Climate change, a hair styler and me | Anne Miller

I’m here to share an idea that will help

I’m here to share an idea that will help you change the world whether that’s a

you change the world whether that’s a

you change the world whether that’s a massive global problem like climate

massive global problem like climate

massive global problem like climate change or a massive personal problem

change or a massive personal problem

change or a massive personal problem like getting out of a tough relationship

like getting out of a tough relationship

like getting out of a tough relationship or even giving up smoking this idea will

or even giving up smoking this idea will

or even giving up smoking this idea will help the problem about problems is it as

help the problem about problems is it as

help the problem about problems is it as easy to be frozen about addressing them

easy to be frozen about addressing them

easy to be frozen about addressing them for example if one thinks about the

for example if one thinks about the

for example if one thinks about the horrendous consequences of climate

horrendous consequences of climate

horrendous consequences of climate change with ever more catastrophic

change with ever more catastrophic

change with ever more catastrophic floods droughts famines refugees it’s

floods droughts famines refugees it’s

floods droughts famines refugees it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and give up on

easy to feel overwhelmed and give up on

easy to feel overwhelmed and give up on the other hand when people tell us that

the other hand when people tell us that

the other hand when people tell us that we can save the world by switching off

we can save the world by switching off

we can save the world by switching off our phone charger it sounds just so

our phone charger it sounds just so

our phone charger it sounds just so trivial it’s not believable so some

trivial it’s not believable so some

trivial it’s not believable so some years ago I discovered a technique

years ago I discovered a technique

years ago I discovered a technique developed by an organizational

developed by an organizational

developed by an organizational psychologist Edgar Schein and he’s an

psychologist Edgar Schein and he’s an

psychologist Edgar Schein and he’s an emeritus professor at MIT and this idea

emeritus professor at MIT and this idea

emeritus professor at MIT and this idea is a really powerful way for helping

is a really powerful way for helping

is a really powerful way for helping people and organizations change and I

people and organizations change and I

people and organizations change and I realized that this was just so clickable

realized that this was just so clickable

realized that this was just so clickable for helping people embrace difficult

for helping people embrace difficult

for helping people embrace difficult challenges like climate change why did

challenges like climate change why did

challenges like climate change why did gosh I pointed out was that if we are to

gosh I pointed out was that if we are to

gosh I pointed out was that if we are to change three things need to be in place

change three things need to be in place

change three things need to be in place firstly we need to be absolutely

firstly we need to be absolutely

firstly we need to be absolutely convinced that change is needed

convinced that change is needed

convinced that change is needed otherwise we won’t bother secondly we

otherwise we won’t bother secondly we

otherwise we won’t bother secondly we need to connect really personally to

need to connect really personally to

need to connect really personally to care otherwise we’ll leave it to

care otherwise we’ll leave it to

care otherwise we’ll leave it to somebody else and thirdly we need to

somebody else and thirdly we need to

somebody else and thirdly we need to feel psychologically safe to change

feel psychologically safe to change

feel psychologically safe to change otherwise we’ll just get stressed up

otherwise we’ll just get stressed up

otherwise we’ll just get stressed up about it

about it

about it if these three preconditions are in

if these three preconditions are in

if these three preconditions are in place we will change if they aren’t we

place we will change if they aren’t we

place we will change if they aren’t we won’t so to illustrate it

won’t so to illustrate it

won’t so to illustrate it I’m going to share my personal story

