Importance of building connections for climate action
thank you for welcoming me here this
evening it’s truly a pleasure to be with
you all
we find ourselves in this epic moment a
moment of enormous
challenge of loss of immense opportunity
and of awakening otherwise known as the
year 2020
where a collective re-realization of our
kinship to the natural world is
occurring
that is good news for the climate crisis
if we can do one thing
connect imagine a world where we are all
connected
around the climate crisis where we are
unified for a healthy just
and sustainable future for all it starts
with you
and it starts with me and it starts with
our power in this time of incredible
opportunity
during the course of my career i have
experienced uniquely different company
cultures
i have found myself in a rather
unpleasant company culture
one that struck fear where the where
results were inspired with intimidation
instead of inclusiveness
an overall air of distrust and
separateness prevailed
cover your butt was our team’s
unofficial motto
it made the work difficult and the time
spent there heavy and stressful for many
it broke my heart to feel the impacts of
the disconnection
not only on the work but on the people
i knew in order to be successful in my
role i needed to step
into the headwinds it was
in these moments i realized how strongly
i believe it is the right of employees
to come to a workplace that is built on
integrity
to feel valued for their contribution to
feel included
and respected building a better
workplace for people was that the heart
of me
when putting forward a strategy that
would unify environment
social and governance issues within my
organization
i was incredibly confident in my ideas
but i was also unsure how they’d be met
the following i offer are four broad
steps
based on the learnings both from my
success and my failures that can help
you
step into climate conversations a little
more easily both personally and
professionally
first find your authenticity be genuine
and seek the truth for yourself
the human passion to pursue activities
which makes us who we are
most often arise in moments of purpose
or ambiguity
and for me it was both
identify how climate change and your
passions are connected
we are all great at talking about what
we love what we know and what we believe
in
and if you’re not sure what you’re
passionate about that’s
okay start with what you’re interested
in and follow it
follow that thing where time seems to
vanish because you’re so engaged
and follow the heck yes moments maybe
that’s what brought you here this
evening
identify your values and write them down
realize that climate conversations
aren’t always about climate explicitly
social justice diversity and equity as i
mentioned
animal rights access to clean water
sustainable forestry
religion and spirituality sustainable
fashion
famine your children humanity’s physical
well-being and mental health
the circular economy energy and clean
technology
these are all connected to climate if we
do better in
all of these things and more
the climate will thrive again and it
takes everyone working
on them all at the same time your voice
matters
if you’re not sure how your passion and
sustain
and the climate intersect i encourage
you to check out the un sustainable
development goals or the good life goals
for inspiration
all of the goals directly or indirectly
support the climate fight
and talking about climate isn’t always
easy it seems to be more and more
connected with where we sit on a
political
spectrum than it does with actual
science but fear not you do not need to
be a climate scientist to speak about
the climate crisis with your passion
your values and your authenticity you
are ready
so number two start the conversation go
talk to people it doesn’t matter how
you’re connected to them just that you
are
find the formal and informal leaders
speak with your within your existing
network your friends your family and
your colleagues
seek out new contacts in your
organization seek out new contacts
outside of your organization
you’ll find your allies in places you
didn’t expect
ask the people you know to introduce you
to someone in their network that may
align with something that you spoke
or asked about ask a lot of questions
ask why
what they see are challenges and gaps in
your company or community
what’s really bugging them what do they
wish could be better
and why if your experience is anything
like mine you’ll have pages and pages of
feedback and likely you’ll get a lot of
people excited too
what do the conversations have in common
do you share a similar passion
do you share some similar values what’s
the common ground
three develop and refine your vision
share it if you’re not sure ask yourself
what does it look like to be better
how will you know when things are better
where you are
share this vision with others along with
your values and your passions
and share with them why you started
having these conversations in the first
place
and four dare to lead
embody your vision have tough
conversations remember your passion and
your values when the conversations
are tough reconnect with people through
those values first
and data and facts later use your heart
and be brave
recognize the potential in ideas and in
people
stay curious use your empathy and
courage to forge connections
keep going momentum is everything
keep building keep refining keep
learning about yourself
your passions the climate other people
keep the conversation going
keep speaking about what better looks
like and most importantly encourage
others to speak about climate issues
as well imagine a world
where we are all connected to our shared
values and unique purpose for a healthy
just sustainable future for
all it starts with you it starts with me
and our great power in this time of
opportunity
remember it’s about the people people
like you and me
like your neighbor your colleague your
hairdresser your aunt
you and all of us here tonight are
incredibly centric to the climate crisis
fight
your voice is urgently needed
as are the people that you will connect
with the ones that are just
waiting to hear your voice to be
inspired by your story
and your unique perspective