Key Messages
We Can Stop Climate Breakdown By Taking Action Now: Here’s How
The Future We Choose is an inspiring read that points to a way forward in the midst of a world-wide climate crisis.
We know that by 2030, we must reduce our emissions by at least 50%, and by 2050 be at net-zero – meaning no more greenhouse gas releases than the earth can naturally absorb.
It may seem daunting, and scary, but we still have time to make a difference if everyone comes together to take action now.
This book looks at how things could be different if everyone rallies around this common cause: sustainable forests, habitat restoration, green transport and clean energy production are all possible outcomes of a collective effort towards achieving balance between humans and our planet.
Let The Future We Choose inspire you to choose a sustainable future; think about the generations yet to come who will benefit from your actions today.
Through non-violent protests, living life as anything other than a zero-sum game and understanding why it’s so important for us all to act now, you can be part of saving humanity from the worst effects of climate breakdown.
We Must Act Now To Avoid An Unlivable World
Unless we take decisive action now, the world of 2050 will be a difficult place to inhabit.
Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming continue, unchecked by our efforts.
The devastating effects of climate change have become all too apparent: rising sea levels, melting Arctic ice sheets and increased ocean temperatures have resulted in extreme weather events such as hurricanes and hydroclimate floods.
Inland areas are drying up due to heatwave droughts, while coastal cities face devastation as they flood.
Summer temperatures regularly reach 44 degrees Celsius or higher in many parts of the world, including Paris and central India where record-breaking highs of 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) can be reached for 45 days at a time.
It’s clear that without immediate action, we are inevitably barreling down a path toward an unlivable world; one ravaged by the consequences of our inaction in the present.
If we don’t act soon, this could be our future—one which brings suffering to countless people around the globe and one which can no longer provide for life in many places.
We Must Change Our Mindset To Achieve A Sustainable Future
It’s clear that if we want to create a sustainable future, we must make significant changes in the way we live our lives.
This includes transitioning from burning fossil fuels for electricity and transportation, to relying solely on renewable sources of energy.
New technologies are particularly crucial for developing countries, as they have become more accessible and allow people living without electricity to benefit from improvements in education, healthcare, and sanitation.
In order to make an impact, people need to also focus on their communities and work together by partaking in local food initiatives or growing their own food.
By doing so, they can foster a healthier lifestyle which will lead to lower rates of heart attack, stroke and other medical conditions.
It ultimately comes down to our mindset; we must be willing to change now if we want things to look different in 2050.
Let’s take the steps necessary today in order for us all to benefit from a brighter and more livable future.
Believe To Make A Difference: The Power Of Stubborn Optimism In The Fight Against Climate Change
If we want to effectively solve the climate crisis, it’s imperative that we believe with conviction that it’s a problem that can be solved.
After all, if you don’t believe in your ability to change things for the better, then why bother trying anyway?
The authors of The Future We Choose make a convincing argument that optimism can’t be understated when it comes to tackling the climate crisis.
As they put it: “To solve the climate crisis, we must believe, wholeheartedly, that it’s a problem we can fix.” A pessimistic view only increases feelings of helplessness and keeps us from truly taking meaningful action.
Instead of getting bogged down by negative thoughts and statistics about climate change, recalling some positive changes that have already taken place can help significantly raise our spirits and encourage us to do our part as well.
For example, many countries are now generating up to 50 percent or even 100 percent of energy from clean sources!
Even individual contribution towards carbon reduction is valuable – every little bit helps!
What’s more, leading by example is also an incredibly powerful motivator for others – if one person holds an optimistic attitude and demonstrates how hope does not equal complacency nor automatically equate with inaction – others will be likely inspired to follow suit.
That’s exactly what author Christiana Figueres did when she walked out of her press conference determined to become “stubbornly” optimistic about future prospects instead.
And thanks to her undying hope for a better tomorrow and determination to get people believing in the same cause as her, she was ultimately successful in spearheading The Paris Agreement.
If there’s anything that should be taken away from this book summary and message on optimism it would be this: Believe in yourself, and always continue believing in the potential for positive outcomes because great achievements come to those who stubbornly refuse giving up on their dreams/goals — no matter how impossible they may seem at first glance!
We Need To Abandon A Zero-Sum Mindset And Adopt An Attitude Of Abundance And Collaboration To Combat Scarcity In Our World
We all experience the feeling of competition in our everyday lives; whether it’s during a morning commute or at work, it feels like everybody’s racing to get what they need first.
But The Future We Choose book summary provides a unique perspective: instead of thinking of these situations as a zero-sum game where someone has to “lose” for another to win, why not think of them as opportunities for abundance and collaboration?
By taking on this mindset and recognizing that there is often enough for everyone, you can create a more positive outlook and atmosphere.
For example, if someone “loses” the race to snag the best seat on public transport – they can still “win” by having an interesting conversation with someone nearby.
Further, this idea applies on a global scale too.
Despite perceived scarcity or short supply in certain parts of the world (such as Tucson Arizona’s water use), there is still abundance available when we look closely enough.
That’s why we must strive for collaboration rather than competition – so that everyone can reap the rewards.
It’S Time To Embrace Regeneration: How We Can Make A Difference In Our Planet’S Natural Resources
It’s not too late to reverse the damage that has been done to our planet and its resources, with the right attitude and action.
We must embrace a regenerative way of life in order to ensure that future generations can enjoy the same abundance as we do today.
The key lies in replenishing and nourishing what we use from nature – rather than just taking from it as humans have been doing for centuries.
We can start by engaging in behaviors that nourish our own well-being, such as meditation or simply identifying what makes us feel good and prioritizing those activities.