I’m going to share my personal story

I’m going to share my personal story about how I came to embrace the

about how I came to embrace the

about how I came to embrace the challenge of climate change it feels

challenge of climate change it feels

challenge of climate change it feels like I’ve known about climate change

like I’ve known about climate change

like I’ve known about climate change forever when I was an engineering

forever when I was an engineering

forever when I was an engineering student here in Cambridge

student here in Cambridge

student here in Cambridge not at noonim though I my foot my

not at noonim though I my foot my

not at noonim though I my foot my student project was developing solar

student project was developing solar

student project was developing solar panels my first job was inventing these

panels my first job was inventing these

panels my first job was inventing these very innovative newfangled

very innovative newfangled

very innovative newfangled condensing gas boilers that are now

condensing gas boilers that are now

condensing gas boilers that are now absolutely standard a few years later I

absolutely standard a few years later I

absolutely standard a few years later I got my dream job as a professional

got my dream job as a professional

got my dream job as a professional inventor and technical consultant I

inventor and technical consultant I

inventor and technical consultant I remained interested in the environment

remained interested in the environment

remained interested in the environment and I would really have liked to have

and I would really have liked to have

and I would really have liked to have worked on stuff to help with climate

worked on stuff to help with climate

worked on stuff to help with climate change but by this stage it was the

change but by this stage it was the

change but by this stage it was the 1980s and the 1970s energy crisis had

1980s and the 1970s energy crisis had

1980s and the 1970s energy crisis had gone away so there weren’t very many

gone away so there weren’t very many

gone away so there weren’t very many opportunities around so I got on with my

opportunities around so I got on with my

opportunities around so I got on with my job and I had fun inventing things for

job and I had fun inventing things for

job and I had fun inventing things for clients all over the world so I had a

clients all over the world so I had a

clients all over the world so I had a question for you how many of you feel

question for you how many of you feel

question for you how many of you feel that you’re in this similar position to

that you’re in this similar position to

that you’re in this similar position to the one I was in you’re aware about

the one I was in you’re aware about

the one I was in you’re aware about climate change you’re concerned about it

climate change you’re concerned about it

climate change you’re concerned about it but you’re getting on with your life

but you’re getting on with your life

but you’re getting on with your life and if you’re honest about it you feel

and if you’re honest about it you feel

and if you’re honest about it you feel you’re probably not doing as much about

you’re probably not doing as much about

you’re probably not doing as much about it as you really ought so hands up if

it as you really ought so hands up if

it as you really ought so hands up if you think you’re in that position well I

you think you’re in that position well I

you think you’re in that position well I would recognize at least 90% maybe 99%

would recognize at least 90% maybe 99%

would recognize at least 90% maybe 99% or 100% this is really common surveys

or 100% this is really common surveys

or 100% this is really common surveys show that it’s about two-thirds of the

show that it’s about two-thirds of the

show that it’s about two-thirds of the UK population are in this position it’s

UK population are in this position it’s

UK population are in this position it’s as if we’re frozen so for me things

as if we’re frozen so for me things

as if we’re frozen so for me things started to change in the 1990s at the

started to change in the 1990s at the

started to change in the 1990s at the time I was developing bronze cordless

time I was developing bronze cordless

time I was developing bronze cordless gasps hair styler initially my prototype

gasps hair styler initially my prototype

gasps hair styler initially my prototype worked perfectly it heated up rapidly to

