Green light
When people find out I’m a climate scientist from Canada, they have a lot of questions. “Do you believe it’s real?” has been the most common one here in conservative Texas, where I’ve lived for the past 10 years. But these days, as every new headline seems to feature yet another doom-filled report or record-breaking wildfire, the question I get from just about everyone is, “What gives you hope?”
I have to be honest—what I study can be depressing, even to me. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the future of human civilization hinges on how we respond to this challenge. Some days, it makes me feel like getting back into bed, pulling the covers over my head and hoping it all goes away.
What keeps me going, though, is the knowledge that it doesn’t have to be this way. We still have time to stave off the doomsday scenarios. The future truly is in our hands; and the good news is, climate solutions aren’t all harsh or impractical.
That’s why I’m so excited to guest edit this special issue of Chatelaine. There are many ways we can reduce our carbon dioxide emissions and build resilience to a changing climate: innovative technology, such as solar shingles, biofuel-powered jets and even basic smart thermostats; healthy choices, like regenerative agriculture and plant-rich diets; and, smart planning to reduce food waste and increase efficiency. We don’t have to shoot ourselves in the foot to save the world—it’s about accelerating a transition that’s already underway. To do this, we need rational hope— hope that’s informed by the consequences of our choices and powered by a vision of a future that’s better than the one we have today.
In this issue, the climate journalist Chris Turner describes what our lives could be like in his surprisingly optimistic essay (page 20). From cutting down on single-use plastic to smarter shopping, there are countless easy ways to help the planet offered in “Save the World” (page 85). Our actions matter, and we can influence people around us through both our voice and our example. When others notice us making changes, we get the opportunity to start a conversation about why those changes are important. And as I say in my essay “We need to talk” (page 72), that’s one of the most important things each one of us can do.
Chatelaine is my favourite dock read, but I’m not going to be saving this issue for summer. I’ll be taking it with me everywhere I go. And the next time someone asks what gives me hope, I’ll hand them a copy and say, “Start here!”