Joe Strummer, group leader of Clash, could not have said it better. And, as usual, when we talk about change, we often tread water before moving forward. The latest IPCC report [1] announces the renewed imminence of a planetary catastrophe and, at the same time, presents us with an opportunity to commit to action! But what does climate action mean at the end of summer 2021 when the Delta variant is in full swing, with temperature peaks in different regions of the world breaking all records, with catastrophic floods and devastating fires all over the world; all this paired with individualistic quests for happiness and freedom!
In this context, how can we maximize the use of economic tools capable of bringing about a change in attitude towards climate challenges? At the geopolitical level, how can we emphasize a change in demand [2] (reducing consumption and increasing consent in the G20 [3]) and stimulate supply, in a context of social justice, in other countries, while considering that there are several equations, several unknowns, and a few variables? On a local level, such as in Canada, how to engage based on the principles of circular economy, sharing economy and community action as described in the blog of August 7, 2021, by Gary Cooper from Chicago [4], all supported by some basic measurement and verification (MRV) [5] principles.
In short, how do you engage serenely and consciously? The future is now [6].