worked perfectly it heated up rapidly to

worked perfectly it heated up rapidly to the perfect temperature and it stayed

the perfect temperature and it stayed

the perfect temperature and it stayed there and I could turn it up and I could

there and I could turn it up and I could

there and I could turn it up and I could turn it down and then I made a tiny

turn it down and then I made a tiny

turn it down and then I made a tiny change to one component and suddenly it

change to one component and suddenly it

change to one component and suddenly it had passed some sort of hidden tipping

had passed some sort of hidden tipping

had passed some sort of hidden tipping point and it became unstable

point and it became unstable

point and it became unstable and apparently at random it would heat

and apparently at random it would heat

and apparently at random it would heat up far too much and damage the hair or

up far too much and damage the hair or

up far too much and damage the hair or actually it would be too cold and it

actually it would be too cold and it

actually it would be too cold and it wouldn’t work properly I was getting

wouldn’t work properly I was getting

wouldn’t work properly I was getting very frustrated with this and at this

very frustrated with this and at this

very frustrated with this and at this time I went through a talk at the Scott

time I went through a talk at the Scott

time I went through a talk at the Scott Polar Research Institute here in

Polar Research Institute here in

Polar Research Institute here in Cambridge and I saw a graph that really

Cambridge and I saw a graph that really

Cambridge and I saw a graph that really shook me because of the parallels I saw

shook me because of the parallels I saw

shook me because of the parallels I saw with what was happening to my hair

with what was happening to my hair

with what was happening to my hair styler and this roughly speaking is the

styler and this roughly speaking is the

styler and this roughly speaking is the graph that I saw so what it shows is the

graph that I saw so what it shows is the

graph that I saw so what it shows is the temperature and the it shows the

temperature and the it shows the

temperature and the it shows the analysis of the bubbles of gas trapped

analysis of the bubbles of gas trapped

analysis of the bubbles of gas trapped in ice in ice cores for Antarctica and

in ice in ice cores for Antarctica and

in ice in ice cores for Antarctica and Greenland going back hundreds of

Greenland going back hundreds of

Greenland going back hundreds of thousands of years and on the right-hand

thousands of years and on the right-hand

thousands of years and on the right-hand end you see today and as you come back

end you see today and as you come back

end you see today and as you come back towards the left hand end you see

towards the left hand end you see

towards the left hand end you see hundreds of thousands of years earlier

hundreds of thousands of years earlier

hundreds of thousands of years earlier and the blue line is the carbon dioxide

and the blue line is the carbon dioxide

and the blue line is the carbon dioxide levels in these little bubbles of gas

levels in these little bubbles of gas

levels in these little bubbles of gas that are trapped in the ice and the red

that are trapped in the ice and the red

that are trapped in the ice and the red line is the temperature of the air at

line is the temperature of the air at

line is the temperature of the air at the time the gas bubble was trapped

the time the gas bubble was trapped

the time the gas bubble was trapped which they can work out and you don’t

which they can work out and you don’t

which they can work out and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see

need to be a rocket scientist to see

need to be a rocket scientist to see that the red line and the blue line are

that the red line and the blue line are

that the red line and the blue line are sort of going up and down together

sort of going up and down together

sort of going up and down together through the ice ages and I’m not sure if

through the ice ages and I’m not sure if

through the ice ages and I’m not sure if I’m allowed to step off the stage but

I’m allowed to step off the stage but

I’m allowed to step off the stage but but if you go to the middle here this

but if you go to the middle here this

but if you go to the middle here this point here that’s roughly speaking when

point here that’s roughly speaking when

point here that’s roughly speaking when the and earth all’s invented fire or

the and earth all’s invented fire or

the and earth all’s invented fire or rather started using fire and if you

rather started using fire and if you

rather started using fire and if you look at the far right-hand end you can

look at the far right-hand end you can

look at the far right-hand end you can see that the blue line seems to be going

see that the blue line seems to be going

see that the blue line seems to be going straight up that’s the carbon dioxide

straight up that’s the carbon dioxide

straight up that’s the carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere where it was in

level in the atmosphere where it was in

level in the atmosphere where it was in 1990 and where it is today is higher it

1990 and where it is today is higher it

1990 and where it is today is higher it was at 360 in 1990 it’s now at 407 this

was at 360 in 1990 it’s now at 407 this

was at 360 in 1990 it’s now at 407 this scared me honestly it scared me and

scared me honestly it scared me and

scared me honestly it scared me and because as an engineer I saw the

because as an engineer I saw the

because as an engineer I saw the parallels with my hair styler and what

parallels with my hair styler and what

parallels with my hair styler and what it made me realize is that climate

it made me realize is that climate

it made me realize is that climate change isn’t just going to be about a

change isn’t just going to be about a

change isn’t just going to be about a bit of gentle warming it could be quite

bit of gentle warming it could be quite

bit of gentle warming it could be quite nice

nice

nice but we’re heading into tipping-point

but we’re heading into tipping-point

but we’re heading into tipping-point territory at at best what we could see

territory at at best what we could see

territory at at best what we could see is just quite a lot of weird weather at

is just quite a lot of weird weather at

is just quite a lot of weird weather at worst if you don’t stop what we’re doing

worst if you don’t stop what we’re doing

worst if you don’t stop what we’re doing we could have a complete climate chaos

we could have a complete climate chaos

we could have a complete climate chaos as an engineer I had now reached the

as an engineer I had now reached the

as an engineer I had now reached the point of shines first preconditioned I

point of shines first preconditioned I

point of shines first preconditioned I was 100% personally convinced that we

was 100% personally convinced that we

was 100% personally convinced that we needed to stop what we were doing we

needed to stop what we were doing we

needed to stop what we were doing we needed to put less carbon dioxide into

needed to put less carbon dioxide into

needed to put less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but still I carried on

