A poster that gave me to think about!

Written by Davide Ricciardi

I stumbled upon this poster while taking Terra.do 's Learning For Action (LFA) course and I have to say—it really hit me. The poster is a powerful reminder of the narratives that fuel climate delay and it's been an intriguing experience diving into these discussions throughout the LFA. The course has opened my eyes to just how pervasive these narratives are and how they're subtly (or not so subtly) embedded into the ways we think about climate action.

The poster can be found by clicking here and all credits go to its author, Léonard Chemineau , which took inspiration from the academic article “Discourses of Climate Delay” published by Cambridge University Press in “Global Sustainability” : Lamb, W., Mattioli, G., Levi, S., Roberts, J., Capstick, S., Creutzig, F., Steinberger, J. (2020). Discourses of climate delay. Global Sustainability, 3, E17. doi:10.1017/sus.2020.13.

What makes this poster stand out is its raw depiction of the excuses that hold us back. "It's too expensive," "We need more time," "Technology will save us later." These aren't just random statements—they're deeply entrenched mentalities that have been used to slow down the urgency of tackling the climate crisis. These narratives make it easy for us to feel like it's okay to wait, that action can come later, that someone else will solve it for us. But we all know, deep down, that this isn't true. Every delay, every hesitation, just makes the problem harder to solve. The cost of inaction is mounting day by day. Through my experience and my work at The Green Dossier, I'm seeing more clearly that the challenge isn't just about understanding the climate crisis—it's about fighting these delaying tactics that are almost as dangerous as outright denial. They pacify us into thinking that we're on the right path while emissions continue to rise and ecosystems continue to break down.

We need a different narrative—one that acknowledges the challenges but doesn't defer responsibility. The time for half-measures is over. We can't keep waiting for technologies that might come in the future or for a magical shift in economic priorities. We have to work with what we have, now, and demand the systemic changes that can actually make a difference. This poster is a stark representation of greenwashing at its finest—those well-crafted, seemingly rational arguments that allow powerful interests to delay meaningful action. It's a tactic that lets governments and corporations look like they're taking action without committing to the changes we really need. We must stay vigilant and call out these tactics whenever we see them. Finally, let me ask you: what's your green character? Are you someone who demands real action, or are you content with the comforting excuses that keep us stuck? It's a question we should all be asking ourselves as we take on these challenges.

At The Green Dossier, we're committed to exposing these delaying narratives for what they are: a deliberate attempt to maintain the status quo at the expense of a livable future. We need to stop buying into these comforting lies and start demanding the real, difficult work that comes with systemic change. It's time to shift the focus from promises and plans to actions and results.

P.S. Thank you to all those who attended our last LinkedIn audio event "Greenwashing exposed - how to spot fake sustainability claims" and now we're inbound for more! There's a lot to come and new projects where people will be able to make an impact!