We can rapidly reduce emissions through positive system change
Despite the international community agreeing to act on climate change, emissions have continued to go up. In many places, the corporations and entire industries have relentlessly pumped out more greenhouse gas emissions, while politicians have done little or noting about it.
So enough of the bad news. How do we solve the climate crisis? The answer is system change. For some people, the best option would be to burn the entire economic system to the ground and start again. However, we have neither a clear replacement, nor the time to do that. The good news is, there is another way. To some people, it may sound like magic, but in many places we can get system to change itself.
This section provides an overview of system change. There are tips on how to create system change in each of the sections on food, transportation, energy, production and consumption.
But before we talk about how, we need to know that change is possible and decide where we want to go.
History has shown us that when large numbers of people stood up for an important issue, then change followed. In the last 100 years, there have been many social movements that changed government policy, such as voting rights for women, civil rights in the United States, and marriage equality.
An international poll found that hundreds of millions of people are willing to make changes to their lives to reduce the effects of climate change (Pew 2021). Research has shown that when 25% of a group agreed on a course of action and were coordinated, then a critical mass can be achieved . This creates a tipping point and then has the ability to overturn established social conventions, or business as usual (Science 2018).
The other important point to note is that in many places the majority already agree. For example, over 70% of Americans think global warming is happening and that it will harm future generations (Yale 2021). The same number of Americans think corporations should do more to address global warming. The next step is to get coordinated.
We can create momentum through meaningful communication. For example, if I encourage 1 person to take action on climate change and they also encourage 1 person, then after 10 steps there will be 10 people taking action. That is pretty good, however, if I tell 2 people and they each encourage 2 people to take action, then after 10 steps there will be 1,023 people taking part. If we encourage 3 people to act, then it increases to 29,524!
An example of this is when a climate strike was inspired at the Global Youth Summit in 2015. When activist Greta Thunberg began protesting, people told others through social media. Soon exponential growth was achieved, and 6 million people were protesting globally. If 10,000 people encouraged three people to take action, then in ten steps there would be 295 million people involved.
We can all be part of spreading the word about positive change.
Climate change can sometimes look too big to be solved. So how can we cause emissions to start going down? The crisis we all face creates tension between the world we live in now and a more positive future. But how do we get through that tension?
Having a clear vision of the future we want to create is a good starting point. Imagine a future where there is a stable temperature favorable to life, people have access to healthy food, clean air, and water. This also includes reliable power, transportation, and products provided sustainably, while protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. I also want the change to be something everyone can take part in. You can create your own vision of the future and this can help drive your commitment to creating positive change.
How do we get the system to change itself? If the aim of many large corporations is to make short-term profit, then this is where we can start.
We need to recognize our power as a group. If only 10-20% of customers decide not to buy products or services from corporations who refuse to change, then this can make their profits go down. We can reduce corporate profits with our purchase decisions until they reduce their emissions. When we make their profits fall, then our voices will be heard in boardrooms across the globe.
We have the power to influence corporations and industries. It’s up to us what kind of world we live in. We will solve the climate crisis when many people act at the same time to influence how industry operates. Each of the main sections, Food, Energy, Transportation, Consumption and Community Action, all have examples of how to create system change. You can also click on Learn More for additional information.
If your government doesn’t have climate policies you believe should be in place, then you could try meeting with a political representative or candidate from the voting district or region you live in, as they are more likely to listen to someone who might vote for them. You could do this with family, friends, or through local political or climate action groups. Every election is a climate election.
Your vote counts. Find out which politicians and political parties have declared that they will not take money from the fossil fuel industry. Consider voting for politicians and political parties, or independents, who will act now to reduce emissions by 2030. Many forms of protesting can also work to influence politicians and political parties.
People are turning to courts to combat the climate crisis, holding governments and corporations accountable.
Legal action has been initiated by a range of individuals, children and youth, human rights groups, communities, Indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), cities and state governments.
The number of climate change legal cases has more than doubled in the last five years to over 2,000 and is growing worldwide (United Nations Environment Programme report 2023). We can use the courts to create system change.
Yale Climate Opinion Maps, 2021, https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/
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