Dec 1, 2023·edited Dec 1, 2023Liked by Prof. Kimberly Nicholas
Richard Heinberg, an author about ecology and energy use here in California, once spoke at a lecture I attended. He was talking about our addiction to fossil fuels and how dependent we have become on them over the past 150+ years. After he'd gone through his slides, a woman from the back of the room raised her hand and said, "This is SO depressing! How can you get up in the morning and keep going?" Heinberg looked at her with a warm smile and said, "It's easy: Optimism is the only viable strategy." He'd just said, so succinctly, what I've been trying to tell folks: Working with the belief that you ARE making a difference is the only way forward. Living with despair and doing nothing is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I've been struggling a lot with giving up on climate thoughts lately. The news are not making it easy. Yet, I also find that even the smallest efforts I do for the environment, make me feel better. While they do not have a huge impact, they do help with motivation. And that's important for keep going :)
Kim, we "met" on twitter but I'm trying to leave there (moving to bluesky although I appreciate your advice to have less screen time in general). I am wondering about the best way to get in touch with you about the possibility of coming to Maine while you're in the region?
Hi You are of course quite right, and you now I am inclined to doom doom about CC, Biodiversity loss etc etc.... But in the end do we put a paper bag over our heads and say go away nasty thing, or at what ever level try to make changes. And of course we never know what is out there, lots of surprises will likely abound as they have always done to date. So for once follow Winston Churchill's advice and Keep b.......g on! Well done and Thanks Martin
Such a great post, Kim! I appreciate the concrete advice for how those engaged in a life of trying to make a difference can rest. It’s a great time of year to be emphasizing this topic--my newsletter is also about rest this week! Rest for the sake of rest--rather than future productivity--takes a major, and challenging, paradigm shift for the overachievers among us 😄. Thank you!
Your argument that warming will stop when we eliminate emissions is quite misleading. What would be a more accurate and important statement to make is that the increase in global heating may stop some years after zero emissions is achieved.
But temperatures sharply elevated over what they are now will continue at these high levels for decades if not centuries along with not just continuing sea level rise but also continuing ecosystem collapse and tipping point activation. Which is a recipe for planetary dystopia.
The only way to avoid this dystopia is the massive Removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and the cooling of the climate through sunlight reflection or other means.
So I would urge you to paint a realistic picture of what is in store for the 8 billion of us and not sugarcoat it by implying that reaching net zero will lead to a livable climate as it won’t
If we are able to drastically reduce carbon emissions rapidly, the chart shows heat uptake in oceans also gradually declines, so WHY does sea level rise continue to go UP, and quite a lot on the chart? With such an increase in sea level rise wouldn't society, as we know it, collapse?
Informative graphs on temperature and sea level after zero emissions - both the average and the uncertainty of the estimates.
Here is my messaging that keeps me positive that I'm achieving progress - and I simply don't fret over the level of progress - all progress, however small, is good. Of course, I hope for world changing progress as others join me in the messaging, and it "spreads like a virus". So, Kim and all you readers, I do hope you join me in the messaging!!
Consumers (individuals, organizations, businesses, governments) must promptly minimize their greenhouse gas emissions to bridge the gap while we work on long-term green technology and infrastructure. Less heating and less cooling (none between 13C-30C/55F-85F, https://greenbetween.home.blog). Less driving. Less flying. Less meat-eating. Less population growth (2 children max). Do it yourself. Tenaciously encourage others to do it.
Richard Heinberg, an author about ecology and energy use here in California, once spoke at a lecture I attended. He was talking about our addiction to fossil fuels and how dependent we have become on them over the past 150+ years. After he'd gone through his slides, a woman from the back of the room raised her hand and said, "This is SO depressing! How can you get up in the morning and keep going?" Heinberg looked at her with a warm smile and said, "It's easy: Optimism is the only viable strategy." He'd just said, so succinctly, what I've been trying to tell folks: Working with the belief that you ARE making a difference is the only way forward. Living with despair and doing nothing is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
More naps as part of a climate solution? Sign me up!
Thank you for sharing, Kim!
I've been struggling a lot with giving up on climate thoughts lately. The news are not making it easy. Yet, I also find that even the smallest efforts I do for the environment, make me feel better. While they do not have a huge impact, they do help with motivation. And that's important for keep going :)
Kim, we "met" on twitter but I'm trying to leave there (moving to bluesky although I appreciate your advice to have less screen time in general). I am wondering about the best way to get in touch with you about the possibility of coming to Maine while you're in the region?
Hi You are of course quite right, and you now I am inclined to doom doom about CC, Biodiversity loss etc etc.... But in the end do we put a paper bag over our heads and say go away nasty thing, or at what ever level try to make changes. And of course we never know what is out there, lots of surprises will likely abound as they have always done to date. So for once follow Winston Churchill's advice and Keep b.......g on! Well done and Thanks Martin
Which social media blocker do you use? And thank you for this post amid a sea of Substack ❤️
Such a great post, Kim! I appreciate the concrete advice for how those engaged in a life of trying to make a difference can rest. It’s a great time of year to be emphasizing this topic--my newsletter is also about rest this week! Rest for the sake of rest--rather than future productivity--takes a major, and challenging, paradigm shift for the overachievers among us 😄. Thank you!
Your argument that warming will stop when we eliminate emissions is quite misleading. What would be a more accurate and important statement to make is that the increase in global heating may stop some years after zero emissions is achieved.
But temperatures sharply elevated over what they are now will continue at these high levels for decades if not centuries along with not just continuing sea level rise but also continuing ecosystem collapse and tipping point activation. Which is a recipe for planetary dystopia.
The only way to avoid this dystopia is the massive Removal of CO2 from the atmosphere and the cooling of the climate through sunlight reflection or other means.
So I would urge you to paint a realistic picture of what is in store for the 8 billion of us and not sugarcoat it by implying that reaching net zero will lead to a livable climate as it won’t
If we are able to drastically reduce carbon emissions rapidly, the chart shows heat uptake in oceans also gradually declines, so WHY does sea level rise continue to go UP, and quite a lot on the chart? With such an increase in sea level rise wouldn't society, as we know it, collapse?
Informative graphs on temperature and sea level after zero emissions - both the average and the uncertainty of the estimates.
Here is my messaging that keeps me positive that I'm achieving progress - and I simply don't fret over the level of progress - all progress, however small, is good. Of course, I hope for world changing progress as others join me in the messaging, and it "spreads like a virus". So, Kim and all you readers, I do hope you join me in the messaging!!
Consumers (individuals, organizations, businesses, governments) must promptly minimize their greenhouse gas emissions to bridge the gap while we work on long-term green technology and infrastructure. Less heating and less cooling (none between 13C-30C/55F-85F, https://greenbetween.home.blog). Less driving. Less flying. Less meat-eating. Less population growth (2 children max). Do it yourself. Tenaciously encourage others to do it.
https://www.greenstories.org.uk/fairhaven/
We are taking our new book, 'Fairhaven, a novel of climate optimism ' to cop28
It is our take on how to fix it