These days it can be difficult to sustain a healthy desire to improve the world. With the intimidating scale and persistence of the problems facing it, our world can at times seem beyond help. Every day, if not every few minutes, brings another distressing headline, sending us hurtling ever faster toward pessimism. This kind of experience is common, and many of us at least some of the time feel frozen in place by fear of the next downward dive.
Activists are often totally strapped into this rollercoaster of gloom, given their commitment to understanding global problems, but even the most devoted can still find it difficult to want to stay on the ride.
If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed or just plain defeated in this way, Dr. Hannah Ritchie’s book, “Not the End of the World,” offers the ‘ups’ to make the ‘downs’ more manageable. Even more, it’s a practical call to action that may offer the tools to build more ‘ups’ into the rollercoaster yourself. Here are the ideas we found most valuable:
Many of us are disheartened, or even angered, when we compare the potential impact of our individual personal actions to the scale of harm caused by corporations and governments. But we can’t let this stop us in our tracks. The outsized impact of industry is all the more reason to ensure we’re doing what we can to improve our system as a whole. Here’s what to demand (loudly and with others) from those in power to encourage large-scale change through the most accessible means:
- Protect biodiverse sites: These are our planet’s ride maintenance regulations. Exploiting them is the equivalent of loosening a bunch of bolts and seeing what happens.
- Innovate waste management: We haven’t blown chunks yet, but waste is a reality of the modern world. And it isn’t going anywhere on its own. It’s not glamorous work, but we need smarter systems and technologies.
- Regulate commercial fishing: Our oceans are not an endless buffet. In fact, they’re starting to look a lot closer to a couple of stale fish sticks someone left in a cubby with their phone and keys. Stricter policies can help and are essential.
- Hold industries accountable: Big industries that talk green without walking the talk are cutting in line. It’s time to get the teenager wearing a polo and cargo shorts involved. Sorry!
Effective (And Ineffective) Actions: Holding on tight won’t do you much good, but please make sure your safety bar is secure.
Dr. Ritchie is the Lead Researcher of Our World in Data, an organization that provides access to research and data on the world’s most pressing issues. Her job is turning complicated and unwieldy data into something just about anyone can understand. She is among the best of the best at cutting through noise and focusing on what truly matters. She applies her top-tier skillset to snapping the rest of us out of our G-Force-induced daze with concrete actions that are well within reach:
- Drive less, cycle more: You’ve heard it before, but it’s worth saying again. Ditch the car when you can. Walk, cycle, or hop on public transportation. If you’re up for it, consider an electric vehicle.
- Reduce food waste: This isn’t a theme park and you’re allowed to bring your leftovers for lunch. While you’re at it, plan your meals and start composting. The first step to consuming more sustainably is actually using what you buy.
- Embrace renewable energy: The data would suggest that sustainable replacements for fossil fuels are a ride that just keeps going up. Hop on!
- Cut down on animal products: Much like a chili dog does while you’re waiting in line at 2pm on a hot day, the animal products are weighing us down. Beef and dairy have the highest environmental footprint. If everyone adopted a more plant-based diet, it’s estimated that we could cut emissions from food production by half.
- Organic and local isn’t always better: When it comes to sustainable food choices, view these as “nice-to-haves.” They can often distract from more important factors in the impact of our consumption. Which foods we choose over others has a much greater bearing on climate impact than how far away they were produced.
- Recycling isn’t the answer: Is recycling important? Yes. Is it the solution to our waste problem? Not even close. Reducing consumption will make the greatest difference here.
- Doomsday thinking doesn’t help: Feeling low is normal. But don’t lose your head. Panic can keep us from making the changes that will mean something. Dr. Ritchie shares promising areas where we’re seeing significant progress, and we need to use that momentum to achieve our goals.
“Not the End of the World” highlights progress and opportunity together, because making sense of the ‘ups’ is impossible without the ‘downs’ and vice versa. It has reinforced our commitment to making plant-based eating a cornerstone of climate action, and our focus on pulling people together to make collective change. Dr. Ritchie’s insights allow us to see the track ahead and where our actions can lead us.
Though it’s sometimes all we can do to believe that things will start looking up, knowing we can play some part in our course has made us feel much better about continuing on this ride. We hope you’ll join us!
With that, let’s put our hands in the air for our favorite quote from the book: “A sustainable future is not guaranteed — if we want it, we need to create it.”
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