At the top of the climate section is an article titled: ‘Macron warns of ‘end of abundance’ as France faces difficult winter.’ The political commentary about this statement that’s getting the attention, is a focus on the fact many people in France have never enjoyed the abundance he is referring to. Fair enough. It’s a valid point.
But for me, he is speaking to a much bigger idea. We have hit the end of abundance globally and those of us lucky enough to be in the 10% of wealthiest people in the world (salary $38,000+ according to Oxfam), are starting to feel this truth.
Whether we like it or not, the change has started. It could be the higher cost of goods, or just no availability of our favorite items, which is happening right now. This week, the supermarket shelves were empty where I live. In the news, we see famine on the rise globally, and it’s a combination of drought impact, war and supply-chain issues. This will become a much bigger issue we will all face as the world gets hotter.
Whether you’re just starting to pay attention, or have been for some time, we are heading into the greatest period of change this world has ever known, and while I know many fear this, I really want to encourage you to watch ‘The Great Simplification.’ It is not a scary message, it’s a beautiful one.
The challenge we face right now is, how do we go about this transformation?
Do we continue to hold on for dear life to all we have enjoyed up to this point? Because if we do, it’s going to keep getting worse.
Do we put up walls and protect our own and screw everyone else?
Do we sink into societal breakdown and the violence that comes with it?
Do we leave billions of climate refugees on our borders, suffering and dying?
Do we accept the climate getting worse, unlive-able for billions and the mass extinctions already happening? Equally, what ecosystem collapse will have the biggest impact on us? The pollinators? The coral reefs?
Do we accept a world that is becoming more and more uninhabitable and unpredictable, which means less certainty for all of us?
Or do we say, no?
I hope, for our kids’ futures, it’s a big fat no.
Because when we finally get to the point of consensus (a consensus we desperately need), we must start planning this transformation at speed and at scale. This means coming together as a united world (and yes there will always be those fighting against it, but we do it anyway) and then we look at the massive issues we face and work out the solutions together.
A few top-of-mind examples
We start building the infrastructure now to support the refugees. This is happening, they are coming, and they need our help. They also need to be safe and have the chance to live in dignity. Remember, 50% of the 100 million refugees today are children. We could have billions on the move soon.
We set up a global team of water management experts who go into each country and solve the challenge of water. If we can keep people where they are, we will have more peace in the world. Many countries in drought are not managing this very important asset. These people do not have to move.
We switch to a predominantly plant-based diet, and we support farmers in this transition. However, to make a massive impact, fast food chains must go plant-based, and let’s face it, the Amazon desperately needs this move. Please watch and read the content George Monbiot is sharing. I shared a video last week in my Weekend Reads from him on this topic. It’s a huge part of the solution and we can do it.
We invest in all the countries on the front line of climate change to help them adapt. This investment means there is a greater chance they won’t migrate. As above, if we can keep people where they are, it’s better for everyone. But those who can’t stay need to be supported.
We invest in our home countries. We change our transportation systems to be as green as possible as quickly as possible. This means making services like trains and buses public again and affordable. We invest in our water infrastructure. We make our towns and cities green. We focus on planting trees in the poorest neighbourhoods, so they survive intense heat. This is something we saw in India. The wealthier, tree-filled suburbs handled the heat wave this summer much better than those living in the poorer communities.
We sort out the media and its destructive impact on society (read ‘We have to stop normalising the absurd’), we need to rebuild trust in our societies, we must fix the institutions our societies are built on (education, medical, the law and more), we get fossil fuels off the table but we do it intelligently (it’s not going to stop overnight), we work out how to solve the divisions in our countries, we must stop war, we need a fully circular economy, Universal Basic Income is a must, we switch to a degrowth economy, and on I could go.
A big call? Well, when everyone keeps telling me there is no hope (and maybe they are right), I keep seeing this answer. It’s a HUGE transformation ahead of us, and it’s enormously challenging too, but if we can dream bigger than we ever have before and commit to coming together to get the job done, we will build something better.
Let’s design a world where we can take desperation out of our societies. There’s too much desperation everywhere – except for those at the very top of course. Enough.
Our world has been built on the back of environmental devastation and human suffering. Our opportunity is to change that and we want to change it, don’t we?