Next, if we want to restore our environment to a healthy state, we need to adopt regenerative policies or practices – like the example of whale populations whose population has recovered since whaling was banned.
And finally, sometimes we have to actively reintroduce native species back into ecosystems which have been damaged over time by human influence – this could be rewilding forests or planting trees in deforested areas.
We may not be able to completely undo all of the damage done, but if we all do our part so future generations don’t have to suffer because of our neglectful attitude towards Earth’s resources, then eventually change will come.
Let Go Of The Past And Take Courageous Steps Toward A Sustainable Future
In order to create a livable world for ourselves and future generations, we must break from our past and come together to make tough decisions.
Without brave steps forward, we will be held back by harmful trends in nostalgia.
The authors of the book The Future We Choose faced this type of dilemma when they were confronted with a possible bomb threat at the Paris Agreement negotiations.
Rather than allowing fear to prevent them from reaching an international agreement on climate change, they decided that it was necessary for the conference to move forward as planned.
This illustrates an important point: in order to create necessary change, we have to be willing to make risky moves towards progress.
We must shift away from outdated habits and beliefs and focus on reshaping our world into one that is sustainable.
This often means moving away from our cultural expectations, such as in the UK where farmers cling onto their traditional ways rather than adapting with renewable energy sources like wind turbines; or it might mean breaking down lingering attachments, like the powerful force of nostalgia many people experience when facing dramatic lifestyle changes related to sustainability efforts.
Nevertheless, if we recognize how challenging but important these changes are, then there is hope for a better future ahead: rather than remaining stagnant with old ideas, nothing can stop us if we take brave steps towards a more sustainable planet!
Using Technology And Nature To Fight The Climate Crisis
The climate crisis is a difficult problem to solve, but one thing is certain– technological advances can play an essential role in the fight.
Self-driving electric cars are just one example, encouraging lower emissions and reducing the need for private ownership.
Plant-based and lab-grown meat alternatives are another possibility that could greatly reduce the impact of traditional agriculture on CO2 emissions by taking production from land to laboratory.
It’s important to remember that technology isn’t a cure-all solution for climate change and comes with its own caveats.
Self-driving cars provide more convenience but make it easier for governments to track citizens.
Switching production from land to lab could lead to huge job losses in countries like Brazil where 20 million people are employed in agriculture.
Therefore, when it comes to using tech responsibly in the fight against global warming, we must take a measured approach.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is likely to be crucial for many areas in order to maximize efficiency and minimize wastage of resources.
A good practical example is how Google used algorithms in their data centers which enabled them to reduce their cooling bill by 40%.
But tech can only do so much– reestablishing our connection with nature remains important as well.
Planting trees outdoors gives us multiple benefits as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while providing us with fresh air, natural beauty and direct physical activity.;
Fight Climate Change By Breaking Free From The Consumer Cycle
It’s time to break the consumer cycle and really think about how we are spending our money.
It’s easy to get addicted to buying things, but it can be psychologically unhealthy for us in the long run.
This is why it’s so important to start changing our consumption patterns, starting with a shift away from unsustainable practices.
The fashion industry is a great place to start because of its enormous carbon footprint—second only to the oil industry!
Predominately sourced fabrics such as polyester are much more harmful for the environment than organic cotton, so consider switching when you next shop for clothes.
You could also show your commitment to sustainability by investing in brands who actually care about it too.
Another way to use your money wisely is when buying big items like cars or houses.
Instead of sticking with traditional fossil-fuel driven cars and outdated heating systems, opt for electric-powered ones instead—consider an electric car if you need a new vehicle and if you’re thinking of heating or cooling your home, look into committing to energy-efficient methods such as solar panels or geothermal systems.
Ultimately, it’s an empowering change that you can make which will not only benefit the environment but also yourself.
By prioritizing sustainable purchases above all else and breaking free from this consumer cycle, we can support a better future for everyone!
Fight Climate Change By Seeking The Truth, Joining Non-Violent Political Protests, And Supporting Women Leaders
In order to create meaningful political action that will fight climate change, we must seek out the truth and make sure it is driving our decisions.
Our current post-truth era has made this harder as lies proliferate quickly, often spreading even faster than factual information.
This is due to something called confirmation bias which can cause us to latch onto beliefs without fact checking them first.
To combat this, we must do our best to distinguish facts from pseudoscience and misinformation.
This may require questioning uncomfortable truths – especially whether or not our beloved politicians are actually telling us the truth about climate change – but it is necessary in order to take real action against the crisis and contribute to a better future.
We must also realise that no matter how small each of us are compared to the powerful corporate interests that heavily influence politics across the globe, new movements can be created with just 3.5% of a population engaging in non-violent protests to show their commitment for a cause.
And don’t forget that women legislators typically vote for climate action almost twice as much as men – so keep that in mind at the ballot box!
Wrap Up
The Future We Choose: Our last opportunity to make a difference.
In this book, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac discuss the choices we have before us when it comes to our climate and sustainable future.
The two authors hope for us to take advantage of our unique crossroads in history where we can actively fight climate change and avoid worsening the lives of future generations.
Their main message is that with each action we take – no matter how small – we can have an impact on reducing our carbon footprint.
One way to do this is by changing our mindsets and adopting a more plant-based diet.
If you’re not ready to go full vegetarian or vegan immediately, start off gradually by having only one day per week as a meat-free day.
Over time, you can continue adding new days and make improvements on your own personal sustainability journey.
Ultimately, The Future We Choose leaves us inspired to act now for the benefit of our planet’s future—before it’s too late.
