Climate Change – Page 10

The Argument For No Change

Whether we’re starting a new business
or slowing climate change
or updating a book cover,
there will be someone
opposing us,
wanting no change at all.

Seth Godin
shares
“Once we agree that
we have a problem,
the status quo will show up.
It will argue
with every tool
it has that
any variation from the current path
is
too risky,
too expensive
and too painful
to consider.
The status quo will stall.
It will argue for studies
and will amplify the pain
that will be caused to some
as we try to make things better
for everyone.

And the status quo usually wins.
That’s because
the makers of change
are now playing defense,
forced to justify every choice
and ameliorate every inconvenience.”

Know that someone
will fight for no change.

Prepare for the tactics
they will use
to stop us.

Realize they will NEVER
be supportive of that change.

And push forward.

Criticizing The Messenger

One of the common ways
opponents try to block
change
is by criticizing the person
asking for that change.

You want to eliminate
homelessness, for example?

You’ll be criticized
if you live in a home.
Opponents will say
you’re the elite
and don’t understand the situation.

You’ll be criticized
if you rent your home.
Opponents will say
you’re taking away
a rental property
from someone who truly needs it.

You’ll be criticized
if you don’t have a home.
Opponents will say
you don’t understand the problem.

By criticizing you,
opponents shift the attention away
from the change
you’re seeking the world to make.
It’s deflection.

And it’s effective.
It dissuades people
from talking,
from pushing for change.

Don’t allow this
to stop you.

Push for the change
you want to see in the world.
You don’t have to be perfect
to make a difference.

Planning For Drought

There is a drought
in Alaska.
Alaska.
Land of ice and snow.

Droughts are happening
all over the world
and
this will increase
with climate change.

Buildings will have
to be retrofit
to conserve and reuse
water.
That’s a pain in the a$$
to do.

It is much easier
to install water conserving systems
when a building is being constructed.

As business builders,
we might be constructing
warehouses and stores
and other structures
now and in the near future.

Ensure these buildings
conserve as much water
as possible.

Justifying Your Personal Choices Publicly

A climate change scientist
recently welcomed
a new baby to the world.

Having a baby
is a strange choice
for someone who knows
what the future likely holds.
But hey,
that’s his personal choice.

He then wrote an article
rationalizing why
people should have kids.

It was no longer
merely a personal choice.
It was a public agenda.

Other climate scientists critiqued
that agenda
as they should.
That’s their responsibility.

He got upset,
called everyone disagreeing with him
doomers.

If you recommend your personal choice
to others,
you WILL get critiqued.
You SHOULD be critiqued.

If you don’t want pushback,
don’t push your personal choice
on others.

If You Can Safely Do So, Go Outside

There are parts of the world
where a human
can’t safely
leave their home today
due to climate change.

This will become
more and more common.

What does this mean
for business builders?

We should think
long and hard
before building a business
that requires
people to go outside,
to leave a building.

If we do build
such a business,
we might wish
to consider
how we could make
inside
an option.

And we should,
ourselves,
today or tomorrow,
go outside
if it is safe
to do that.

We should enjoy
that option
because it might not
always be there
for us.

Go outside today.

But build businesses
that can operate
inside a building.

Prepare For Net Zero

The climate is changing.
That is indisputable.

Rules, laws, customer expectations
will change with it.
Net zero, for example,
will be an expectation
for businesses.

As business builders,
we should be preparing for this.
It is easier to make
these changes gradually now
than wait
and
have to modify everything all at once.

How do we prepare?

Canada is
planting trees
that can survive
in warmer climates
than Canada experiences right now.

If we plant trees
around our business buildings,
seeking to lower energy usage
and offset carbon output,
we should do the same.
Dead trees won’t provide
those benefits.

We should consider
installing solar panels
on those buildings,
adding outlets for electric vehicles
and
rain barrels to capture water,
having natural ground cover
instead of grass,
low usage toilets,
more insulation, etc.

If we need a company car,
we should consider
buying an electric car.
It is better for the environment
and it relays to customers
we’re preparing
for the future.

We should consider
alternatives to single use plastic,
should find
environmentally-friendly alternatives
for our packaging,
keeping recycling rules in mind.

Every aspect of our businesses
should be examined
and modified
so our businesses
have a minimal impact
on the environment.

Net zero, as an expectation,
is coming.
Start preparing for it now.

The Ripple Effect

A recent study
showed
the best way to convince others
to switch to solar
is to install
solar panels on our own roofs.

Those others we’ve convinced
will then install
solar panels on THEIR roofs
and that will influence
more people to invest in solar.

Our actions might seem small,
might seem insignificant
but they have ripple effects.

If we offer paper bags
as an alternative
in our stores,
surrounding businesses
are more likely to offer paper bags
as alternatives.

The businesses surrounding them
are then more likely to offer paper bags
as alternatives.

Our actions have ripple effects.
They are more powerful
than we realize.

Take that great-for-the-world action.
Make this planet a better place.
Leave that as one of your legacies.

Calling Someone A Doomist

The current trend
is to call anyone
who isn’t 100% optimistic
about the future
a ‘doomist.’

The danger to this
is
it shuts down conversation.
It prevents us
from hearing about
not-as-happy situations
and preparing for them.
It stops others
from warning us,
from talking honestly
with us.

And that will cause us
pain
…eventually.

The future isn’t
all sunshine and roses.
Heck, the past wasn’t
happy all the time.

There were
plenty of opportunities
then
and there will be
plenty of opportunities
in the future.

But we won’t be able
to fully take advantage
of these opportunities
unless we know about
and
avoid or minimize
the challenges.

Don’t EVER call
anyone
a doomist.

Building Businesses And The Attack On Women’s Rights

The potential overturning of Roe v Wade
in the U.S.
is yet another step toward
taking away ALL rights for women.

That is clearly the end goal.

This isn’t about religion
or saving babies.

They targeted abortion
because they thought
that was the easiest right
to take away first.
Taking away this right
will set a precedent
and make it easier
to take away other rights.

This is about seizing power,
about ensuring women
can’t vote,
can’t have a say
in…well…anything.

Fight this.
Fight this
with all the energy you have.

It will mean
the difference between
living or dying.
Not only now
but in the future.

With climate change happening
exponentially faster,
for example,
resources will soon become
extremely limited.
Groups of people
who don’t have power (votes)
won’t be allocated
sufficient resources.

It will also, of course,
be impossible,
as a woman,
to build a business
under such a regime.

Our options will be extremely limited
and who the f*ck wants that?

Fight like your life depends upon it.

Because it does.