the atmosphere but still I carried on

the atmosphere but still I carried on with my life enjoying my bike my career

with my life enjoying my bike my career

with my life enjoying my bike my career flying all over the world the evidence

flying all over the world the evidence

flying all over the world the evidence on its own was not enough to make me

on its own was not enough to make me

on its own was not enough to make me change over the next few years it

change over the next few years it

change over the next few years it started to get me in part this was the

started to get me in part this was the

started to get me in part this was the personal realization that my flying was

personal realization that my flying was

personal realization that my flying was my biggest personal contribution to the

my biggest personal contribution to the

my biggest personal contribution to the problem but it was also a growing sense

problem but it was also a growing sense

problem but it was also a growing sense of anxiety as I began to realize that it

of anxiety as I began to realize that it

of anxiety as I began to realize that it would be shocked might with my my

would be shocked might with my my

would be shocked might with my my self-image as an intelligent rational

self-image as an intelligent rational

self-image as an intelligent rational moral being if many years from now

moral being if many years from now

moral being if many years from now people said to me but you knew why

people said to me but you knew why

people said to me but you knew why didn’t you do something about it

didn’t you do something about it

didn’t you do something about it sorry disappoint you I connected I cared

sorry disappoint you I connected I cared

sorry disappoint you I connected I cared it was personal but I didn’t make any

it was personal but I didn’t make any

it was personal but I didn’t make any real changes I just remember to being a

real changes I just remember to being a

real changes I just remember to being a really unhappy time in my life however

really unhappy time in my life however

really unhappy time in my life however the years around the turn of the

the years around the turn of the

the years around the turn of the millennium were momentous for me most

millennium were momentous for me most

millennium were momentous for me most noticeably I met my future husband Tom

noticeably I met my future husband Tom

noticeably I met my future husband Tom he shared my concern about climate

he shared my concern about climate

he shared my concern about climate change I felt supported we could take

change I felt supported we could take

change I felt supported we could take risks together and this was the third of

risks together and this was the third of

risks together and this was the third of shines preconditions for change

shines preconditions for change

shines preconditions for change I felt I felt supported I felt safe to

I felt I felt supported I felt safe to

I felt I felt supported I felt safe to change

change

change within a few years we’ve got married

within a few years we’ve got married

within a few years we’ve got married we’ve got a house together and over the

we’ve got a house together and over the

we’ve got a house together and over the next 15 years we reduced our carbon

next 15 years we reduced our carbon

next 15 years we reduced our carbon footprint by 80% in retrospect it seemed

footprint by 80% in retrospect it seemed

footprint by 80% in retrospect it seemed so obvious we insulated the house here’s

so obvious we insulated the house here’s

so obvious we insulated the house here’s me flared up insulating the loft we

me flared up insulating the loft we

me flared up insulating the loft we stopped wasting energy we thought

stopped wasting energy we thought

stopped wasting energy we thought carefully about where we go on holiday

carefully about where we go on holiday

carefully about where we go on holiday we stopped commuting I now have a rather

we stopped commuting I now have a rather

we stopped commuting I now have a rather nice office above the kitchen and we are

