Brent J.’s Post

Advocating for #ClimateAction: Why Our Voices and Choices Matter The top climate communicators and scientists, Michael Mann and Katharine Hayhoe, penned a great article encouraging to shift the narrative from helplessness to action. For instance, focusing on existing policies and pledges that are poised to limit warming significantly, and if all countries achieve their net-zero goals, we could limit warming to around 1.8°C. These are not just numbers; they represent real, feasible goals that can drastically alter our future. What can we do as individuals? More than you might think. Our voices are powerful tools for change. Through voting, advocacy, activism, and informed dialogue, we can drive the policy changes needed to combat climate change effectively. Each of us has the ability—and the responsibility—to influence the spaces we occupy, whether at work, in our communities, or through global platforms. The actions we choose to take today will shape our tomorrow. Let's not wait passively for "silver bullet" solutions. Instead, let’s engage actively and push for the systemic changes that are within our reach. I have the same message in my recent TEDX talk here: https://lnkd.in/eHaQGnu7 https://lnkd.in/e5CJ-w4Q

"... Existing policies and actions already in progress are estimated to limit warming to between 2.5C and 2.9C. Adding in current pledges and targets would limit this to around 2.1C. If the net zero goals of 140 countries were achieved, warming would be around 1.8C. Only a path of rapid societal decarbonisation at this point could keep warming below 1.5C. What determines the pathway we follow is not the physical science or even technology. We have what we need to reduce emissions. Our barriers are entirely political and economic, and such obstacles can be overcome. The Guardian survey also asked scientists what actions they should take. While “voting” was top, stopping flying came second. For scientists in high-income countries like ours, flying is often the largest part of our carbon footprint. However, all the flying in the world is only 3 per cent of carbon emissions and the social science is clear: the most important thing an individual can do to tackle climate change has nothing to do with their personal carbon footprint. To effect systemic change, we must use our voices to advocate for that change: through voting, yes; but there is so much more. As individuals, we have the ability — and, we would add, the duty — to influence, shape and inform through advocacy, activism and informed dialogue. Research, and lived reality, show that individuals engaging with and advocating for change where they live, work, study, worship and play has driven massive societal shifts in the past and can do so again. The results of positive climate action are beginning to be felt. It is likely that carbon emissions will peak this year and begin to drop in the following years thanks to a steady move to clean energy. Yet we do not wish to be Pollyannas either. Substantial additional policy progress is necessary to limit warming to below 1.5C, and that means we need a lot more action from countries, cities and companies around the world. The facts dictate urgency and agency. Our future is still in our hands. As the French novelist Antoine de Saint-Exupéry of The Little Prince fame said in a quote chosen by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as an epigraph in its 2018 report on 1.5C warming: “As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.”"

I am often asked, "What can I possibly do about climate change?" My philosophy is that everyone is responsible to address climate change and that most everyone is in a position to affect positive action and outcomes---multilateral organizations, nation states, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, cities, companies, communities, families, and individuals. But when it comes to moving from the WHO to the HOW, addressing the challenges and barriers to action becomes important. Please enjoy this insightful article from Katharine Hayhoe and Michael Mann on: The antidote to doom is doing. #climatechange #sustainability #ESG #WeAreCGI #SustainableViews

“Climate action happens when people feel a sense of agency – when we believe we can do something, and that what we do matters… If we’re to avoid the version of the future experts fear, we urgently need a new climate conversation.” 💡 Cracking letter from Rachael Orr and the Climate Outreach crew. Anyone who’s tried to find the right words to talk climate for any length of time (17 years for me next month 🙀), will be familiar with the endless debates about hope, optimism, crisis, fear and fatalism. Here’s where I think we are now: 🔥 The climate crisis story is everywhere because it’s *happening* (as Solitaire Townsend says, climate change is communicating itself) ⛔ By itself, this story won’t unlock the action we need, and we shouldn’t expect it to. If it worked, it would've already worked. 💪 With so much urgency, we need to inject just as much agency into the conversation. People want and need stories of action, progress, possibility. This is not fluff, or spin, or the nod at the end of the article. It needs to be central, and it's mission critical. 🎉 The incredible news is that people want governments to get on with tackling climate change - and the overwhelming majority of us are up for playing our part. Let's talk about this as much as we talk about how scared we all are (UK: https://lnkd.in/e27WpzhU Global: https://lnkd.in/eZr8w6-p) Time is short and the stakes couldn’t be higher. We can’t afford to keep doing things that demonstrably don’t work and are likely holding us back. https://lnkd.in/emf8M_qv

