Highlights from the Live Chat for Be The Movement

oolonian highlighted that the most recent IPCC report is a reminder that “business as usual is not an option.” The carbon budget for every amount of warming temperature is made very clear in IPCC AR5 WG1 SPM-Fig.10, which shows a strong and essentially linear relationship between cumulative carbon emissions and temperature increase. oolonian finishes with “it seems to me that if our economics is not built on the required carbon budget and if "growth" is not emissions free, then the rosy climate rhetoric will continue to be entirely meaningless and we will carry on drifting toward catastrophe. If we can base our economics on the required carbon budget then the question becomes how can we do it and maintain, or preferably reduce, the inequity within and between societies.”

Robert Laubacher compared the climate movement to the movement to abolish slavery. Economies were dependent on slavery, so abolition didn't happen until economies were less dependent. Laubacher mentioned that we have to motivate an economy less dependent on fossil fuels. But as Andy Hoffman of the University of Michigan argued, that the abolition of slavery was a long haul and took multiple decades, which we cannot afford for climate change.

Autonova! wrote: “Pass laws to tax CO2 emissions and create a global mitigation fund with priority for poorer countries. Prosecute think tank deniers who spread disinformation that it's a political debate, not a scientific one.” To which Kelly Rigg replied: “Nice idea, but it's hard enough getting politicians to agree to tax corporations (given that this is who butters their bread) let alone doing it simultaneously which implies international cooperation. It's exactly what's needed, but until we change the underlying dynamics, I don't think it's likely to happen. And changing the underlying dynamics requires a mass social movement. While Irefuteitthus highlighted that free speech should be considered when dealing with climate denial, and Astrid Westerlind Wigström also added “I would be strongly against public prosecution of think tanks etc. for spreading their opinions. I don't think this will lead to any constructive results.” She also noted that taxes may well be the necessary tool to shift industries and to raise finances for adaptation and address the climate justice issue.

Ferdinand Swart added to the discussion with a quote from Lord Nicholas Stern: “The two defining challenges of our century are climate change and poverty. And if we fail on one, we will fail on the other”. he added "If half of us concentrate on that and enable the global rural poor to adapt and mitigate, mainly by agroforestry, permaculture, solar, and other climate smart solutions, we will be a long way to a solution. GROW 1 Bn extra TREES!!"

Miropolzeri started a discussion thread with “Global citizens need to be placed as central elements of any climate protection multi-stakeholder alliance system.” He proposed this methodology: “Efforts in this area should use simple terminology, public awareness and social momentum of local/global sustainable development efforts and innovative incentive mechanisms (e.g. gamification and social entrepreneurship.” Kelly Rigg agreed and highlighted the need for good communicators: “we do need spokespersons from the scientific community who know how to translate (accurately) into terms that the public can understand.”

Ashok Chandwaney by contrast argued that behaviour change is not enough “If we say that people are responsible for doing the work to address climate change, I feel like that puts the blame on people who aren't affluent to become affluent in order to not continue damaging the environment through their food.” James Greyson added that awareness raising is not enough, as has been seen in the environmental movement over the last 40 years. “Change means changing the paradigm. For example correcting the externalities so renewables are cheaper that fossil fuels.”

JPvanYpersele concluded that discussion thread with: “As the IPCC WG3 report has shown, behavioural changes CAN contribute to reduce emission patterns. But 1) changes at the scale of the economy and society are needed as well, particularly in those regions and population groups with high emission levels, and 2) behavioural changes can be significantly facilitated by the economic and legislative framework in place.”

Kelly Rigg: “If we don't work together, we risk being seen as fragmented. This doesn't mean everyone doing the same thing, or having the same messages. It does mean finding ways to communicate the totality of our efforts.”

James Grayson added that we do need solutions that work broadly, at planet scale. For example, composting as a technical example, 'circular economy' as a policy example. “Do climate movements and climate negotiators all lack the systems thinking needed to define solutions at scale? The opportunity for the climate movement is to reframe 'development' on a new scale of ambition, as 'positive development'. This means expanding ecosystems not just destroying them slower; reversing climate chaos not just mitigating.”

Tony La Vina contributed to the debate: “On the question of whether a cross-sectoral movement would make a difference to how climate change is currently addressed, most definitely it would. Relying on scientists or on governments to do this by themselves have not proven effective. Indigenous peoples, local communities, local governments. Others must participate as well to address a universal challenge. On helping the poor mitigate and adapt to climate change, I think that’s a priority. But the better way of framing this is actually to "working with the poor". Poor farmers, indigenous peoples, women, local communities and other vulnerable populations should be part of the planning process in climate change adaptation and mitigation. If they are passive recipients of aid, it would not work and will be seen as an imposition. Ownership of climate programs by the countries and by the communities is key for success.”

Terry Townshend mentioned that campaigns like 350.org have made a real difference and are being driven by coalitions of grassroots groups. “This type of high-impact, action-oriented campaign is the best hope for the future in terms of counter-balancing the narrow and vested interests of the political elite that currently dominate the political discourse in many major countries.”

Kelly Rigg added “people often unite around a common enemy. In this case, the enemies are the fossil fuel interests that are intent on maintaining the status quo. If we don't address the power that they hold over the politics, all of our efforts to change people's behaviour will come to naught – people need to have reasonable alternatives. How can we get people out of their cars if there is no public transport? What does it good to drive electric cars is the electricity comes from coal-fired power plants? The fact is, fossil fuel intensive industries spend a lot of money to keep politicians doing their bidding. Let's not forget the fact that governments spend about $6 subsidizing fossil fuels for every $1 spent on renewables. Whenever anyone talks about stripping renewable subsidies, it's worth reminding them that fossil fuel subsidies (not to mention nuclear subsidies) cost far more. We don't have a level playing field.”

Astrid Westerlind Wigström emphasised the need for many leaders at different levels as one necessary ingredient for advancing the climate movement: “Leaders need to exist at all levels both vertically and horizontally. Good leadership can initiate action and awareness, however it is only an enabling condition and not a success factor in itself to bring about change.”

The Be The Movement workshop will intigrate the opinions from the discussion into the five workgroups. Each workgroup is looking into a different component under the overall discussion of How do we advance the global climate change movement? How do we empower cooperation and converting new audiences to drive for urgent climate action?

The five workgroups are:

1. Messaging for New Audiences (#ccMessage)
2. Empowering Educators (#ccEducators)
3. Innovating Campaign Strategies (#ccCampaign)
4. Considering Costs (#ccCost)
5. Leading for Solutions (#ccLeading)

Please follow the discussion online at #c4cMovement and add your inputs with the above hashtags. See the programme for the workshop here.

In oder to build the movement we need to collaborate to become one climate voice. We need messaging that reaches new audiences. We need to empower educators to bring the climate change message to our youth. We need to devise innovative and participatory campaign strategies to help engage and change behavior. We need to consider to costs of climate change and put a price on carbon to drive action from an economic perspective. We also need leaders to drive for the implementation of climate change solutions, and this all needs to happen quickly. The question remains how do we achieve all of this?