Blog

The blue and green pathways in the figure illustrate that we have a chance to stay within 1.5C of warming (hover over image for interactive figure, and click to enlarge). Neither path is easy, but we make more substantial reductions early on the blue pathway, which makes it a less risky option. Since we will not have used up so much of our carbon budget by 2030, we avoid the need to make the steep, difficult and potentially impossible annual cuts of the green pathway from 2030, and we are left with more of our budget in 2040 for hard-to-remove emissions

So there is hope. We have a chance. But this relies on there being the will to bring about change.

Yet there is no discernable will to cut emissions substantially, or fast enough, in the actions of governments, fossil fuel corporations or the words of the COP27 agreement. And after 30 years of increasing emissions we no longer have time to wait.

When the world is collapsing about us, and those with the power who should be taking responsibility in this climate crisis are failing us, we have only ourselves and those around us left to do anything.

Action

We can join with others to effect local change, such as better public transport, cycle lanes, repair shops and rewilding and we can join protests. But what maximizes our power is if we also transform aspects of our everyday lives, as far as we can.

Emission cuts early this decade pay dividends later, as we saw in the figure above, and we can do it immediately without waiting for agreement or approval from others.

Every tonne of CO2 we do not emit is one tonne less in the atmosphere. Times that by half to one billion of us in North America and Western Europe (the wealthiest nations responsible for the majority of emissions) and we have an impact.

A further significant outcome of our actions, including our power as consumers to boycott goods and services, is that we also cut the grotesque profits of corporations that continue to harm our world for profit. In this way we shape the corporate policies of those in finance, industrial agriculture, oil and gas.

Growing numbers

In any climate strategy (be it protest, boycott, votes …), it’s the numbers that count. Pockets of activity can coalesce to form larger and larger groups capable of bringing about transformational change in social norms. In turn these can shape corporate strategy and match the power of the lobbyists that shape policies. And we can match their power if enough of us act. We can apply the pressure we need.

How we do this is not so easy. But one of the most fruitful ways of involving friends and colleagues is to talk and share experiences about the things that matter most to them in their everyday lives, and which happen to be important to the climate.

These might include better bus services, road safety for their children to walk or cycle to school, cheaper and healthier food options, a local repair shop that avoids yet another costly purchase. And we can talk to others about how our money in most bank accounts supports the fossil fuel industry, and how we personally avoided this by switching to an ethical bank.

Each of us

Who can do all this? Everyone. Some more than others, but each of us to the best of our ability. While the wealthiest nations need to reduce their emissions substantially, it is the wealthiest 10-30% within those nations, who are the biggest emitters, that can have the most impact individually. Although, collectively much of the remainder can also have an impact because we are many.

There are several reasons why it is also of benefit to the poorer 70% among the wealthy nations to act.

Actions that meet climate goals are often beneficial to us. Many things are cheaper and healthier such as eating mainly plant-based foods and active transport like walking and cycling. Growing food and rewilding our gardens provides much needed habitats for wildlife, but also benefits our mental well-being. Sharing tools, and buying clothes that last, save us money and reduces consumption.

But the real benefits are due to the lower-emitting poor being a majority, who, as a group, have little vested interest in maintaining the status quo. As a majority we have the capacity to coerce governments to introduce policies that benefit us all in a more equal way.

Examples include taxes on wealth, frequent flyers and private jets, and revoking expansion of airports and road building. These could help fund improved green spaces, better public transport, heat pumps to lower heating costs and home insulation.

Finally, by acting we take back control. We gain a sense of empowerment, which reduces feelings of helplessness and climate anxiety. We begin to see a different world is possible.

Outlook

We have an opportunity like no other. We have the chance to take part in defending hundreds of millions of people, a billion species and their habitats from annihilation.

With enough of us we can produce systemic change, and growing our numbers can originate in the changes we make in our everyday lives.

Once we have the numbers we can apply pressure in whatever way we choose – votes, protests, campaigns, citizens’ assemblies.

A key question is whether we have the will to do all we can, as soon as we can.

It is our choice whether we act in this climate emergency. But when the necessity arises (as it did during COVID-19), we can, and do, rise to the challenge. We just have to see that there is a necessity, and that we are not powerless.

There is hope if we act and do it quickly. The future is in our hands.

For more on this see Applying the brakes to climate breakdown.

Close section ▲