do you ever have a feeling that light is speeding up I’m not just talking about
speeding up I’m not just talking about
speeding up I’m not just talking about haven’t worked the scientists who study
haven’t worked the scientists who study
haven’t worked the scientists who study big global processes talk about
big global processes talk about
big global processes talk about something called the great acceleration
something called the great acceleration
something called the great acceleration since the middle of the last century
since the middle of the last century
since the middle of the last century we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the
we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the
we’ve seen a five-fold increase in the urban population a tenfold increase in
urban population a tenfold increase in
urban population a tenfold increase in economic output at the same time we see
economic output at the same time we see
economic output at the same time we see massive decreases in poverty but that
massive decreases in poverty but that
massive decreases in poverty but that comes as well with substantial growing
comes as well with substantial growing
comes as well with substantial growing inequality it comes with significant
inequality it comes with significant
inequality it comes with significant risks the great acceleration also
risks the great acceleration also
risks the great acceleration also describes a range of very terrifying
describes a range of very terrifying
describes a range of very terrifying trends they have to do with the
trends they have to do with the
trends they have to do with the expansion of deforestation for example
expansion of deforestation for example
expansion of deforestation for example of soil degradation loss of biodiversity
of soil degradation loss of biodiversity
of soil degradation loss of biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions so for many
and greenhouse gas emissions so for many
and greenhouse gas emissions so for many people in the world today who are living
people in the world today who are living
people in the world today who are living in environments that depend directly on
in environments that depend directly on
in environments that depend directly on the natural resource base their
the natural resource base their
the natural resource base their livelihoods and for food this is not
livelihoods and for food this is not
livelihoods and for food this is not some hypothetical future the risks that
some hypothetical future the risks that
some hypothetical future the risks that we’re talking about are risks that
we’re talking about are risks that
we’re talking about are risks that people do every day and it may seem that
people do every day and it may seem that
people do every day and it may seem that if you have the financial ability to
if you have the financial ability to
if you have the financial ability to travel to choose where you want to live
travel to choose where you want to live
travel to choose where you want to live to import your food that you can
to import your food that you can
to import your food that you can distance yourself from these sorts of
distance yourself from these sorts of
distance yourself from these sorts of risks that you can distance yourself
risks that you can distance yourself
risks that you can distance yourself from those who are living on the edge
from those who are living on the edge
from those who are living on the edge but Nature has a way of catching up we
but Nature has a way of catching up we
but Nature has a way of catching up we saw that very dramatically quite
saw that very dramatically quite
saw that very dramatically quite recently in terms of the massive storms
recently in terms of the massive storms
recently in terms of the massive storms that came through the group the
that came through the group the
that came through the group the Caribbean that hit Texas in Florida in
Caribbean that hit Texas in Florida in
Caribbean that hit Texas in Florida in the wealthiest country on this planet
the wealthiest country on this planet
the wealthiest country on this planet today we have environmental refugees so
today we have environmental refugees so
today we have environmental refugees so these are problems that affect all of us
these are problems that affect all of us
these are problems that affect all of us wherever we live whatever source of
wherever we live whatever source of
wherever we live whatever source of resources we have and the question is
resources we have and the question is
resources we have and the question is where do we go from here
are we headed towards a future that
are we headed towards a future that looks something like the movie Mad Max
looks something like the movie Mad Max
looks something like the movie Mad Max is it the future in which we’ll see more
is it the future in which we’ll see more
is it the future in which we’ll see more and more brutal struggles for survival
or will we find a way to adapt
or will we find a way to adapt collectively will we find a way to shift
collectively will we find a way to shift
collectively will we find a way to shift our economies our social systems so that
our economies our social systems so that
our economies our social systems so that we take better care of our environment
we take better care of our environment
we take better care of our environment and create a better future for all I’d
and create a better future for all I’d
and create a better future for all I’d like to think of it as a fork in the
like to think of it as a fork in the
like to think of it as a fork in the road are we headed towards conflict or
road are we headed towards conflict or
road are we headed towards conflict or cooperation this is the kind of thing
cooperation this is the kind of thing
cooperation this is the kind of thing that societies confront repeatedly
and if we think about it what created
and if we think about it what created the crises that we’re living through now
the crises that we’re living through now
the crises that we’re living through now is the whole accumulation of human
