How we all can be climate heroes | Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson | TEDxWageningenUniversity
The speaker posits that every individual possesses inherent "superpowers"—unique abilities for climate action—and the most potent force is aggregating these individual efforts through collective action. To achieve the drastic emissions cuts required by 2030, people must tap into these internal resources, exemplified by various climate heroes, through focused practices like deep breathing. The ultimate call to action is to recognize one's own unique capacity to contribute to the "race to zero." ## Speakers & Context - Unnamed speaker; speaks about collective action for climate change. - Speaker mentions meeting Greta Thunberg in Stockholm, noting her interview was the first recorded one. - Speaker states the talk provides a method for accessing individual "superpowers" and becoming a "climate hero." ## Theses & Positions - Humanity has a critical deadline: emissions must drop exponentially by **2030** to avoid becoming a "hot house earth." - Every individual has a "superpower" or unique contribution that matters in the "race to zero." - The most important superpower is adding one's voice to the voices of established climate action organizations, as *"the power of the many is the strongest power of them all."* - Accessing core values through mindfulness (breathing) is necessary to utilize one's "rocket fuel" for planetary action. - Climate heroes do not always wear capes; rather, their power comes from their specific skills and commitments. ## Concepts & Definitions - **Climate Superpower:** The unique, inherent ability or skill an individual possesses that can be applied to climate action (e.g., business leadership, cooking, political will). - **Race to Zero:** The collective effort required to drastically reduce emissions to avoid severe climate impacts. - **Rocket Fuel:** Metaphor for tapping into deep, core personal values required for sustained action. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Climate Action Implementation:** Requires "all hands on deck" and making people realize their individual contribution matters. - **Accessing Superpowers:** Identified through self-reflection and connecting with deep personal values, which is facilitated by breathing exercises. - **Digital Engagement Platform:** A network for posting "climate warnings to companies that do bad or to politicians or to individuals" and giving "climate love to those that do great stuff." - **Breathing Exercise:** A taught technique involving specific abdominal and chest movements while lying down or sitting (placing right hand on chest, left hand on abdomen) to focus inward on breath. ## Timeline & Sequence - **Past Event (Initial Encounter):** Meeting Greta Thunberg in Stockholm after the speaker gave a climate speech. - **Event Documentation:** Showing the Stockholm interview on big screens at the United Nations in New York, prompting delegates to stand. - **Immediate Crisis Timeline:** The need to drop emissions "exponentially" until **2030**. ## Named Entities - **Greta Thunberg** — Climate activist; met in Stockholm. - **Pericles** — Person who suggested going to the interview with Greta. - **N/A** — No specific organizations or places were named that were not already covered by others (e.g., United Nations, Stockholm, Paris, etc., are generally contextual). ## Numbers & Data - Critical deadline: **2030**. - Required emissions drop rate: **seven to eight percent every year exponentially**. - Number of signatures gathered in Paris: **100,000**. - Number of countries represented by "Our Kids Climate": **8**. - Number of countries where "Our Kids Climate" has representatives: **19** (operating in **57** organizations). - Number of criminal arrests for the speaker (during Extinction Rebellion work): **four times in 12 days**. - People who know what a protist is: Not quantified in this section. ## Examples & Cases - **Greta Thunberg:** Cited as an initial, powerful example of a climate hero. - **Speaker's Own Superpower:** Not fearing stages and delivering messages on climate action. - **Business Leader Superpower:** Setting "really really strict climate targets." - **Cook Superpower:** Cooking more plant-based meals and inspiring others to eat more climate-friendly. - **Politician Superpower:** Setting a stop date to fossil fuels (e.g., the small island of Orland). - **Speaker's Activist Experience (Criminal Damage):** Arrested for chalk spray paint outside "donor street"; statement: *"I thought I was speaking the truth."* - **Phil's Superpower:** Age; fears nothing "but for the future of the children." - **Nasreen Al-Amin's Superpower:** Extensive knowledge of education and communication. - **Our Kids Climate Formation:** Meeting with three daughters online, deciding to push climate action in Paris. - **Digital Engagement:** Creating a "climate warning" on a platform, which, upon receiving enough "likes," triggers a staff follow-up to dialogue with the target. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Platform/Network:** A social network used for posting "climate warnings" and "climate love." - **Yoga/Breathing Techniques:** A physical and mental tool taught for connecting with deeper values. - **Image:** An image of three young women representing the speaker's daughters. ## References Cited - **Christiana Figueres:** Head of the COP who received the 100,000 signatures. - **Ban Ki-moon:** Mentioned for giving a thank you speech recognizing the parents. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Climate Superpower Options:** Includes leadership targets (business), dietary changes (personal lifestyle), and legislative bans (political). - **Personal vs. Collective Action:** Balancing individual action with joining large, existing organizations. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The necessity of drastic, exponential cuts suggests current governmental/societal pace is insufficient. - The speaker notes the initial experience of being arrested for protest action, implying the law may sometimes support corporate interests detrimental to the Earth. ## Methodology - **Inspirational Testimony:** Sharing personal experiences with key climate figures (e.g., Greta Thunberg). - **Skill Identification:** Systematically listing varied professional/personal skills as potential superpowers. - **Mindfulness Training:** Leading the audience through guided, focused deep breathing to access internal emotional resources. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - Everyone has a role to play in the "race to zero." - The most powerful action is linking individual passion to collective organizational power. - Recommendation: Regularly practice breathing exercises to tap into "rocket fuel," enabling identification of one's actionable contribution. ## Implications & Consequences - Failure to act quickly leads to becoming a "hot house earth." - The collective power of organized individuals is necessary to overcome inertia, as shown by the success of "Our Kids Climate." ## Verbatim Moments - *"i fear for the future of my loved ones a fear for the future of your loved ones so i've come to ask for help"* - *"the power of the many is the strongest power of them all"* - *"we have until 2030 to have our emissions that means exponentially"* - *"we all have superpowers"* - *"my superpower well is that i don't fear stages i actually love being on a stage"* - *"the power of the many is the strongest power of them all"* - *"I thought I was speaking the truth"* - *"the power of the many"* - *"we don't have time"* - *"We need to be able to access our core values we need to be able to access the rocket fuel"* - *"When you inhale you do it through nose and when you exhale you exhale through your nose"* - *"thank you and remember not all heroes wear capes"*