Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Climate change
and resource scarcity
A discussion paper for
non‐environmental civil society groups
Climate change and
resource scarcity
Contributing to the Carnegie UK Trust Inquiry into
the Future of Civil Society
The increasingly visible impacts of climate points of origin of the problem ‐ we all
change and of fuel and food scarcity are all contribute in almost everything we do. The
around us, as is the growing number of problem arises from social trajectories that
policy responses. began with settled agriculture and took a
We are also surrounded by initiatives step change in the Industrial Revolution.
and calls to action that aim to tackle the The areas of debate lie in different
problems, but it’s still unclear whether conceptions about how to tackle the issue,
change will come at the pace needed. how much to prioritise one intervention
over another. Even governments struggle
Amongst this flurry of activity it is also to find effective levers that will enable the
obvious that the breadth of people necessary changes.
engaged in tackling these issues is limited,
as is the nature of the challenges that are The Carnegie UK Trust has initiated a
being discussed. programme of work designed to
understand and improve the societal
This does not mean that people are not response to these issues and in particular
taking the issue seriously. As the messages the response and likely impacts on civil
from research become clearer and more society. These are likely to be
consistent, and the number of statements transformative problems that will play a
of concern from governments, corporate major role in shaping civil society in the
heads, NGOs and high profile individuals coming decades.
accumulate it is clear that there is a
growing understanding that we are all As part of this work we will be talking to
stakeholders in the issue. The number of a wide range of people – sometimes
people who don't want to, or don't think through interview and sometimes through
we need to, do something about climate group workshops – to explore how they see
change is shrinking away. the challenges and solutions, what role
they think they and others can play, and
But climate change is a complex and what help they need to become more
diffuse problem ‐ there are no clear single effective.
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Our Aims are simple and vitally The conversations and events we hold will
important: help us inform what is produced.
| We want to increase the Also in this wider programme of work
constituency of people engaged in the Carnegie UK Trust will be looking at
addressing the challenges and the question of what practical changes
problems that climate change and organisations can undertake through their
resource scarcity will bring so that daily operations to reduce their own
the momentum and pressure to find carbon emissions. We hope that this work
solutions increases will synergise with and support the
| We want to improve the level of initiatives of other organisations who are
understanding of the problems we considering similar issues.
may be looking at so that better This Discussion paper however focuses
solutions are found on a slightly different set of questions that
| In particular we want to increase we want to explore with participants. They
understanding of why these issues are based on issues that have arisen from
are of core importance to non‐ formal and informal discussion of the
environmental groups, so that these issues with different individuals and
groups are empowered to organisations over the last three years,
contribute and understand why especially through events and meetings
their contribution is so crucial held at the Eden Project. We recognise
that these questions are not definitive, but
Amongst other things we will be they do touch on areas of concern that we
producing a Guide to the issues aimed believe are receiving insufficient attention,
specifically at 'non‐environmental' groups. and that may hold the key to a wider
engagement from Civil Society.
What will be the social impacts of climate change and
resource scarcity?
There is an ever growing range of The biggest variables in predicting
information sources that build impacts are not to do with climatology ‐
understanding of the likely impacts of they depend on
climate change by demonstrating how 1 how rapidly and effectively we
weather patterns may change and the respond
possible consequences of global changes 2 what sorts of societies we build and
such as sea level rise. how vulnerable they are to change
It may sound odd to say this, but we 3 the secondary consequences of the
can't understand the consequences of threat and the changes we make,
climate change by just thinking about because these will send ripples
changes in the weather. through society in countless ways
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To effectively engage a spectrum of The crucially important questions of
society we need a much greater diversity of who wins, who loses and how we build
conversations about climate change, ones more effective and just systems of
that move beyond climatology and Arctic resource supply require that a broader
science and focus in on other key questions range of issues are addressed by a broader
where a broader range of people have range of people.
something to contribute. Successful human societies have
The same is true of resource scarcity. evolved in the context of a huge range of
Ultimately the fundamental levels of different patterns of resource availability. It
energy supply and food supply (and other is when conditions suddenly change that
resources such as water) available to us times become dangerous. Change also
have vitally important scientific, technical puts pressure on cultural health, for
and 'environmental' dimensions. But in example by encouraging extremism or
practice the actual patterns of supply and creating conditions that allow loss of civil
scarcity are driven by trade and markets, liberties. Civil society needs to engage to
the choices made for societal investment help mitigate against those risks as well.
from skills to infrastructure and
government policy.
