Where I think we stand on climate change: the genuine progress, and the distance still to go.
Climate change remains, to my mind, one of the defining challenges of our generation. There is real progress to celebrate. Renewable energy is booming, electric vehicles are going mainstream, awareness has never been higher. And yet I cannot shake the feeling that the pace of change is still not fast enough to meet what the scientists tell us is needed.
Where We Are Making Progress
- Solar and wind energy are now cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions.
- Electric vehicle sales continue to grow year on year.
- More countries and corporations are committing to net-zero targets.
- Reforestation and conservation efforts are expanding.
Where We Are Falling Short
- Global emissions are still rising, albeit more slowly.
- Deforestation in critical regions continues.
- Developing nations need more support to move to clean energy.
- Political will remains inconsistent across governments.
What Can We Do?
I hold on to the belief that individual actions matter. Reducing waste, choosing sustainable products, supporting clean energy, holding our leaders to account. But I have no illusions that they are enough on their own. The systemic change we need takes collective action at every level.
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.