I went to my first Green Drinks Happy Hour the other week… no, not an event for people that like green cocktails, although that could be fun! It’s a monthly event that brings together sustainability professionals in the Boston area. It was fun evening and great to meet some fellow sustainability enthusiasts; however I had two conversations that really stood out and, if I'm honest, despair of humanity.
Number 1: it didn't take me long to track down the fellow Brit in the room, who was an academic from the UK, currently doing research at Harvard University. He is looking at the public policy implications and barriers linked to the climate change mitigation strategy of blocking the sun. My initial reaction was a mixture of incredulity and horror; for starters, ‘blocking the sun’ sounds like a plan from Captain Planet and, secondly, why would anyone want to make the world colder and darker? But immediate reactions aside, it is actually a very interesting idea. Some advocate the use of a giant mirror positioned hundred of km above the Earth’s surface to deflect some of the sun’s rays away from the Earth. However, the same effect could be achieved by shooting sun-reflecting sulfates into the lower stratosphere to create a barrier, which is, apparently, not very costly or difficult to do. Temperatures would be reduced by 1-2 degrees so we wouldn't be walking around in the cold and dark (or so I am led to believe) and, in only a couple of years, it could significantly slow down the rate of climate change.
The real barrier is not the science or individuals, like me, who like the sunshine; it is getting global consensus. In order to go ahead, the plan would need to be agreed by leaders all around the world, which is the final nail in the coffin as that is unlikely to happen. This is nothing new – Climate Change would have been addressed long ago if we weren't all so busy protecting our own interests. Maybe blocking the sun is not the answer but it still makes me sad that, in an ever more global world, we are still so far from being able to make rational, considered decisions for the greater good.
Number 2: I got talking to a lawyer, who had come to the event to find out more about ‘this sustainability stuff’ and, particularly, the business case as it relates to shareholders. I began my usual spiel about how, if done strategically, corporate responsibility is good for business and benefits all stakeholders. However, he stopped me and pointed out that many shareholders still think in the short term. If, as a result of running the business in a more sustainable way, there was any affect on the dividends they would receive for that year, even if the longer-term profit forecasts were bright, they would never agree and may even sue the company. Again, this is not news. I am aware of huge mindset shift that needs to happen worldwide to get more companies to adopt a more sustainable approach to business. Nevertheless, it still astounds me at the ability of people in the world to blindly act according to their own interests rather the interests of their communities, countries, or even the planet.
Maybe we need Captain Planet after all!
Number 1: it didn't take me long to track down the fellow Brit in the room, who was an academic from the UK, currently doing research at Harvard University. He is looking at the public policy implications and barriers linked to the climate change mitigation strategy of blocking the sun. My initial reaction was a mixture of incredulity and horror; for starters, ‘blocking the sun’ sounds like a plan from Captain Planet and, secondly, why would anyone want to make the world colder and darker? But immediate reactions aside, it is actually a very interesting idea. Some advocate the use of a giant mirror positioned hundred of km above the Earth’s surface to deflect some of the sun’s rays away from the Earth. However, the same effect could be achieved by shooting sun-reflecting sulfates into the lower stratosphere to create a barrier, which is, apparently, not very costly or difficult to do. Temperatures would be reduced by 1-2 degrees so we wouldn't be walking around in the cold and dark (or so I am led to believe) and, in only a couple of years, it could significantly slow down the rate of climate change.The real barrier is not the science or individuals, like me, who like the sunshine; it is getting global consensus. In order to go ahead, the plan would need to be agreed by leaders all around the world, which is the final nail in the coffin as that is unlikely to happen. This is nothing new – Climate Change would have been addressed long ago if we weren't all so busy protecting our own interests. Maybe blocking the sun is not the answer but it still makes me sad that, in an ever more global world, we are still so far from being able to make rational, considered decisions for the greater good.
Number 2: I got talking to a lawyer, who had come to the event to find out more about ‘this sustainability stuff’ and, particularly, the business case as it relates to shareholders. I began my usual spiel about how, if done strategically, corporate responsibility is good for business and benefits all stakeholders. However, he stopped me and pointed out that many shareholders still think in the short term. If, as a result of running the business in a more sustainable way, there was any affect on the dividends they would receive for that year, even if the longer-term profit forecasts were bright, they would never agree and may even sue the company. Again, this is not news. I am aware of huge mindset shift that needs to happen worldwide to get more companies to adopt a more sustainable approach to business. Nevertheless, it still astounds me at the ability of people in the world to blindly act according to their own interests rather the interests of their communities, countries, or even the planet.
Maybe we need Captain Planet after all!
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