How do we start conversations that engage a broader spectrum of
people and help them understand that a) these 'environmental' issues
are relevant to them and b) that their skills and insights are critical to
finding solutions?
Have we got a clear enough picture of the different ways in which
change challenges society? Who can we learn from?
How do we foster a culture that accepts change?
The impacts of solutions
Mitigation is defined by The International changing environment.” So adaptation is
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as: any move we make to reduce the
“intervention to reduce the sources or damaging impacts of climate change, such
enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.” as changing housing systems to avoid the
This means for example reducing energy risk of flooding, or changes to welfare
use or switching to non‐carbon fuel support.
sources. Adaptation is “adjustment in The question of whether society should
natural or human systems to a new or focus on mitigation or adaptation has been
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highly political. Many environmental impacts such as pressure on welfare
groups have been reluctant to open systems, indirect impacts through policy
discussions about adaptation, feeling that responses and cultural impacts through
it weakens the drive to find solutions based changing social perspectives.
on mitigation. It is likely that policy and investment
But it is time for a more sophisticated changes, driven by forecasts of what
understanding. Everyone has a stake in climate change and resource scarcity will
promoting mitigation ‐ and in doing what bring, will have earlier impacts on many
we can. But there is also no question that communities and individuals in the UK
adaptation is needed. than actual shifts in the weather. For
This is in part because the changes to example many people will find that the loss
climate that have already been set in of asset value of houses prone to flooding
motion will impact in the coming decades will come through the mediation of
however successful the mitigation is. It is insurance companies before it comes
also because some of the mitigation steps through water. Similarly programmes of
that we may have to take are themselves incentives and punitive measures to reduce
so radical that they will require major energy use are being drawn up now, and
adaptations in how we live. The society of will rapidly start to be applied.
the developed world is so reliant on Some of the impacts of expected
abundant fossil energy that any move to climate change in 2050 are already here!
reduce its use will require dramatic change Many people that we have spoken to
now and into the future. Effective from socially focused civil society groups
mitigation IS adaptation. have found it difficult to accept that
Climate change will impact on society in climate change and resource scarcity issues
different ways and through different are as urgent and pressing as the daily
means and the changes will themselves problems they wrestle with. But policy
precipitate new changes, impacts and responses to climate change are being
consequences. drawn up now – often behind closed doors
In the primary instance there is/are the or with only the engagement of
environmental civil society groups.
| direct effect of changing climate
| indirect effects of policy or Calls from scientists are for something
investment changes or actions approaching 80% reduction in the levels of
taken to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The point is
| effects of attitudinal or cultural very simple but the ramifications are
shifts as a consequence of the complex – achieving change of this
above e.g. mental health issues, magnitude is a systems challenge, and it
intolerance. will not only give us technical and
methodological challenges, it will also
Change will then precipitate change, for provoke wide ranging challenges to our
example migration will follow weather concepts of justice and a 'good society'.
impacts. This will in turn have direct
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The simple reality is that there are that civil society is active and engaged to
changes underway now (driven by the ensure just solutions and that the best
threat of climate change) that will opportunities are taken for positive rather
transform society. There are already than negative change, and that the
decisions being made that will impact on outcomes reflect the principles and best
people's lives ‐ especially those who are practice of promoting social justice and
most vulnerable and poor ‐ and it is crucial protecting vulnerable people.
How do we promote better engagement with the policy and financial
decisions that will set a framework of response to climate change?