is the whole accumulation of human
is the whole accumulation of human choices so this fork in the road is
choices so this fork in the road is
choices so this fork in the road is people and the choices that we have made
people and the choices that we have made
people and the choices that we have made got us into these problems then it’s
got us into these problems then it’s
got us into these problems then it’s people and the choices we will make that
people and the choices we will make that
people and the choices we will make that can decide whether we’ll get out so it
can decide whether we’ll get out so it
can decide whether we’ll get out so it has a social scientist I asked what is
has a social scientist I asked what is
has a social scientist I asked what is it that changes people’s behavior and I
it that changes people’s behavior and I
it that changes people’s behavior and I like to boil it down to keep it simple
like to boil it down to keep it simple
like to boil it down to keep it simple to say there are three big things the
to say there are three big things the
to say there are three big things the first is coercion okay that’s about laws
first is coercion okay that’s about laws
first is coercion okay that’s about laws rules limits and what happens what are
rules limits and what happens what are
rules limits and what happens what are the consequences when you don’t follow
the consequences when you don’t follow
the consequences when you don’t follow those rules say take for example a
those rules say take for example a
those rules say take for example a company where we say you’re not allowed
company where we say you’re not allowed
company where we say you’re not allowed to emit certain chemicals into the
to emit certain chemicals into the
to emit certain chemicals into the environment into the air if you break
environment into the air if you break
environment into the air if you break those rules that can be fines you can be
those rules that can be fines you can be
those rules that can be fines you can be shut down is the head of a company you
shut down is the head of a company you
shut down is the head of a company you do it knowingly and you put in jail but
do it knowingly and you put in jail but
do it knowingly and you put in jail but some forms of coercion are pretty small
some forms of coercion are pretty small
some forms of coercion are pretty small little mentions things like you go to
little mentions things like you go to
little mentions things like you go to the store and you take your reusable
the store and you take your reusable
the store and you take your reusable bags get a little discount or do you buy
bags get a little discount or do you buy
bags get a little discount or do you buy an electric car and you get a tax break
the biggest environmental policy success
the biggest environmental policy success on global level that we’ve seen in the
on global level that we’ve seen in the
on global level that we’ve seen in the last couple decades is about the
last couple decades is about the
last couple decades is about the reduction in ozone depleting emissions
it is the main tool public policy to say
it is the main tool public policy to say we set rules we set limits for the
we set rules we set limits for the
we set rules we set limits for the common good the second the factor in
common good the second the factor in
common good the second the factor in influencing people’s behaviour to change
influencing people’s behaviour to change
influencing people’s behaviour to change is conviction this one is about beliefs
is conviction this one is about beliefs
is conviction this one is about beliefs how many vegetarians do we have in the
how many vegetarians do we have in the
how many vegetarians do we have in the audience today several for some people
audience today several for some people
audience today several for some people the choice to be a vegetarian or to eat
the choice to be a vegetarian or to eat
the choice to be a vegetarian or to eat less meat is an acknowledgement of the
less meat is an acknowledgement of the
less meat is an acknowledgement of the environmental footprint that we make as
environmental footprint that we make as
environmental footprint that we make as individuals and in fact the food that
individuals and in fact the food that
individuals and in fact the food that you eat your choice is about what to me
you eat your choice is about what to me
you eat your choice is about what to me or one of the most important ways in
or one of the most important ways in
or one of the most important ways in which even training work increase your
which even training work increase your
which even training work increase your own environmental footprint other people
own environmental footprint other people
own environmental footprint other people might make a similar choice but for
might make a similar choice but for
might make a similar choice but for reasons of faith or for health whatever
reasons of faith or for health whatever
reasons of faith or for health whatever it is though that’s a matter of
it is though that’s a matter of
it is though that’s a matter of individual learning you for conviction
individual learning you for conviction
individual learning you for conviction why do you think is that in Paris
why do you think is that in Paris
why do you think is that in Paris 195 governments were able to come
195 governments were able to come
195 governments were able to come together and reached an agreement to
together and reached an agreement to
together and reached an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
was it because it was new scientific
was it because it was new scientific evidence a little bit but there had been
evidence a little bit but there had been
evidence a little bit but there had been strong evidence already for many years
strong evidence already for many years
strong evidence already for many years the biggest change was that around the
the biggest change was that around the
the biggest change was that around the globe people became more strongly aware
