learn more here.
- TheCompassionCollective.Earth: This organization builds compassion driven communities through education and shared practice. Learn more here.
- HeTheStudio.Earth: This consultancy blends creativity, design, and human centered thinking to encourage deeper connection. Learn more here.
- SacredPaths.Earth: This shamanic collective offers practical tools for clarity and empathy during times of major social and personal change. Learn more here.
- UnitedNetwork.Earth This media network examines why empathy remains essential for building stronger human connections in an increasingly digital world. Learn more here.
Why Empathy Matters More Than Ever
As the world enters another year of uncertainty, empathy remains one of the most powerful tools we have. It connects science to ethics, policy to lived experience, and innovation to responsibility.
As we mark ten years of the .earth domain, we are celebrating a global tribe of more than 40,000 organizations and individuals who are using the online world to push for accountability, transparency, and environmental responsibility. We invite you to join our anniversary promotion and become part of the global .earth domain tribe.
To learn more about securing your .earth domain, visit Voices.Earth. You can also hear directly from organizations and individuals making an impact in our Voices.Earth podcast series.
