As we start 2024 and leave COP28 behind, I can’t help but to move with mixed feelings of hope and skepticism. Hope that is rising from seeing more commitments toward climate action across the board, but being cynic from the pace and impact of such efforts. However, I have no choice but to cling to the sense of hope while being grounded by the complexity of the reality.
A couple of notes on this thread of thought:
- While staying below 1.5 degrees is being communicated as a global ambition, Let’s not forget that it’s merely a goal to live with the current damage but not a goal to heal the planet. Staying below 1.5 degrees is more of the most ambition goal of a “do less harm” mindset. I believe it is a start of journey but not the final destination.
- Decarbonization – despite being a loose term – is not the sole magical answer to our climate and socioeconomic challenges. Expanding our perspective, beyond a Carbon Tunnel vision, is key to an inclusive and holistic future.
- Climate & sustainable finance is crucial for climate solutions, but it should follow/ be in service to the actual needs of our communities and ecosystems not the other way around.
- Justice doesn’t need to be fragmented under different banners, such as social and climate. Justice is a human and planetary right that encompasses all dimensions of well-being.
The Climate Actions we need are those that transcend the “do less harm” mindset into a narrative that is just, regenerative, co-created, and decentralized.
We deserve a better life for everyone and everything on this planet. For that we need to define our roles and our circles of influence that can instigate, empower, guide, mobilize and channel change.
It’s all about communication and framing so let’s change the narrative.
Happy New Year!
First published in LinkedIn on January 3, 2024
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