nice office above the kitchen and we are

nice office above the kitchen and we are pathologically fixated on switching off

pathologically fixated on switching off

pathologically fixated on switching off lights in rooms that we are not in at

lights in rooms that we are not in at

lights in rooms that we are not in at the same time I moved on from my

the same time I moved on from my

the same time I moved on from my technical consultants career of the last

technical consultants career of the last

technical consultants career of the last 25 years and I set up my own business

25 years and I set up my own business

25 years and I set up my own business concerned with organizational change and

concerned with organizational change and

concerned with organizational change and creativity now that I was the boss I

creativity now that I was the boss I

creativity now that I was the boss I decided that I was going to stop flying

decided that I was going to stop flying

decided that I was going to stop flying and I was going to focus on working for

and I was going to focus on working for

and I was going to focus on working for clients within two hours of home oh and

clients within two hours of home oh and

clients within two hours of home oh and I chose a green logo as a statement of

I chose a green logo as a statement of

I chose a green logo as a statement of intent and during his time I got

intent and during his time I got

intent and during his time I got involved as part of the core group that

involved as part of the core group that

involved as part of the core group that was setting up the big Climate Coalition

was setting up the big Climate Coalition

was setting up the big Climate Coalition of all the NGOs UK NGOs that care about

of all the NGOs UK NGOs that care about

of all the NGOs UK NGOs that care about climate change our mission was to

climate change our mission was to

climate change our mission was to demonstrate a public mandate for

demonstrate a public mandate for

demonstrate a public mandate for political action on climate change and

political action on climate change and

political action on climate change and collectively the Climate Coalition has

collectively the Climate Coalition has

collectively the Climate Coalition has currently I think 16 million members we

currently I think 16 million members we

currently I think 16 million members we organize lots of big demos and as many

organize lots of big demos and as many

organize lots of big demos and as many of you here may have been on some of

of you here may have been on some of

of you here may have been on some of them and in 2008 that brought in the

them and in 2008 that brought in the

them and in 2008 that brought in the UK’s groundbreaking climate act which in

UK’s groundbreaking climate act which in

UK’s groundbreaking climate act which in a world-first

a world-first

a world-first was the UK government setting legally

was the UK government setting legally

was the UK government setting legally binding targets for future governments

binding targets for future governments

binding targets for future governments to reduce carbon emissions by 80% and

to reduce carbon emissions by 80% and

to reduce carbon emissions by 80% and most importantly not just a target

most importantly not just a target

most importantly not just a target it was also setting up the mechanisms to

it was also setting up the mechanisms to

it was also setting up the mechanisms to actually help make that happen and this

actually help make that happen and this

actually help make that happen and this climate act has since been replicated in

climate act has since been replicated in

climate act has since been replicated in other countries around the world

other countries around the world

other countries around the world including I heard the other day Papua

including I heard the other day Papua

including I heard the other day Papua New Guinea

New Guinea

New Guinea so me embracing the challenge of climate

so me embracing the challenge of climate

so me embracing the challenge of climate change hasn’t solved it of course I

change hasn’t solved it of course I

change hasn’t solved it of course I still remain very anxious about its

still remain very anxious about its

still remain very anxious about its impact on younger generations but it has

impact on younger generations but it has

impact on younger generations but it has made a huge difference to how I feel

made a huge difference to how I feel

made a huge difference to how I feel about it now if in future somebody asks

about it now if in future somebody asks

about it now if in future somebody asks what I did about climate change I will

what I did about climate change I will

what I did about climate change I will be able to hold my head up and say I

be able to hold my head up and say I

be able to hold my head up and say I really tried my call to you is many of

really tried my call to you is many of

really tried my call to you is many of you put your hands up earlier virtually

you put your hands up earlier virtually

you put your hands up earlier virtually all of you put your hands up earlier

all of you put your hands up earlier

all of you put your hands up earlier saying you thought you ought to be doing

saying you thought you ought to be doing

saying you thought you ought to be doing more about climate change maybe you have

more about climate change maybe you have

more about climate change maybe you have other important challenges in your life

other important challenges in your life

other important challenges in your life where you have that horrible nagging

where you have that horrible nagging

where you have that horrible nagging feeling that you’re ignoring something

feeling that you’re ignoring something

feeling that you’re ignoring something important to you my call to you is don’t

important to you my call to you is don’t

important to you my call to you is don’t ignore that feeling but think which if

ignore that feeling but think which if

ignore that feeling but think which if shines three ingredients do you need

shines three ingredients do you need

shines three ingredients do you need more off is the problem in your head is

Climate change, a hair styler and me | Anne Miller | TEDxNewnham

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply