“The issue has finally arrived”
“First of all, I note that everywhere, compared to three years ago, the issue of climate has finally arrived – both in politics and in the media. Secondly, what really gives me great joy and courage is to observe how many groups have been formed during the Despite the fact that most of us belong to the high risk category, 75 young people [Omas for Future] groups were founded in Germany during the pandemic. These are women who go out on the streets every week. They do not meet to drink coffee, plan campaigns, network, think about how to reach out and inform the world. I know from other grandmothers that their grandchildren and children are excited to do something. That gives courage to the children as well. ” Cordula Weimann, founder of Omas for Future (Grannies for Future)
“Legal mobilization”
“If you have science telling you what the problem is, but you also see inconsistency or inadequacy from those who have the power to deal with it, then the law is a mechanism to channel that frustration. It was really interesting to watch the various ways the law is used: countries around the world that pass climate laws, many with measurable mitigation and adjustment targets, and courts that enforce those laws and tell governments and companies that they have a duty of care – as in education submitted by [Dutch non-profit] Urgenda against the Dutch Government and the lawsuit filed by Friends of the Earth Netherlands against Shell “. Joana Setzer, Assistant Professor at Grantham Research Institute, specializing in climate change and global environmental governance
“New ways of thinking”
“Gen Z gives me a lot of hope – seeing the younger generation cross the political line. In the US, even the younger conservatives understand that climate is an important issue and I think there is so much talk now about identity and how it intersects. “I see people really sticking to the idea that we do not need to tackle issues like climate change, social justice and education reform – we can come together and build better systems in all these areas.” Leah Thomas, founder of Intersectional Environmentalist
“Innovation and understanding of ecology”
“Knowing what other scientists are doing gives me hope, for example, in trying to find new ways to capture carbon to ensure that greenhouse gases do not contribute to further climate deterioration. Second, agricultural scientists are finding new ways to grow crops.” can withstand the changing climate and ensure that large and small insects, living above and below ground, have food sources so that they can provide ecosystem services as they have for millennia.
My advice [for staying optimistic] is to look at the history of ecosystems on the verge of collapse – they have returned consistently. are durable. “We can learn from the vast knowledge that has accumulated over the years about these insect systems.” Esther Ngumbi, entomologist at the University of Illinois
‘Collective action’
“One thing that keeps me really optimistic is the sense of a collective movement to tackle climate change. It happens everywhere at every level: individuals, children, students, employees and businesses. Many of the scientists working for institutions like the IPCC, they do this voluntarily and in the face of the pandemic, everyone went on.
I once taught at the University of Edinburgh and once noticed that I was driving students into despair, and I had to deal with it: I said, you have to remember that the cost of renewable energy, for example, has dropped dramatically over the last decade or so. anyone’s expectations. “This is a good story to tell because we have to give people hope that we can do it, we just have to act seriously and follow it.” Alaa Al Khourdajie, Economist for Climate Change, Center for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London
“Global connections”
“Our world leaders sometimes frustrate us, break our hearts and make some people lose hope. But seeing people rise up from all over the world and stand with me makes me hope. East Africa’s crude oil pipeline It will be built in my country and will cross Tanzania, it will be the largest in the world.There are so many people talking about it internationally and it gives me hope: People believe that what is happening in Africa will not remain only in Africa.
I’m a member of a team fighting for ice protection in the Arctic and Antarctic. I have never been there, but I know it is responsible for regulating the temperature on the planet. So what happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. It gives me hope that I am not alone and I really believe that we are on the side of victory “. Evelyn Aacham, activist, Fridays for Future Uganda
‘The next generation’
“What gives me hope is the students of the school in Kerala who actively monitor the rains and the river (using rain gauges and river scales) as part of a scientific network of citizens in their area.… When I talk to these children, I know that they at least grow up with understanding that the climate is changing, that they can watch it and probably can do something about it.
The data in front of me is really scary … I try not to bring emotions to them. I try to be in the clinic, so that I do not get depressed. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to present my work – I do not want to present myself as someone negative. “I always want to try to end positively by looking for solutions, best practices, adaptation measures and working with laws to change.” Roxy Koll, climatologist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
“Indigenous leadership”
“Global negotiations, for example, the Paris Agreement: If all parties respect and live up to their promises to address the effects of climate change by providing financial resources. The other hope from our heart that we consider optimistic is the development of the leadership of the indigenous peoples and organization. We have a traditional way of conserving resources and ecosystems, so we must continue to play our part. ” Gideon Sanago, Climate Program of the Pastoralists Indigenous NGOs Forum of Tanzania
“Prediction models”
“Us [climate] models become smarter and our confidence in them grows. We have used artificial intelligence and high performance computing systems. We are optimistic that the future will be bright in terms of forecasts.
It helps us to really know what the future will be like, because then we can plan. Let’s say we know that next year the rainfall will be delayed or low, that we will put decision makers at the table to figure out what to do. “Our people can not go hungry and farmers may need alternative livelihoods.” Nana Ama Browne Klutse, physicist at the University of Ghana
The interviews have been edited and summarized for the sake of clarity
Edited by Ruby Russell
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