Care to save the planet? Then make your doughnut! Part II

Continued from Part I

Did you know that our planet has warmed by more than one degree Celsius since the Industrial Revolution, and the rate is accelerating? While nearly all countries signed the?Paris Climate Agreement in 2016 , that consensus was only about restricting global warming to two degrees and already, the odds of achieving that aim are estimated at 1 in 20, at the current rate. But in reality, even this warming of two degrees means the extinction of the world's tropical reefs, a rise in sea levels of several meters, and the continual risk of forest fires. Clearly, a more holistic approach to combating climate change is needed. One that is mindful of both consuming less, and consuming better.

Striking a balance –The Doughnut Economy

In today's fast-moving, consumption-driven world, industries and businesses are competing hard. Growth is often measured in terms of ‘bigger is better’. But the lessons history has taught us, show that such mindless pursuit of ‘progress’ has only served to destabilize the delicate balance of the planet. Where does hope lie then?

Kate Raworth, author of the international bestseller 'Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st-century economist', is one of my favorite thinkers, in this space. In her 2018 Ted Talk, she said the following words, which have stayed with me since: "We are perhaps the first generation that is seeing the degenerative impact of mass consumerism, and probably the last with the opportunity to turn this story around".

Raworth's ideology is based on the revolutionary concept of the 'Doughnut Economy' - one that is built on three layers of social and planetary boundaries. Within the ring of the doughnut, humanity thrives, when it is being mindful of consuming the resources of our planet – water, electricity, fossil fuels, and more. Beyond the central ring of this doughnut, our actions are detrimental to the ecosystem.

Countries that do not have enough resources of their own, find themselves in the inner circle of the doughnut. Here she supports a distributive mindset. Developed nations are encouraged to provide support and resources, to elevate those in need to the thriving part of the ring.

What I’m therefore suggesting is that every organization and individual needs to invest their time and effort to make their own doughnut, so they understand the parameters at work in each of their specific industry sectors or line of work.

Sounds complicated? It isn't. Here are four things that we can do today to make a radical difference, by putting the rather intriguing concept of the Doughnut to work:

• Prioritise the planet – This means going beyond immediate comforts, to actually understanding the meaning of our footprint. Suppose rising sea levels were to consume coastal towns. Can our planet sustain the large-scale geopolitical and migration behavior? Certainly not.
• Redefine progress - We can think of ourselves as progressing, not when we have amassed more material wealth. Instead, we are genuinely advancing when we meet the needs of all people while continuing to stay within the means of our unique planet, creating a balance at all times.
• Reimagine consumerism - We need a deeper understanding of the magnitude of our actions - what we consume and what it's really worth. Moving forward, consumers should be encouraged to make an effort to understand the impact of their purchasing and discarding behavior.
• A doughnut for an organisation – Since the doughnut economy is just a collection of goals, which may be pursued by different paths, organisations and people would do well to build their own versions of the 'Doughnut'. Here the organisational aspiration should be to provide more with less energy and by using fewer resources.

Thriving together as a society

In fact, the movement I am talking about is already underway. For instance, all semiconductor industry players are moving towards being carbon neutral, in the next five years. Organisations like Schneider are going circular, by offering and adopting products that can be serviced and repaired, for longer life cycles.

Schneider is now also promoting and having discussions with customers, to get them into the mindset of reducing their consumption – especially those resources whose scarcity would cause great harm to the planet. All along, we try to work within the set of rules of that define the doughnut economy, to get customers on a path that helps them achieve their goals, mindfully.

We also provide the infrastructure that can help economies that fall within the center of the doughnut, to receive support and help. Our driving purpose is to create a mindset, which is always cognizant of how we consume energy.

In years to come, I believe that real progress towards tackling climate change will focus on this principle of Mindful Consumption. Humanity will have to learn to work within boundaries. Boundaries that help both us and the planet thrive and prosper.?