Moving beyond 'Environmental Perspectives'
There is a deep and persistent tendency to Commenting on the research, clinical
categorise issues such as climate change psychologist Dr Michael Reddy said:
and resource supply as 'environmental'. “As social animals, we are sensitive to
Although there is a kind of logic to this it is dangers from other humans that are
hugely unhelpful because it traps people intentional, such as terrorism. Accidental
into assumptions about the nature of the dangers, such as natural disasters fail to
impacts and the relevance to their lives, motivate us in the same way. Immigration
and also into assumptions about who ranks highly as a worry because humans
needs to engage and help find solutions. identify themselves as belonging to
In 2007 the Mental Health Foundation particular groups who share the same
commissioned a ground breaking study on values and codes of behaviour – this is
the possible impacts of climate change on one of our main ways of feeling secure.
mental health. A survey was also Feeling a threat to one’s group from an
conducted as part of this work to unknown force, such as immigration, can
investigate how highly people rated this as threaten this sense of security and make
a worry in their lives: people feel anxious."'
'In a YouGov survey commissioned by The critical point though is that climate
the Mental Health Foundation, 70% of change is not an isolated 'issue', it is a
people say they are most worried about driver of change at many levels that is
terrorism and 58% by immigration. In likely to impact through terrorism and
contrast, environmental issues are less of a immigration as much as through storms or
concern – only a third are worried about drought. We constantly see people falling
climate change (38%) and a quarter by the back into the language and narratives that
threat of a natural disaster (23%). maintain a dichotomy.
page 5
We have undertaken a simple mapping | Loans withdrawn (or rates raised
exercise to explore the different ways in dramatically)
which climate change and resource | Greater pressure on weak financial
shortage will impact on people's lives in systems and institutions
ways that will be the concern of wider civil
society. Increasing opportunity
| Creation of "Green Jobs" in
Increasing costs aggravating response to government
poverty policies/initiatives, birth of niche
| Greater food costs (arising from markets in energy and adaptation
increased energy costs; crop services – but jobs for who?
disease; crop failures ‐ drought, | Potential for social enterprise
flooding etc; biofuel expansion (and solutions
policy) causing competition for food | Social justice ‐ need for effective
crops and arable land. access to these growth sectors ‐
| Greater costs of any commodity training, development, engagement
needing high input of fossil energy ‐ skills, locational issues
e.g. water
| Greater transport costs (food, Loss of assets or asset value
commodities and people | Damage or loss of housing on
commuting to work) marginal land e.g. flood zones
| Greater insurance costs | Loss of insurance cover
| Costs of housing | Loss of workplace, equipment, loss
| Green taxes ‐ e.g. tax on energy of farmland etc.
inefficient houses could | Loss of market value of vulnerable
disadvantage low quality housing assets (and follow on impacts e.g.
stock negative equity)
| Loss of assets through policy‐driven
obsolescence – e.g. old machines
Indirect effects ‐ Recession and that can't meet strict emissions
unemployment requirements
| Greater market volatility and
Social equity and welfare issues
uncertainty, reduced investor
| Aggravation of the long standing
confidence ‐ leading to job losses,
conflict between the perceived
reduced investment and less
needs of labour and environment
philanthropy
| Redirection or shrinking of social
| Competition for jobs (esp. unskilled
investment from government or
labour) at the local level due to
other sectors e.g. philanthropy
influx of climate refugees (compare
| Compensation and choices of
to current impact of the EU with
investment to protect against
workers from Eastern Europe, influx
climate ‐ who wins who loses
of workers from Africa, etc.), which
can decrease social tolerance
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| Loss of mobility options (rising | Greater impetus for privatisation of
costs, penalisation of car ownership public goods and loss of public
without adequate transport choice) rights – 'disaster capitalism'
| Failure of service delivery to keep up
with mobility changes? Demographic change and the
| Loss of security ‐ insurance, health indirect impacts
insurance | Influx of environmental refugees
| Green taxes hitting people least | Pressure on welfare and homeless
able to invest in life changes services
| Increased pressure on welfare and | International conflict
emergency services | Influence on immigrant populations
| Loss of civil rights? Could we see a of disasters in their countries of
'war on climate change' in the origin
tradition of the 'war on drugs' and | Decreased extra‐national
'war on terror'? involvement and mediation by
strained governments
Changes in the political sphere | Changes in economic balance
| Weakening and paralysis of between nations and between
government in the face of complex industries
challenges
| ‐ inability to balance complex and Health challenges
competing demands | New disease patterns
| ‐ inability to communicate decision‐ | More disability and veterans ‐
making rationale sufficiently to victims of conflict, disaster and
citizens health problems
| ‐ inability to control/appease | Mental health problems driven by
negative responses (by citizens, cumulative effects of pressures such
industries, etc.) to (necessary but as unemployment
unpleasant) policies | Loss of hope for the future,
| Continued or increased dedication depression related to uncertainty
of government funds to large‐sum, | Stress related social disruption ‐ e.g.