globe people became more strongly aware
globe people became more strongly aware of the risks of climate change and
of the risks of climate change and
of the risks of climate change and propelled their governments to do
propelled their governments to do
propelled their governments to do something about it to reach an agreement
something about it to reach an agreement
something about it to reach an agreement together so these two elements coercion
together so these two elements coercion
together so these two elements coercion and conviction can actually work
and conviction can actually work
and conviction can actually work together if people feel strongly enough
together if people feel strongly enough
together if people feel strongly enough they can make or influence others to
they can make or influence others to
they can make or influence others to change even as base to companies and
change even as base to companies and
change even as base to companies and governments and decision between
governments and decision between
governments and decision between governments so some people they say well
governments so some people they say well
governments so some people they say well that’s about it that’s the end of the
that’s about it that’s the end of the
that’s about it that’s the end of the story for me that’s another important
story for me that’s another important
story for me that’s another important way to shift behavior that doesn’t
way to shift behavior that doesn’t
way to shift behavior that doesn’t require everyone to agree and that can
require everyone to agree and that can
require everyone to agree and that can still lead to big changes and that’s
still lead to big changes and that’s
still lead to big changes and that’s collaboration and so what that means you
collaboration and so what that means you
collaboration and so what that means you might think well it’s just when people
might think well it’s just when people
might think well it’s just when people already agree and they decide to work
already agree and they decide to work
already agree and they decide to work together but I’m talking about something
together but I’m talking about something
together but I’m talking about something rather specific here in this context of
rather specific here in this context of
rather specific here in this context of environmental change in risk the kind of
environmental change in risk the kind of
environmental change in risk the kind of collaboration that we need is the kind
collaboration that we need is the kind
collaboration that we need is the kind that recognizes people’s differences and
that recognizes people’s differences and
that recognizes people’s differences and nevertheless enables us to be able to
nevertheless enables us to be able to
nevertheless enables us to be able to work together to solve big problems even
work together to solve big problems even
work together to solve big problems even when we can’t necessarily agree
let me give a couple of examples about
let me give a couple of examples about eight years ago I started working with a
eight years ago I started working with a
eight years ago I started working with a group in Cambodia for the Coalition for
group in Cambodia for the Coalition for
group in Cambodia for the Coalition for Cambodian fisheries it’s a civil society
Cambodian fisheries it’s a civil society
Cambodian fisheries it’s a civil society network and this is a place where people
network and this is a place where people
network and this is a place where people depend upon fishery resources as a key
depend upon fishery resources as a key
depend upon fishery resources as a key part of life but for many people often
part of life but for many people often
part of life but for many people often the forest it’s the most important way
the forest it’s the most important way
the forest it’s the most important way to make a living and to get food for
to make a living and to get food for
to make a living and to get food for their family so when people had been
their family so when people had been
their family so when people had been working for years in these communities
working for years in these communities
working for years in these communities to petition the government to say can we
to petition the government to say can we
to petition the government to say can we have more fishing grounds can we have
have more fishing grounds can we have
have more fishing grounds can we have access to these other areas that are
access to these other areas that are
access to these other areas that are given instead for commercial use they
given instead for commercial use they
given instead for commercial use they had reached success what we did was we
had reached success what we did was we
had reached success what we did was we worked through a dialogue process that
worked through a dialogue process that
worked through a dialogue process that said ok let’s bring together first at
said ok let’s bring together first at
said ok let’s bring together first at the local level all the key groups
the local level all the key groups
the local level all the key groups involved fishers of course but also the
involved fishers of course but also the
involved fishers of course but also the police the local government the
police the local government the
police the local government the environment officers the military police
environment officers the military police
environment officers the military police and let’s try to understand together
and let’s try to understand together
and let’s try to understand together what are the roots of the problem and
what are the roots of the problem and
what are the roots of the problem and how can we address those what are the
how can we address those what are the
how can we address those what are the possible actions that can help to
possible actions that can help to
possible actions that can help to improve the situation and one of the
improve the situation and one of the
improve the situation and one of the things that came to come to this
things that came to come to this
things that came to come to this dialogue process was that local groups