Anyways, get stuck into the reads and please always remember, we are the hope we are looking for. All of us. I know it’s hard to hold onto sometimes, but we can do this. We can. Let’s all get involved.
Friend’s content and mine
Humble-bragging to greenwash: the seven sins of sustainability professionals on LinkedIn – great read by Robin Hicks
I really enjoyed doing this podcast with Samantha Gayfer – The path out of eco-anxiety is ACTION – tips when sitting in the grief. A big part of facing the climate crisis is going through eco-anxiety. Why would anyone want to do that? So I thought it was really important to capture what it feels like, so hopefully, it will show us all we can face it and get on with the job that needs to be done.
Donation time
If everyone gave #just10percent of their time, talent, money or voice, we’ll change the world. Can you donate? Make it a regular donation to the World Food Programme. Or donate to the UN Refugee Program, Medicine Sans Frontier, PowerOf , Kiva.org , Soi Dog Foundation. It’s a time for giving and taking care of each other.
Content to read
And here’s the content I’ve been reading or watching this last week. Scan the headlines, read the ones that jump out at you, read or watch them all. Knowledge is power, and global knowledge is even more powerful.
Climate crisis
Frankly#6 The End of Abundance
Macron warns of ‘end of abundance’ as France faces difficult winter | France | The Guardian
We have to stop normalising the absurd – Prospect Magazine
The world stands on a nuclear precipice – we must avoid catastrophe | Jacinda Ardern | The Guardian
Scientists, First Nations in Dawson City dig deep into our future under climate change tks Laura Ashton
There is No Such Thing as Low Carbon Beef
Google ‘airbrushes’ out emissions from flying, BBC reveals – BBC News (ampproject.org)
California to Ban the Sale of New Gasoline Cars
Creating Shared Value (hbr.org)
Americans Aren’t Scared of Anything, Except Having to Share. | by Jessica Wildfire
Is Advertising Causing Climate Change? Actually, It’s Worse Than That | The Drum
A near 100 per cent renewables grid is well within reach, and with little storage | RenewEconomy
Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit | IPCC Explainer: The Science of… (eciu.net)
The ‘illusion of knowledge’ that makes people overconfident – BBC Worklife
‘Wrong side of history’ | Wake up to the hype around green hydrogen for heating | Recharge
Should Canada invest in hydrogen? Here are the pros and cons | Financial Post
Climate change forces indigenous islanders in Panama to relocate – BBC News
Do people really understand the fight we’re in? (substack.com)
La Nina alert issued as meteorologists warn of ‘potent’ spring-summer weather for Australia | 7NEWS
What the rare ‘triple-dip’ La Niña could mean for winter (msn.com)
Upon reflection, scientists evaluate Earth-cooling strategies | Cornell Chronicle
The world’s roads aren’t ready for climate change | The Independent
Solar briefly overtakes coal in Australia as number one source of power nationally – ABC News
Dugong: Animal that inspired mermaid tales extinct in China – BBC News
Fast-warming, ailing Med Sea may be a sign of things to come (phys.org)
China issues nationwide drought alert amid extreme heat (axios.com)
NASA – Satellite Measurements Help Reveal Ozone Damage to Important Crops
Green farming: The shift in food and agriculture | Sustainability | McKinsey & Company
IFIC survey shows Gen Z interest in sustainability | Food Business News
No Breakthroughs in Nuclear: It’s Not Cheaper, Faster, or Safer | Nasdaq
Yangtze shrinks as China’s drought disrupts industry | AP News tks Susanna Hasenoehrl
Floods, landslides kill dozens as monsoon rains lash northern, eastern India | Reuters
News Analysis: Aussie meteorological experts seek answers in a world of extremes-Xinhua
CBA mortgages worth $31b exposed to extreme weather event risks
Plant-based meat by far the best climate investment, report finds | Food | The Guardian
Europe’s farmers look to a future of long-term drought
India monsoon rains cause fatal bridge collapse – BBC News
The Colorado River drought across Lake Mead and Lake Powell, as seen in NASA satellite images – Vox
Hidden Menace: Massive methane leaks speed up climate change | AP News
Go read this investigation into major methane leaks in Texas and New Mexico – The Verge
UK drought: Why do the trees think it’s autumn already? – BBC News
New study quantifies the carbon emissions of virtual conferences (anthropocenemagazine.org)
Net Zero is Seriously Worth It!