single‐initiative fixes rather than child welfare affected by poverty,
(much more administratively unemployment
complex) dispersed, local solutions | Higher health care costs
| Potential reductions in funding for
civil society
Weakening (or continued
| Minor overriding democratic absence) of community cohesion
process – e.g. new initiatives | Growth of survivalist 'off grid'
overriding town planning systems mentality
| Major overriding of democratic | Promotion of 'individual behaviour
process ‐ totalitarianism in change' rather than collaboration
government and collective action
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| Isolation of people living in 20th because the relevance to the core agenda
Century housing patterns built on has not been understood.
assumptions of easy transport The Charity Commission guidance on
| Racism this issue is set out on these web pages:
| Conflicts between environmental
activists and wider society http://www.charity‐
| Promotion of intolerance? commission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/en
- intolerance of immigrants, etc. viroqanda.asp
driven by unstable “Q. Our charity’s objects contain no
societal/economic conditions reference to the environment. Are we
‐ 'green terrorism' e.g. anti‐car allowed to promote the protection of the
driving environment in our work, or would we be in
‐ backlash against climate initiatives breach of trust?
by people who 'lose'
A. The law requires charities to act
Whether these are really significant or within their objects, which means that all
even credible impacts is difficult to say, of their assets have to be used to further
mostly because the people who may know those objects directly or indirectly. The
are only patchily engaged. It is rare to find Commission would encourage charities to
many of these issues on the agenda of any explore the full scope of their objects
climate change conference. Are they without acting outside them. If challenged,
receiving any focus from the people who trustees must be able to demonstrate, with
have experience and insight in these evidence, the link between their activities
different domains? and how their charitable purposes are
The problems of engaging a broader being fulfilled.”
range of people in climate change can So, there is a key link to the level of
operate at many different levels. For many trustee understanding, and if the trustees
organisations there are governance of an organisation sees climate change and
barriers. We have heard many anecdotal resource scarcity as ‘environmental issues’
examples of situations where initiatives then in many cases they cannot act. The
from non‐environmental groups have been problems need reframing in a new
blocked or slowed by high level language.
management or trustee intervention
How do we build a wider understanding of the likely nature of climate
change and resource scarcity impacts, to engage a much greater
diversity of people in promoting and helping to find solutions?
Are there other major impacts that need to be addressed?
page 8
What are the barriers to Civil Society engagement?
If it is crucial that a wider spectrum of civil | Conflicting narratives and beliefs –
society groups engage with these issues, e.g. different faith narratives about
we need to understand the potential the need for engagement with
barriers and start to remove them. We 'environment'; stewardship of the
believe that these could include: Earth
| Continued perception that these
| Perceptions of relative urgency ‐
are environmental issues, not vulnerable people need support
drivers of social change today to face today's problems
| Failure to resolve perceived
| Justice issues ‐ whose behaviour
conflict between environmental needs to change and who decides?
gains and social gains (e.g. jobs Different visions of success
versus labour debates;
| Complexity barriers ‐ too hard and
development versus limits to too bewildering
growth)
| Governance barriers such as
perspectives of trustees
What barriers are important in limiting civil society engagement?