A thoughtful call to action, thanks Nicky Hawkins … But it strikes me that creating a sense of AGENCY at a scale to match the URGENCY is a big ask! The ‘coming wave’ of change is so vast and fast that it leaves perhaps most of us feeling helpless - especially as most of us no longer have a strong sense of being in a larger group that has collective influence. (And tribes like church or football team tend to mostly keep out of politics to keep themselves open and together). Perhaps lots of us like our LinkedIn feeds because it gives a a sense of being in a larger group working on change together? Those times when I felt actual agency on climate were not so much in my jobs working on renewables etc, but in my days of anti-fracking activism (we won! Fracking was banned in the UK) and Extinction Rebellion: bringing central London to a peaceful stand-still to force a conversation about real climate action … that felt like something approaching the scale of agency that the crisis demanded. Our electoral system squeezes out green issues with its two party, first-past-the post approach, so the coming vote in July does not feel for me like offering great agency. Not the most upbeat thoughts from me! Personally I am enjoying tackling my chosen niche by creating furniture that’s truly sustainable and made to last for decades… but ‘buy this better thing’ is hardly a revolutionary call to arms! It IS great that the majority want government to do more on climate. Let’s hope that the new one really hears that. Perhaps others reading this feel a greater sense of agency?

"If we’re trying to build a bottom-up, grassroots (climate) movement, we have to recognize that for most people—even those who think polar bears are beautiful creatures—saving the polar bears is not a top priority. Rightly or wrongly, hundreds of millions of human beings are not going to change their behavior so that polar bears can have more ice to fish from. If we focus on nature instead of people, it also means we’re missing opportunities to help people understand just how much climate change is a story of human suffering. From the Marshall Islands to Miami, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Dallas, carbon pollution is already taking a terrible toll on our quality of life." Read Tom Steyer's thoughts on why climate advocates need to reimage how they compete in the marketplace of ideas. https://lnkd.in/etzYJ7TA Climate & Capital Media Tom Steyer, Spiegel & Grau. Galvanize Climate Solutions Hunter Buffington Eliza Nemser, PhD Climate Changemakers Climate Changemakers Europe Spring Street Climate Fund Centre for Climate Engagement Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe Climate Action Network International Gavin Newsom Beneficial State Bank Farallon Capital Management United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) FI) UNFCCC UN NextGen America #climatechange #climatechangeeducation #climatenews #cliamtefinance #climateeconomy #climatefuture #esgnews #esgeconomy #esgdata #esgreporting #esgreport #climatereprt #climatereporting #climatefuture #climateaction #climateactivism  

While climate change affects the entire planet, the impacts and responses are region-specific -- this Nature piece highlights this well, with various regional scientists shining a light on the many needs of Latin America and emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate change with various social, economic, and environmental issues, such as political instability, extractive industries, and inadequate governance. These intricacies necessitate a holistic and regionally tailored approach to address the climate crisis effectively. #ClimateChange #LatinAmerica #ClimateCrisis

A new perspective with co-authors published in Nature Climate Change today argues for crucial opportunities informed by social science to amplify the effectiveness of recent U.S. climate policies. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gndz299y

Navigating tough climate conversations? In our latest blog, we explore practical tips for navigating sceptics, delayers, and responsibility refusers, so that you can turn tough climate conversations into opportunities for inspiration and connection. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eGQrvKWi