A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the book The Climate Majority Project, which describes the need for a more inclusive and more moderate climate movement. The book includes their theory of change – the way they think change is going to happen. They are focusing on four strands of change, which I think are worth sharing.
Narrative shift – Extinction Rebellion had ‘tell the truth’ as one of their core demands. It’s here too in a demand to shift “climate conversations further towards truthfulness.” That’s not just about dumping bad news on people, which is often what people imply when the question of truth comes up in climate circles. Facing the realities of the challenges is necessary, yes, but it’s also about the whole approach to the issue.
One of the narratives that the book singles out is the endless parade of deadlines and ‘final warnings’. As well as the diminishing returns from this messaging, it keeps giving the impression that climate change can be stopped if we just act now. It’s always three minutes to midnight and time to act. In reality the time for stopping climate change has come and gone. We are well past midnight, and the way we talk about the climate needs to catch up.
Collective resilience – climate change is a depressing subject and people often get involved and then burn out. It’s important to build good culture in any activist community, making sure that people take care of themselves and each other. That includes dealing with conflict, disappointment and the despair that can creep in around global issues that are hard to fix. Successful movements aren’t just about strategy and action. They also understand psychology and the need for care.
Tangible actions – one of the things I like most about the Climate Majority Project is that it’s not just demanding change from those in power. It’s trying to support ordinary citizens to take action where they are. Not just tips for greener lifestyles, nor lobbying government for change, but in the intermediate level of workplaces, schools, places of worship, etc. As the Transition Towns movement proved a few years ago, it’s that intermediate space that can often deliver the biggest impact.
Of course, many of the organisations for this sort of action already exist and some are very successful. Schools networks, sector based associations, faith networks and local organisations are all at work on the challenge of climate change, already represent a very broad climate movement, and that’s why the project says that part of the challenge is to “make the climate majority aware of itself.”
Building shared understanding – in order to sustain those smaller or localised actions over time, people need a sense of how their efforts add up. So a shared understanding of a global transition helps people to find their place in something much bigger than themselves. This kind of shared vision needs partnerships and collaboration, which in turn needs trust. The movement needs to find common ground and work across party political lines, cultural and class lines, etc. Easier said than done of course, but necessary to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
I think a lot of people in the climate movement already know these sorts of things, but the Climate Majority Project is articulating something that a lot of people have been saying. I hope it continues to draw people into the conversation.
The Earthbound Report 