How can they best be tackled?
Whose responsibility is it to act?
The scale of the changes needed calls for action is concentrated in these domains
changes at individual, community, national www.est.org.uk.
and international levels. There will need to Statements from government have
be shifts in almost every domain ‐ housing, often focused on what individuals should
agriculture, transport, commerce. The do. They nearly always focused on a subset
change would need a complex ecology of of domestic actions that are all worthwhile
action from that relies on many different but are often first generation (i.e. when
actors. they are done, what happens next?) and
The models of change that are widely they avoid some of the bigger and more
proposed however tend to cluster in complex structural questions. For example
specific areas ‐ promoting personal action, many of the calls to action argue that
calling for government action and calling people should drive less, but a key reason
for corporate action. The Energy Savings why people drive is that planning systems
Trust provides an example of the how have, for decades, forced a separation
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between work places, living places, retail For a long time the missing element of
places and recreation places. A revolution focus is at a community level with
in planning is needed so that there can be a relatively few attempts to explore what can
revolution in driving behaviour. be done through collaboration at different
One of the reasons it is crucial to have scales. (Transition Towns and Every Action
social change organisations engaged is Counts movements are important
because they often have experience of how exceptions where a welcome focus on
behaviours do, or could change. They community and third sector level
understand the complex interaction of possibilities has started to emerge.)
personal and community motivation and Crucial is the insight that collective
the system we are in, as well as the need to action can mean more than just the scaling
ask core questions such as “whose of individual action. It is possible to achieve
behaviours?”, “who holds the levers?” and certain types of things by working
“is there equity and justice in the ideas collaboratively together in ways that
being proposed?”. individuals, even when massed, could not
Government action through policy, do. Examples would include:
legislation and the choices made for | Community scale solutions e.g.
investment of funds and services also need community energy trusts
a wider social partnership. Proposals need | Co‐operative systems
to be grounded in public (and civil society)
confidence and support and the role of | Mutuals and other mechanisms for
different actors in delivering solutions releasing capital
needs to be understood. Even where the Collective action is also a tool for
action falls to government alone, a community creation and for building new
constituency of support is often required networks, new social capital. This
before there is political confidence to act. transformative effect of collective action
may be what is needed above all else.
How do we promote a stronger vision of collective action
as the best means to address these issues?
Finding better solutions
Climate change and resource scarcity will responses that are needed are also likely to
transform our society unless they are impact on every level of society.
addressed. If we do not engage effectively The current discourse around solutions
then this transformation may not be to climate change, reducing carbon
positive. But it is also the case that the footprints and renewable energy
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technologies, appears to lie outside of both mostly on either personal behaviour
the competencies and mission of many change or government action. If they have
social groups. any vision of collective action, it is usually
Underlying the cries to action is an framed around the idea that that a
almost tacit belief that any and all thousand small actions add up to a
responses to carbon reduction are to the powerful whole. They do, but this is not
common good. Analogies are made with enough.
wartime sacrifices. Calls for tighter and Individuals do not have agency over
stricter legislation abound. But how many enough aspects of society for their
of our social liberties should we sacrifice to cumulative actions to impact on everything
win this war? One of the roles of civil that needs to change. We need collective
society is to watch and engage with major action solutions to bigger questions, like
societal governance shifts to help protect how towns and cities and energy, transport
crucial values and to help find the optimum and food systems are designed and
solutions. financed. We also need collective action to
A lack of engagement presents real build a political constituency for change.
dangers. For example Naomi Klein has "We can't really solve this problem one
argued that in contemporary USA events light bulb at a time." Bill McKibben.
such as Hurricane Katrina have provided Adaptation also needs a complex
opportunities for what she calls 'disaster ecology of solutions. Adaptation is not just
capitalism' – a furthering of the process of about having sandbags and a sunshade to
privatisation of public goods and hand for when the weather is fierce, it is
undermining of public values – in ways that about thinking how to restructure
bypass effective scrutiny and challenge. everything we do and everything we have
Of course engaging civil society doesn't around us in ways that reduce the demand
mean that everyone will agree on priorities on fossil fuels, but also in ways that are fair
or solutions ‐ it's crucial to the mosaic of and just, protect diversity and vulnerable
civil society that some people hold hard to people, and move towards a good society.
