#1 Join me on a journey to discover how economics impacts the environment

How to face a crisis without losing hope

I’ve just been employed for a year (until Oct 2023) to research and write about the interface between economics and climate change. My last attempt to engage deeply with climate change was back in 2009 and 2010. I was awarded the Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize and I wanted to use the time and money it offered to contribute in a meaningful way to the climate crisis. You can read my blog posts from the time here. After about 9 months of research and investigation I burnt out. It felt so overwhelming and I didn't know what my role was or what ground I stood on. In the end I had to re-focus on my own development and healing to keep from falling apart. I haven't fully returned to the issue since - even though I care deeply about it.

This is the first time since 2010 that I've felt ready to re-engage with climate change and what it means for us. I feel very well supported in my relationhsip and community and less ambitious this time. I don't feel like I need to save the world all by myself. I just want to make myself available and see how I can contribute. 

My challenge is to demystify how economics contributes to climate change

Economics is a relatively new topic for me. My background is in science communication - translating the incomprehensible world of science into language everyone can understand. My challenge now is to apply these skills to economics - to demystify the ways our economic system contributes to climate change and to explore how we might respond in a sane and hopeful way to this information - particularly in Aotearoa New Zealand.

How this project came about

I’m working for a small private organisation called Quatro Trust, which supports people and projects making a positive difference across Aotearoa. This project originated in the trust's friendship with Professor Susan Krumdieck, the founder of transition engineering. When Quatro first met Susan, they recognised that she was speaking a potent truth that needed to be heard more widely. Her arguments about the consequences and challenges arising from climate change were simple, clear and correct. And yet they were being ignored by the powers that be. Quatro subsidised the cost of her textbook "Transition Engineering" so that it was more accessible.

The big epiphany - our economic systems cause climate change

For Quatro, the big epiphany was that our economic system and growth focus is causing climate change and that economics will be key in solving the problem. Through their study and reading it has become glaringly obvious to them that: 
  • The world is an energy-driven system
  • All economic activity and growth is fuelled by energy
  • Our complex, globally connected, technological society was built using massive quantities of coal, gas and oil that took millions of years to form under the ground and have been used up in decades
  • Our current systems (from food production to transport) can't operate without cheap energy
  • Our massive energy stores are running out
  • We can’t continue to grow
  • We need to figure out how to reduce our energy use and the size of our economies, in the least harmful way possible
  • We need to change our economic system - from growth-focused to one that's sustainable and fair

I’ve been given the challenge of explaining these "obvious" points to an intelligent audience” in the hope of making a genuine impact.

My rough plan

I'm going to spend the first few months (until Christmas) getting my head around economics and climate change. I’d also like to explore the local relevance of these ideas and start connecting with others working in this space. As I learn I'll record any epiphanies here and introduce you to the people I meet.

Next year, I'll hone in on a target audience and purpose and start crafting stories. The endpoint is unknown - it could be a children's book, a podcast or a series of events. We're hoping the destination will emerge from the journey.

I hope to find and craft hopeful and humanising stories that make it feel more possible for people to engage with these huge issues and feel grounded and empowered.

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