Our Dissociation Between Climate and the Food We Consume

2022 has been a year of weather extremes in both the southern and northern hemispheres. Europe has been challenged and in parts decimated by wild fires, and farmers tell of 40 per cent reductions in yield of core crops such as tomatoes, olives and fruit. As the southern hemisphere enters it’s 2022 winter, there are already record breaking icy spells reported in places such as Australia and South America.

And yet, certainly in the UK, public opinion is mixed and many simply cannot make the connection between their experiences and the changing weather pressure systems of the earth. Some media and social media content seek to diminish the significance of the heatwave with a ‘stop moaning and just enjoy it’ attitude. In our short term focussed, instant gratification world, we are not encouraged to think systemically. One place where this disconnection is clear is in how we think about food. People in cities cannot largely relate to the experience of farmers struggling to save their crops and livestock. We have become so distant from the very serious business of food production that we do not see the obvious fact that a 40% reduction in output from most farms is going to impact on the amount of food available and that creates demand driven inflation and widens existing economic and social inequity. We make no association between the abundant fried chicken outlets in our high streets and farming. And so we are blind to the looming threat of food scarcity and its impact.

So how can coaches help? For coaches that take a systemic approach, one of our core skills is the ability to help individuals make connections and see a bigger picture. In addition, we lengthen the timeline of people’s consciousness and help them to consider consequences. Arguably this is required more than ever.

Rita Symons is a member of the EMCC Global Workgroup for #climateaction and #sustainability . We are currently surveying #coaches, #mentors and #supervisors. We would love you to share your views. The survey can be accessed here?

Dr. Riza KADILAR Stephen Murphy Elsa (Selva) Valdivielso Martínez