The very first step in tackling climate change is to care.
When people ask, what’s the one thing individuals can do to tackle climate change, my answer is simple: care. Ask people to care, and you are challenging the toughest impediments to action head on: hopelessness; resignation; anxiety. That sense that the problem is so immense and pervasive that there is absolutely nothing that one person, let alone all of us, can do. So why bother.
We have reached the point where people care more about the cost of gas than the future of the planet. Or so it seems, from the political ads, protests, and media. And that impression of public self-interest can be all that is needed to upend climate policy. Self interest and selfishness are the hallmarks of anti-climate lobbying and politics, and they represent a conscious and deliberate attempt to shift social values from compassion to self-centredness and oppression in order to faciliate the politics of power and greed.
The same tactics are being used on immigration, social services, economics and every aspect of a caring, compassionate society, which is why the simple act of saying I care about each other and the planet is the first step on the path to change. It is not an act of anger, it is one of compassion and commitment.
As a society, to say “We care” is an important statement of our values. It is a value most countries and communities espouse, yet it seems to be forgotten in the politics of power.
Caring and compassion is a foundational value that will empower and encourage our political leaders to work for peace, justice, and a sustainable future. A compassionate society cares for the well-being of others and the planet; now and for future generations. And if, as a society, caring is a core value, then it sets the mandate and tone for political leadership.
So, yes, the most important thing any individual can do is to say they care – for each other and the planet. Never lose sight of the power of a compassionate society to build resilience; to build peace; to create a clean economy, and to build a better future.
Who cares
That the world is burning
descending into chaos
our future uncertain
when we have our comforts
and the sun still sets
Who cares
about the welfare of others
the institutions that nurture us
the ecosystems that sustain us
and offer hope for a brighter future
We care
It’s in our nature, our values, our faith, our humanity
to help each other and our world
and no one can tell me otherwise.