Guest opinion: Dani Bosse: In facing climate crisis, don’t just hope for solutions. Become the initiator of change. - Boulder Daily Camera

Guest opinion: In facing climate crisis, don't just hope for solutions. Become the initiator of change.

By Dani Bosse

In our shared concern for the escalating threat of climate change, it’s a natural inclination to cling to hope — a wish that someone, somewhere, will discover a miraculous solution. A hope sparing us from distressing images of polar bears floating away on ice caps or a turtle with a straw stuck up its nose. We yearn for collective inaction not to lead to the irreversible destruction of our planet, fervently hoping that politicians will one day heed the urgent warnings of scientists. But what if hope isn’t enough? It’s not sufficient to merely hope; we must collectively take concrete action.

Cognitive scientist Art Markman sheds light on our robust motivation when faced with immediate threats, such as avoiding a moving car or seeking shelter during an emergency. However, the societal disconnect lies in our failure to perceive climate change as an urgent issue due to its long-term consequences. Humans grapple with an unproportional tradeoff between short-term and long-term benefits, often unable to visualize the imminent impact on their everyday lives. Many people have the resources to buy heaters and air conditioners. Many can buy bottled water if their tap water isn’t safe. The availability of these resources postpones the recognition of the harrowing consequences of climate change.

The worst of the climate crisis is yet to convince the masses that money and technological comforts can’t bandage the effects. Consequently, many resort to hope, specifically relying on scientists and politicians to resolve the issue. Yet, hope can be a passive stance, suggesting that someone else will save us from the crisis, eroding our agency and personal responsibility. Environmentalist Derrick Jensen, in his thought-provoking piece “Beyond Hope,” argues that relying on hope absolves individuals of responsibility and agency. He gives the example that he doesn’t hope he takes another breath, or that he doesn’t hope he eats breakfast tomorrow, he just does these things because it is up to him. He, however, does hope that when he gets on an airplane the engine doesn’t give out, because of course in that situation he has no control. Hope for results implies surrendering agency. Therefore, I consciously reject hope, in most instances, and steadfastly believe in my capacity to make a difference, firmly asserting my involvement in shaping the fate of the Earth.

In theory, embracing realism and relinquishing hope to enact pragmatic changes seems a viable approach. However, succumbing to the paralyzing fear of a looming “doomsday” convinces us that nothing can be done. What about those who acknowledge their agency and responsibility in climate change? Shouldn’t they be allowed to harbor hope? In her TEDx Talk, Jeannine Bartz emphasizes that in order to create real change in a community, it is essential to make people feel empowered instead of powerless. We don’t want to discourage, but rather make people feel like they actually have a chance and ability to create change, and this wouldn’t be possible if everybody became hopeless.

Despite having agency over ourselves, the inability to control others makes having hope necessary, as we hope that the people in our community will put in the same effort as we do. Bartz suggests bridging the gap between intentions and actions by focusing on available solutions and presenting evidence stemming from our collective actions.

In lieu of using the term hope, which implies passivity akin to a wish, let’s consciously adopt active terms like ambition or intention. This deliberate shift allows us to maintain optimism while holding ourselves accountable. Ambition becomes the driving force, fueling the desire to achieve specific goals, propelling us into decisive action and encouraging us to push the boundaries of what we perceive as possible. By replacing hope with ambition, we collectively become active participants in the fight to protect our environment. On the other hand, intention implies a deliberate commitment, a plan rather than a mere wish. Approaching environmental issues with intention sets concrete goals, acknowledging that our actions matter and contribute meaningfully to positive change. By adopting both ambition and intention, we deliberately shift responsibility from an abstract, external savior to ourselves, becoming the initiators of change, no longer dependent on waiting for someone else to rescue the environment.

Dani Bosse lives in Boulder.