Global politics
‘They robbed me of my children’: Yemen’s war victims tell their stories | Yemen | The Guardian
Zaporizhzhia: World narrowly avoided radiation accident – Zelensky – BBC News
Biden’s Student-Loan Gamble – The Atlantic
Anthony Albanese was cheered for skolling a beer. Are women in power treated the same?
Murdoch inquiry in motion as Daniel acts on media concentration (crikey.com.au) tks Phillipa Edwards
Trump appears to concede he illegally retained official documents | Donald Trump | The Guardian
Prayuth Chan-ocha: Thai court suspends PM and coup leader – BBC News
See Photos From Russia’s Invasion on the Ground in Ukraine – The New York Times
Twitter Whistleblower Alleges Deception: Allegations from Docs | Time
Women in Finland post party videos to back PM Sanna Marin | Finland | The Guardian (ampproject.org)
Darya Dugina: Daughter of Putin ally killed in Moscow blast – BBC News
Business and technology
No one’s getting high on the new cannabis Laws (thephuketnews.com)
Why It Seems Like So Many Big Tech Whistleblowers Are Women – Ethical Systems
The Staggering Economics of the Tesla Semi | Torque News
Crikey-Lachlan Murdoch legal battle erupts amid publication subscriber push (smh.com.au)
How to stay cool as competition heats up in ice cream and yogurt | McKinsey
Don’t Let Cynicism Undermine Your Workplace (hbr.org)
Richard Murphy on tax, accounting and political economy (taxresearch.org.uk)
America’s 1% Has Taken $50 Trillion From the Bottom 90% | Time
Social issues and humanity
Uvalde school shooting: Embattled police chief Pete Arredondo fired – BBC News
Forgotten Fearless Women of Freedom – Lokmarg – News Views Blogs
The people making a difference: the man who set up a mental health walking group for ‘blokes’ | Mental health | The Guardian tks Chantal Fernandes
Maharashtra: Missing girl found after nine years recounts ordeal – BBC News
377A: Singapore to end ban on gay sex – BBC News
Jonah Hill to stop promoting films to protect his mental health – BBC News
Can Christians be Woke?
Passion, humour, history
Archaeologists Unearth Tomb Of Genghis Khan (archaeology-world.com) tks David Lim
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle: Passengers stuck for hours inside Channel Tunnel – BBC News
Schools that Excel: Switch in study focus pays off at Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar (theage.com.au)
Let me know what jumped out at you? Or share with me what you’re reading? I love that!
Cheers
Andrea
Environment education
Three environment resources to help navigate this challenging territory. 1. Knowledge, constantly updating. 2. Individual action and awareness, so we do our part. 3. Resources for those struggling with eco-anxiety. Please share with your community.
Uncommon Courage: an invitation – my latest book
Uncommon Courage is an invitation to be your courageous best self every day. It’s also an antidote to the overwhelm, fear, and rage rolling around the world. But it’s more than a book; it’s an invitation to join an inclusive community that wants to better understand humanities challenges – both global and personal – in order to take courageous action and create a better world for everyone. If Covid19 has given us the time and space to reflect, Uncommon Courage gives us the nudge we need to create lasting change.
You can buy it on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Booktopia, Smashwords, Kobo, Gardners, Odilo, Indie Bound, BookShop by BookTrib and Scribd.
Better yet, order it from your local bookstore, so you can #SupportLocal.
You can read the reviews, including a new five-star review on Book Commentary, another five-star review on ReaderViews, a review on BookTrib, and three more on Booklife, another on Book Commentary and Blue Ink Reviews. I’m also collating reviews on my Website too. Have a look and grateful to everyone who has written or recorded one.
Come and join the conversation in my new Facebook Group Uncommon Courage.
Uncommon Courage, the podcast – Apple, Spotify and everywhere podcasts are published.
The Know Show
Check out The Know Show. It’s a fortnightly wrap up of the news! Starting again, September 2nd.
18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile (2022 edition)
Listed by Book Authority in the 100 Best LinkedIn Books of All Time and 22 Best New LinkedIn eBooks To Read In 2021 and 2022 categories. Grab it today if you want to take your professional presence to the next level! When it comes to LinkedIn, it really is time to ask — can you really afford not to have this book in the hands of every employee?
Connect with me
andreatedwards.com , uncommon-courage.com
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