The irreversible global catastrophe is imperialist militaries massacring people with little risk to themselves. 
The irreversible global catastrophe is assembly line robots at the Toyota plant becoming sentient and going on a freaking epic terminator style mass shooting and enslave everyone except me 
Watts seems like an absolute maniac, but I do enjoy his books.
All of the best writers are absolute maniacs, but if your favorite authors aren't on the Do Not Fly list what are you even doing with your life