Cop27 is here and the climate crisis is daunting but here’s the key to tackling it – cheer up
We environmentalists must avoid sending the message that the situation is hopeless. Lets focus on solutions My dear fellow environmentalists, With the Cop27 summit about to be begin, can we please think about how we talk about the climate crisis? The scale of it is there to see it cant be missed but havent we read enough books and attended enough events where we are told, once again, about the historic causes of the problem, the intransigent complexity of the problem and the inevitable worsening of the problem? Given a little more time, I swear that most speakers would detail the length, depth and height of the problem. It is depressing. It doesnt help. Please stop. I sit at these events pen and notebook in hand listening for solutions. Not long ago, I sat through a talk about biodiversity loss. At the end of it, a member of the audience, who was obviously feeling as frustrated as I was, asked rather desperately, But what can we do ? Conversation, the speaker suggested. I didnt write this down. I know that the problem is serious; Ive read (most of) the IPCC report , and listened to the podcasts all reminding me that this is an emergency. But dont most people know this now? It is beginning to feel as if we are running around shouting, Smoking is bad for you! We know. Gloom and hopelessness are not great motivators and too many environmentalists have almost given up. People are so relieved when I tell them I have a pragmatic, life-enriching approach. Call me a misguided optimist, but I believe that the changes we make can, and are, making a difference. So if you are giving a talk or writing about the environment, dont waste the opportunity to give people specific actions they can each take. Here are some: We know that individual change isnt enough and we have to lobby the most heinous polluters, too. You dont have to glue yourself to the road if you dont want to. But find a form of activism that works for you. One person told me: I loved sitting in the summer sunshine at Balcombe during the anti-fracking campaign. And of course they won eventually. There is no fracking in Sussex. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak who is finally, reluctantly, heading to Cop27 says no fracking on his watch . Personally, I love drumming with a samba band if there is some environmental action going on. Everyone loves the band. One year, even the police got into trouble for dancing. So dont do nothing. Just find activism that you enjoy. We do need to be radical. We need to change the way that we live in every way. Its about living lives that are designed to support the Earth. And it can be done in ways that enhance our lives too. Life is short and we have a planet to save. Your loyalty is misplaced. They dont have their lending and investment portfolio in the public domain and are almost certainly supporting the fossil fuel industry. Move to Triodos Bank which is transparent and which won best ethical financial provider at the Best Bank awards. Other banks with a reasonable ethical policy are the Cumberland Building Society, Monzo, Nationwide and Starling. Radical, huh? Get creative. Learn to sew, mend and celebrate your clothes. You have enough clothes already. Live simply. Live with less. Its much more peaceful. And cheaper. I have a friend who has given up her car and bought a cargo bike. She cycles her two children to school. They ride with their dog. They wave at passersby in all weathers. They all love it. Take one international flight every other year a holiday. Frequent flyers are the problem, not families going on holiday once year or less. Its well established that being in nature supports our mental health. Even a window box lifts our hearts and is also loved by pollinators. Composting is a mystical black art. You take waste and make life. If you dont have a garden, find a friend who does and help them. This is the one thing people all across the political spectrum agree on. With the money you save from not shopping, buy organic food for the sake of biodiversity and your health. Seasonal eating is the best adventure. Find a delivery box of local organic seasonal food. Even if you still eat meat learn how to make delicious vegan meals with colour. Grow your own herbs and spices. Lets be radical and not just ditch single-use plastic. Fossil fuel companies spend millions trying to sell us plastic crap we dont need. I appreciate that plastic is important in medicine, but in our homes? No thanks. Handmade items created with love are much more sensuous and life enhancing. Support the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty or Rewilding Britain or Stop Ecocide or Client Earth or the RSPB enjoy choosing. The point is to support some humans that you know are doing good work. Normally, I recommend moving to one of the three most ethical sustainable energy companies, which according to Ethical Consumer magazine are GEUK, Good Energy and Ecotricity. But because of the energy crisis everyone has to stay where they are for a while. So what can we do about the outrageous profits and moral bankruptcy of the energy companies? Dont use their energy. If you can afford to, it is time to install solar panels. If you cant do this, fill your kettle from a mug: we use a lot of energy in our homes overfilling our kettles and boiling them nine times a day. Switch everything off. Use hot-water bottles. Hang heavy curtains in winter and if you really want to be radical learn about the health benefits of cold showers. Seriously. They are exhilarating. They wake you up. Isabel Losada is the author of The Joyful Environmentalist: How to Practise without Preaching