Mary is a former minister for the Irish Republic who is appointed to lead the Ministry for the Future, a body tasked with advocating for future generations affected by climate change. Initially an idealistic bureaucrat who believes in diplomacy and the rule of law, she faces the monumental challenge of moving global financial and political systems. Her experiences gradually harden her into a tough negotiator willing to leverage extreme measures to save the planet.

Frank is an American development worker whose life is permanently altered when he becomes the sole survivor of a deadly heat wave in India. Plagued by severe PTSD and survivor's guilt, he grows deeply frustrated by the inaction of wealthy nations. He eventually turns toward radicalization, believing that direct, forceful action is the only way to compel the world to address the climate crisis.

Born in a Nepali village and educated in India, Badim serves as Mary Murphy's highly capable chief of staff. He is a calculating political operative who operates comfortably behind the scenes. While publicly supporting the Ministry's legal and diplomatic efforts, he harbors a deeper understanding of the dark, covert actions required to force global systemic change.

A woman who flees the conflict in Syria, enduring a perilous journey across the Mediterranean. She spends years confined to a Swiss refugee camp, experiencing the profound alienation of being an economic and climate exile in Europe. Despite the systemic degradation she faces, she fiercely holds on to her dignity and attempts to build a new life in a rural Swiss canton.

Pete is a dedicated glaciologist conducting applied science in Antarctica. He works on an ambitious, highly experimental project to pump water from beneath glaciers to slow their slide into the ocean. Driven by the urgency of rising sea levels, he frequently prioritizes his research over his own personal safety.

Tatiana is a Russian-born lawyer who heads the Ministry for the Future's legal department. Described as a tough legal warrior for the biosphere, she works to find loopholes and bring lawsuits against fossil fuel entities on behalf of future generations, despite the overwhelming odds against success in traditional courts.

Janus Athena is a rigorously rational staff member at the Ministry for the Future who uses no pronouns. They approach global crises with a highly analytical mindset, focusing on developing open-source social media platforms, carbon tracking, and alternative economic models to challenge the existing capitalist framework.

Minister Chan is the representative for China's central bank. As a key player in global finance, she quietly observes the shifting economic tides and Mary Murphy's aggressive lobbying. She proves to be a pivotal figure in transitioning the world's banking systems toward a collectivist economy.

Jane is the cautious chair of the United States Federal Reserve. Her narrow focus on traditional monetary policy and protecting the US dollar initially blinds her to the necessity of radical economic intervention in the face of climate disaster.

Chandra is the Indian liaison to the Ministry for the Future in the aftermath of the devastating 2025 heat wave. Driven by the massive death toll in her country, she adopts a defiant stance, prioritizing India's immediate survival over the bureaucratic rules of the Paris Climate Accords.

Art is a quiet airship captain who runs airborne tours allowing passengers to observe wildlife. He feels most at home in the sky, preferring the isolation of his airship over the complexities of socializing on the ground in Zurich.

Dick is a dedicated economist working for the Ministry for the Future. He recognizes the flaws in traditional capitalist economics that prioritize current profits over future survival, and he plays a crucial role in conceptualizing the "carbon coin" to financially reward greenhouse gas sequestration.

Slawek is a glaciologist working on radical climate engineering solutions. He recognizes the political and financial hurdles of scientific intervention but remains focused on the practical mechanics of pumping water out from beneath glaciers to prevent sea-level rise.

Edmund is a wealthy, privileged young man whose carefree lifestyle is insulated from the devastating realities of the climate crisis. His mocking, arrogant attitude toward those less fortunate eventually leads to a fatal confrontation on the beach.

Syrine is a refugee from Libya who survives a dangerous boat crossing to reach Switzerland. As she endures life in the refugee processing centers, she tries to maintain stability for her daughters amidst the trauma of displacement.

Hiba is Syrine's young daughter. Having survived the traumatic journey from Libya to Europe, she grows up in the restrictive environment of the refugee camps and is impacted by the volatile adults around her.

Vikram is an Indian government official who works alongside and eventually succeeds Chandra Mukajee. He is a staunch supporter of the "New India" coalition, promoting aggressive, localized agricultural and ecological policies.

Svetlana is a Russian lawyer fighting to embed environmental protections into her country's legal framework. Despite facing increasingly violent and overt threats from those profiting off environmental destruction, she remains committed to the cause.

Trudy is a clerk working for the Ministry for the Future in Zurich. She handles the administrative task of recording the complex, multi-disciplinary meetings where scientists and policymakers debate the fate of the planet.

Adele is a staff member at the Ministry for the Future who assists in coordinating the organization's various scientific and political efforts behind the scenes.

Bob is an employee at the Ministry for the Future. He works alongside Adele Elia to facilitate the organization's interactions with field scientists testing climate interventions.

Fritz is a German aid worker who intervened in Badim Bahadur's early life. Recognizing the young boy's potential, Fritz insisted that Badim receive a proper education, fundamentally altering the trajectory of Badim's life.

Martin is Mary Murphy's late husband. His memory resurfaces powerfully when Mary is confronted with loss, serving as an emotional anchor to her past before her all-consuming work at the Ministry.