the particular issue they champion or lobby Maybe the wartime analogy for climate
they represent. The first and most change is accurate – because it is a
important step is that the breadth of civil battleground of ideas and values. Will we
society recognises that climate change is find that the ways that we have tried to
an issue that is relevant to them, and that a solve the problem have furthered the
greater range of voices must be heard. values and systems that got us into the
Collectively however civil society stands mess, such as hyper individualism and loss
for a certain principles such as the vision of of the commons and shared community
a 'good society' and the need for citizen values. Or will it be the chance to explore
engagement and collective action new models of a good society, based on
emerging from a diversity of voices. new ideas, projects that demonstrate
possibilities that can synergise or scale to
The responses to climate change that address a major challenge. We need
have dominated discourse so far focus
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mitigation in forms that do not entrench do not limit social transformation.
poverty. We need adaptation in ways that
How can we best engage the breadth of civil society to recognise
the nature of the challenges and to help find solutions?
The costs of change
A major focus of debate has been on the The barriers to liberating investment lie
costs to society of addressing climate at a deeper level. They have roots in issues
change. The Stern Report stands as the such as committed budgets and financial
major government statement in this structures, 'sunk' investment and silo
regard, arguing strongly that money spent systems that aren't necessarily best
now avoids major cost later. adapted to the needs of the 21st Century.
But the harder questions lie behind this Even the private sector has its own barriers
debate ‐ where do we find the money, who based on perceptions of risk, expected
pays, who loses? The different elements in return, discount rate etc. that all create
play include: substantive barriers to investment in a
more adaptable society.
| Green taxes (both as disincentives
and as means of generating money) Both the private and public sectors are
| Insurance premiums (which both controlled by set rules and beliefs about
discourage investment in high risk how money should be deployed. It may be
activities and, sometimes, provide a that a key role of Civil Society, and
fund for renewal) especially the social enterprise sector is to
| Market solutions incentivising provide new sources of finance but also
investment in carbon reduction new sets of rules for how that finance is
(including trading and offsetting) deployed – e.g. linking the commercial
| Encouraging discretionary spend rigour of the public sector to public benefit
(premium tariffs, procurement and without shareholder concerns, to allow
policies, household level investment new interpretations of issues such as rate
in micro‐generation etc.) of return or 'efficiency' of invested capital.
What are the most effective ways to liberate new finance
for social change?
Does civil society have options for addressing the finance challenge
that complement and are different from other sectors?
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Opportunities from climate change and resource scarcity –
who will be the winners?
Not all of the climate change debate is solutions, but changes at a UK level will
presented in negative ways. There is a have losers as well. It is crucially important
strong secondary discourse that focuses on to engage with policy and other changes
the 'opportunities' that climate change will happening now, to ensure that good
bring. Mostly this refers to business solutions emerge
innovation, but it is also true that if we “We must not use poverty as an excuse
have a need to re‐tool some aspects of not to act, and must look for action that
society there could be a chance to try and benefits the poor.” Nick Mayby, E3G.
tackle some of the unresolved ills of the
contemporary world. Even when there are ways to build new
economies and incomes, who will be the
But whatever we play for, the future will beneficiaries? If there is an increase in
be tough and there will be many people Green Collar Workers, or a Green New
who suffer greatly. Change has winners Deal, we need to develop approaches that
and losers. Frameworks like contraction will ensure that the benefits do not just
and convergence try to address the global flow to established professional classes and
justice questions and find the best established investors.
Can we identify real 'opportunities' that are meaningful
for wider society?
What contribution can civil society make to ensuring that benefits
are equitable and based on the values of a good society?
