Some quick food for thought

Quick one for you this week!

I just finished recording a podcast with Jamie Beck Alexander who works over at Drawdown Labs. She shared lots of fantastic insights on the power employees have to help make their companies?true?climate leaders (getting companies to shift from asking "how can we be less bad?" to "what levers can we pull to do as much good as possible?").

Anyway, very excited to share it with you when it's ready.

But in preparing for that conversation, I came across two things that struck me that I'd like to share.

First, I re-read the final words of The Drawdown Review 2020. And they are?powerful.

A couple of you actually told me you printed this out and put it next to your desks?the first time I shared it ?(love that). So it's definitely worth a re-read!

Excerpt from "The Drawdown Review 2020"

“We are living in a time of dramatic transformation. The basic physics, chemistry, and biology of this planet make that non-negotiable; stasis is not an option. Society has a choice to make about what shape that transformation will take. Will we employ collective courage and determination and the legion of existing solutions to move the world away from widespread climate catastrophe? Will we pursue climate action in ways that heal systemic injustices and foster resilience, wellbeing, and equality? Who will we choose to be in this pivotal moment of human history?

A transformation that moves us toward Drawdown is possible, as demonstrated here, but it will require much more than the right technologies and practices being available. Genuine evolution is in order—evolution in what we value, how we treat one another, who holds the reins of power, the ways institutions operate, and the very contours of our economies. This time of transformation also asks that we learn from cultures and communities that have sustained human-nature symbiosis for centuries, even millennia.

At times, this can all feel like a draconian assignment. But it’s also an invitation into deeply meaningful work. Our purpose as human beings in this moment is to create a livable future, together—to build a bridge from where we are today to the world we want for ourselves, for all of life, and for generations yet to come. With commitment, collaboration, and ingenuity, we can depart the perilous path we are on and come back into balance with the planet’s living systems. A better path is still possible. May we turn that possibility into reality.”

Secondly, I think Jamie makes a key point about tapping into maternal instincts in?this article ?she wrote back in 2016. Here are two quotes:

“I would throw myself in front of a bus if it were coming at [my daughters]. We all need to throw ourselves in front of this bus called climate change.” - Mindy Lubber

"These protective instincts are crucial for the climate change fight. The battle will be long, and affirmations to continue the fight will need to be made day after day. The actions we will need to take to exceed the commitments made in Paris may not always be easy or logical, so relying on scientific evidence alone to motivate us will fall short. The movement needs the emotional, instinctive leadership abilities inherent to many mothers to sustain it, to remind us of what we’re fighting for when the obstacles seem insurmountable. Logic may not tell us to jump in front of a bus, but maternal instinct will...Life is the reason we’re fighting. If we remind ourselves of this, there is little that we won’t do to ensure its vibrant continuation." - Jamie Beck Alexander

Taking climate action is about protecting life. It's about protecting the people we love.

This is an?extraordinarily?powerful motivator.

I think the more we tap into our inherent love of life, and find ways to help others do the same, the better off we will be.

Anyway, some food for thought.

Take care!

Ryan

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(This article was originally published here on Crowdsourcing Sustainability.)