dialogue process was that local groups
dialogue process was that local groups found new roots to influence
found new roots to influence
found new roots to influence policymakers at the national level and
policymakers at the national level and
policymakers at the national level and in the permit
in the permit
in the permit and as a result they were able to secure
and as a result they were able to secure
and as a result they were able to secure the first release in a decade of one of
the first release in a decade of one of
the first release in a decade of one of these commercial fishery areas to
these commercial fishery areas to
these commercial fishery areas to community math and in Kaaawa
community math and in Kaaawa
community math and in Kaaawa so that in the following year based on
so that in the following year based on
so that in the following year based on the success the whole collection
the success the whole collection
the success the whole collection organizations and civil society groups
organizations and civil society groups
organizations and civil society groups around this huge dome they stopped the
around this huge dome they stopped the
around this huge dome they stopped the great lake cambodia became so he’s been
great lake cambodia became so he’s been
great lake cambodia became so he’s been pressing for this kind of change and
pressing for this kind of change and
pressing for this kind of change and indeed not long after the government
indeed not long after the government
indeed not long after the government made a huge shift the largest shift in
made a huge shift the largest shift in
made a huge shift the largest shift in freshwater fish early access and all of
freshwater fish early access and all of
freshwater fish early access and all of Asia from commercial to community
Asia from commercial to community
Asia from commercial to community management and that has meant a big for
management and that has meant a big for
management and that has meant a big for hundreds of thousand people
hundreds of thousand people
hundreds of thousand people resource the community that was at the
resource the community that was at the
resource the community that was at the center of this has also become a pioneer
center of this has also become a pioneer
center of this has also become a pioneer in helping to protect the resource
in helping to protect the resource
in helping to protect the resource working jointly with local employers
working jointly with local employers
working jointly with local employers another example is from the western part
another example is from the western part
another example is from the western part of India Gujarat state and this is an
of India Gujarat state and this is an
of India Gujarat state and this is an area that hits suffered from a great
area that hits suffered from a great
area that hits suffered from a great deal of deforestation and decreases in
deal of deforestation and decreases in
deal of deforestation and decreases in soil fertility it’s an area where you’ve
soil fertility it’s an area where you’ve
soil fertility it’s an area where you’ve got people who are living on the edge
got people who are living on the edge
got people who are living on the edge because it’s becoming more and more
because it’s becoming more and more
because it’s becoming more and more difficult to make a good living from
difficult to make a good living from
difficult to make a good living from farming there’s a wonderful group called
farming there’s a wonderful group called
farming there’s a wonderful group called a foundation for ecological security
a foundation for ecological security
a foundation for ecological security that works in Wichita and what they’ve
that works in Wichita and what they’ve
that works in Wichita and what they’ve done is they’ve worked again with local
done is they’ve worked again with local
done is they’ve worked again with local communities with all of the key actors
communities with all of the key actors
communities with all of the key actors involved and found ways to rehabilitate
involved and found ways to rehabilitate
involved and found ways to rehabilitate these degraded lands so what you see
these degraded lands so what you see
these degraded lands so what you see here is a picture before and after this
here is a picture before and after this
here is a picture before and after this key effort community-based effort to say
key effort community-based effort to say
key effort community-based effort to say we’ll take responsibility for these
we’ll take responsibility for these
we’ll take responsibility for these resources if we can have some certainty
resources if we can have some certainty
resources if we can have some certainty that we’ll be able to reap the benefits
this fruit has now extended the approach
this fruit has now extended the approach working in 7,000 villages in India in
working in 7,000 villages in India in
working in 7,000 villages in India in eight states to promote common property
eight states to promote common property
eight states to promote common property management plan land water forests as a
management plan land water forests as a
management plan land water forests as a way of recovering not only the
way of recovering not only the
way of recovering not only the environment but also local animals is
environment but also local animals is
environment but also local animals is selling to reduce poverty and reduce the
selling to reduce poverty and reduce the
selling to reduce poverty and reduce the vulnerability the families face when
vulnerability the families face when
vulnerability the families face when confronting environmental change
so these couple examples point to the
so these couple examples point to the fact that the collaborative process can
fact that the collaborative process can
fact that the collaborative process can yield results but it doesn’t happen by
yield results but it doesn’t happen by
yield results but it doesn’t happen by accident the approach that I’ve been
accident the approach that I’ve been