Dealing with unpredictability and long horizons
One of the reasons that mobilising There is a need for a more sophisticated
effective solutions is difficult is because approach to planning. Not only do today's
although there is great confidence at the choices create the future, the perceived
global level of the scale and nature of future dictates choices today. We have to
threat, there is still uncertainty about what not just solve problems, we need to solve
will happen locally, and when it will them in ways that pro‐actively help shape
happen. the sort of society we need.
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The time‐frames that climate change value. Is the current focus on 'evidence
will require us to think about go beyond based' policy making helpful in addressing
any meaningful planning horizon for most these problems?
contemporary organisations – including The Transition Towns movement is an
government. But how do we do that? What example of a growing focus on social
barriers exist and what methodologies resilience. They are beginning to explore
could be explored? We need suggestions the core conditions that are needed for a
on where to look, such as leaning from society to be resilient in the face of
some of the leading thinking on potentially radical, and possibly
intergenerational contracts. unpredictable, change. They are also
Even with this work done we have to starting to put a focus on possible
accept that the world of 2050 or 2080 may structural weaknesses in society that need
be so hard to anticipate that to frame to be addressed, such as 'just in time'
'impacts' in today's terms will be of limited resource supply systems.
What do we need to do to tackle the problems of
unpredictability and long time frames?
How will these issues affect the governance and operating
systems of organisations?
What changes do we need to help happen in wider society?
Where do we find hope?
Any period of rapid change is testing for isolationism or fundamentalism. Arguably
society. Not only are there countless many of the great conflicts of the 20th
technical and functional issues and century were the results of not knowing
economic problems, the role of traditions, how to change, how to move forward
heritage and culture and the very without betraying the past.
fundamental questions of personal and Climate change is daunting not only
social identity and purpose are put under because of the scale of the challenge, but
enormous strain. also because it may ask us to give up things
So as well as the functional questions that we currently see as important. We
that radical change will ask of us, we also have to find a way of viewing the future
have a challenge of creating a culture that that makes it feel both possible and worth
faces and maybe even welcomes such fighting for. Without some faith in good
change. The alternative may be that a possibilities, we risk fostering nihilism, or
cultural denial will magnify the challenge at least disengagement, and we risk closing
or add new stresses such as increased
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options in ways that make the worst have closed countless doors, and we have
scenarios self‐fulfilling. disengaged one of the most fundamental
At the heart is the issue of what makes a engines of positive social change – hope.
'good society'. For example is all trade It’s almost impossible to write of hope
'consumption'? without sounding sentimental, but it’s
The climate change challenge has given important to understand that hope is not
enormous impetus to the conceptual an “apple pie” word. Hope is not the same
model of the 'footprint' – the negative as naivety or denial or ignorance. Hope
consequences of human presence on does not mean that positive outcomes are
Earth. But this is at best a zero‐sum game, assumed; in fact hope is only a relevant
and probably unwinnable game. To live is word when things look dark. But hope is
to leave a mark. the fuel, the inspiration, the shield that lets
people face things that otherwise can't be
Can we have within the human gift of faced. In times of difficulty a good society
possibilities the chance to be a positive has to be a hopeful society, or it has
force? If we don't allow ourselves this, we nothing.
How can civil society effectively foster hope and positive
options in the years ahead?
What broad vision should we develop for the role of civil society?
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What next?
The questions above are designed to help territories that can be explored but
begin a debate that will both clarify and probably never fully understood and
energise civil society engagement with the resolved.
issues of climate change and resource We are keen to see this debate go
scarcity. anywhere it will. If you want to put new
Through a series of interviews and ideas in or propose new directions for the
workshops we will be asking for responses, enquiry then we would be pleased to hear
but the questions are just openers. from you.
Sometimes they point towards difficult
Contacts:
Tony Kendle Jane Stoneham
Foundation Director Director
Eden Project Sensory Trust
Bodelva Watering Lane Nursery
Par Pentewan
Cornwall PL24 2SG St Austell PL26 6BE
01726 818818 01726 222900
tkendle@edenproject.com jstoneham@sensorytrust.org.uk
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