Jo, love this piece and I share your frustrations on so many levels. As an ex-Ad-lander, relatively new to the 'sustainability scene' (post 2020), I've become pretty disillusioned with that too - fostering citizenship and just 'cracking on' with building change bottom-up to influence policy is an area of intetrest and great potential. Agree to what Ed said too - Doughnut Economics is a great way to bring policy makers and other stakeholders together.
It touched me personally as a 20+ year oil and gas industry engineer/project manager (mid 90s to mid 2010s) who's sought pathways to address Climate in the last decade.
Having been 'part of the problem', or at least feeling like you were, is a personal reaction which is difficult to escape. More difficult if your personality and learning type struggles to block out the expansive impacts of your work. Some people are just able to narrow their lens. It doesn't make us or them superior, it's kinda just the way it is.
You're right that chipping at the system would have the largest impact.
I've come to the view that subsidiary level change could also have great impact. In Australia, where we've been an expansive fossil fuel exporter and international laggard on climate, there have been quite remarkable changes in consumer energy over the last 20 years. Through the uptake of solar panels by households and businesses. The next steps are electrifying our homes (getting rid of gas - which is becoming an increasingly economic decision, as installing solar PV was & still is) and reversing our buildings' electricity production to feed the grids.
I kinda personally disdain LinkedIn but would be great to collaborate with you and others on the Climate Majority Project; keep up the great work.
I too have been an advocate for a topic that is now in transition where a lot of what I have been advocating for more than a decade is now becoming true and happening… But all through the advocating journey I kept a sense of reality as to if the science of my argument was still making sense.
It is very doubtful this applies to your quest as its become clear that NetZero is unnecessary, technologically unattainable, economically unviable and extremely foolish.
And, the power of Fossil fuels and our capitalistic systems will remain for a very long time.
I suggest you go through a “reality check” before you stress your personal energy any further.
Well done for your personal realisation. Changes in lifestylism and personal consumption decisions will not change systems. Only political power can get the change to state investment and reining in of businesses that is required - and Capital knows this - that's why we are seeing state capitalist fascism in China, Russia, and now the USA. Corporatism is the new power. Resisting it is going to be truly terrifying. Good luck to all of us.
Fantastic article. Thought provoking. I’m very aligned with your thinking on this. Thank you for the time and care you took to craft these words. Appreciated.
Our systems need to be changed. And we need collective action and awareness. The cartoon says it all !!! We have more power than we think. And I agree with doughnut economics. We have all the tools... we just need to act.
Jo, love this piece and I share your frustrations on so many levels. As an ex-Ad-lander, relatively new to the 'sustainability scene' (post 2020), I've become pretty disillusioned with that too - fostering citizenship and just 'cracking on' with building change bottom-up to influence policy is an area of intetrest and great potential. Agree to what Ed said too - Doughnut Economics is a great way to bring policy makers and other stakeholders together.
Hey Jo, what a great piece.
It touched me personally as a 20+ year oil and gas industry engineer/project manager (mid 90s to mid 2010s) who's sought pathways to address Climate in the last decade.
Having been 'part of the problem', or at least feeling like you were, is a personal reaction which is difficult to escape. More difficult if your personality and learning type struggles to block out the expansive impacts of your work. Some people are just able to narrow their lens. It doesn't make us or them superior, it's kinda just the way it is.
You're right that chipping at the system would have the largest impact.
I've come to the view that subsidiary level change could also have great impact. In Australia, where we've been an expansive fossil fuel exporter and international laggard on climate, there have been quite remarkable changes in consumer energy over the last 20 years. Through the uptake of solar panels by households and businesses. The next steps are electrifying our homes (getting rid of gas - which is becoming an increasingly economic decision, as installing solar PV was & still is) and reversing our buildings' electricity production to feed the grids.
I kinda personally disdain LinkedIn but would be great to collaborate with you and others on the Climate Majority Project; keep up the great work.
Kind regards
Matt
I too have been an advocate for a topic that is now in transition where a lot of what I have been advocating for more than a decade is now becoming true and happening… But all through the advocating journey I kept a sense of reality as to if the science of my argument was still making sense.
It is very doubtful this applies to your quest as its become clear that NetZero is unnecessary, technologically unattainable, economically unviable and extremely foolish.
And, the power of Fossil fuels and our capitalistic systems will remain for a very long time.
I suggest you go through a “reality check” before you stress your personal energy any further.
I couldn't agree more Jo! I'd add Doughnut Economics to your list - something that should be adopted by all levels of society as soon as possible:
https://youtu.be/Rhcrbcg8HBw?si=7jZ4jjfG_u1Pa9ty
https://doughnuteconomics.org/
Well done for your personal realisation. Changes in lifestylism and personal consumption decisions will not change systems. Only political power can get the change to state investment and reining in of businesses that is required - and Capital knows this - that's why we are seeing state capitalist fascism in China, Russia, and now the USA. Corporatism is the new power. Resisting it is going to be truly terrifying. Good luck to all of us.
Fantastic article. Thought provoking. I’m very aligned with your thinking on this. Thank you for the time and care you took to craft these words. Appreciated.
Our systems need to be changed. And we need collective action and awareness. The cartoon says it all !!! We have more power than we think. And I agree with doughnut economics. We have all the tools... we just need to act.