accident the approach that I’ve been working with is something I call
working with is something I call
working with is something I call collaborating for resilience and this
collaborating for resilience and this
collaborating for resilience and this means working through a stepwise process
means working through a stepwise process
means working through a stepwise process with all of the key actors involved
with all of the key actors involved
with all of the key actors involved around a compelling central purpose to
around a compelling central purpose to
around a compelling central purpose to try to see what can we understand
try to see what can we understand
try to see what can we understand together about the roots of conflict or
together about the roots of conflict or
together about the roots of conflict or conflict risk in the future what can we
conflict risk in the future what can we
conflict risk in the future what can we do to explore the different routes the
do to explore the different routes the
do to explore the different routes the different actions to address those and
different actions to address those and
different actions to address those and the consequences
the consequences
the consequences and finally what kind of choices can we
and finally what kind of choices can we
and finally what kind of choices can we make out of his individuals or its
make out of his individuals or its
make out of his individuals or its groups aligned together to be able to
groups aligned together to be able to
groups aligned together to be able to really affect significant change so the
really affect significant change so the
really affect significant change so the beauty of this and the power of it is
beauty of this and the power of it is
beauty of this and the power of it is that it’s quite distinct from a
that it’s quite distinct from a
that it’s quite distinct from a requirement that we reach full consensus
requirement that we reach full consensus
requirement that we reach full consensus that everybody is heading in the same
that everybody is heading in the same
that everybody is heading in the same direction oftentimes that’s just too
direction oftentimes that’s just too
direction oftentimes that’s just too difficult instead if we look to
difficult instead if we look to
difficult instead if we look to understand jointly the roots of conflict
understand jointly the roots of conflict
understand jointly the roots of conflict over environmental resources then we can
over environmental resources then we can
over environmental resources then we can better find pathways out together it’s
better find pathways out together it’s
better find pathways out together it’s with an acknowledgement and
with an acknowledgement and
with an acknowledgement and understanding of that collective problem
understanding of that collective problem
understanding of that collective problem then we can reach collective action not
then we can reach collective action not
then we can reach collective action not all in the same direction but working
all in the same direction but working
all in the same direction but working together in groups with a common
together in groups with a common
together in groups with a common understanding over all what the problems
understanding over all what the problems
understanding over all what the problems are going to face and that can be enough
are going to face and that can be enough
are going to face and that can be enough that can be enough to influence big
that can be enough to influence big
that can be enough to influence big changes
so this great acceleration that we’re
so this great acceleration that we’re living in the middle of nobody can say
living in the middle of nobody can say
living in the middle of nobody can say they’re sure where it’s headed that some
they’re sure where it’s headed that some
they’re sure where it’s headed that some like even lost the head of Tesla and
like even lost the head of Tesla and
like even lost the head of Tesla and SpaceX have said the risks are so great
SpaceX have said the risks are so great
SpaceX have said the risks are so great that we’re undermining our ability to
that we’re undermining our ability to
that we’re undermining our ability to sustain life on Earth that we really
sustain life on Earth that we really
sustain life on Earth that we really ought to have a plan B we ought to look
ought to have a plan B we ought to look
ought to have a plan B we ought to look at colonizing space that’s a pretty grim
at colonizing space that’s a pretty grim
at colonizing space that’s a pretty grim future that means the only who comes to
future that means the only who comes to
future that means the only who comes to survive are the Earth’s environmental
survive are the Earth’s environmental
survive are the Earth’s environmental refugees
personally I rather than Atlantic to
personally I rather than Atlantic to working on solutions that provide a
working on solutions that provide a
working on solutions that provide a decent future for all on this little
decent future for all on this little
decent future for all on this little planet that we share together
and what that acquires is not just
and what that acquires is not just scientific innovation so that’s really
scientific innovation so that’s really
scientific innovation so that’s really important it also requires innovation in
important it also requires innovation in
important it also requires innovation in our social and economic systems it
our social and economic systems it
our social and economic systems it requires institutional innovation and
requires institutional innovation and
requires institutional innovation and this at its core means that we have to
this at its core means that we have to
this at its core means that we have to get better as individuals as communities
get better as individuals as communities
get better as individuals as communities societies as countries as a globe at the
societies as countries as a globe at the
societies as countries as a globe at the art and the science of leverage
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