What’s frightening us this Halloween: Why the IPCC Report is so scary!
You know when you’re watching a horror movie, the part where a character is running away from the killer but you just know the killer is going to outrun them? That’s how I feel when I read the report released by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) earlier this year. I feel just like I’m sitting in a movie theatre (scary enough on it’s own these days) and I’m screaming “RUN FASTER!!” at the character on the screen - but they don’t run faster ... and the killer gets them.
What does the IPCC Report say?
Scientists have been saying it for years, if we continue at this pace the planet won't be salvageable. Doesn’t that scare you?
It terrifies me.
How did we get to this point where profit meant more than preserving the place we live, sleep, breathe?
If you haven’t read the IPCC report, you should - but for now I will share some of the most damning points I read.
We could lose entire countries! Global heating above 1.5 C will be catastrophic for Pacific Island nations.
Extreme weather events like heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfalls are associated with the 0.5C global warming that has already occurred. If the planet continues on this trajectory the Pacific Island nations are susceptible to catastrophic cyclones and prolonged drought. How do we expect countries to take on this insane burden?
The damage we’ve caused may be irreversible, and the damage that continues is growing at an alarming rate. We need to stop the chit chat and start taking action now!
What does the IPCC Report mean for business?
Our policymakers aren’t going to solve this on their own. A problem this big requires the collective to take responsibility for their role in the rise of CO2 emissions.
As business owners we need to be more cognizant of our role and to adopt positive impact strategies that minimize the impact of CO2 emissions causing a rise in global warming.
You can start by accessing your environmental impact:
Does your company consider energy and water efficiency improvements?
Does your company use waste reduction programs?
How much energy does your company use/ save per year?
How much energy is used from renewable production?
What type of environmental footprint does your product make in its production and sale?
Obviously, this is just the tip of the rapidly-melting-iceberg for determining your company’s environmental impact. You’ll probably find it unsettling when you take an honest look at your role but, ultimately, I know you’ll find it motivating for change.
So what can we do?
If we stick with my horror-film-esque murderer on the loose (representing the effects of climate change) chasing the terrified intended victim (that’s you by the way), I see one of three outcomes:
Just give up
Stop running and let the killer get you. Let the world’s ecosystem and economy collapse all around you and burn along with it (that’s pretty grim, isn’t it?)Keep running
Try to outrun the killer with their supernatural powers even though, at best, you might extend your life by a few miserable minutes (also known as denying the urgency of our situation and going on with “business as usual”).Or stand and fight!
Team up with your fellow fear-filled cast and take the killer head-on. Call your peers to arms and help each other build a triple-bottom line, call on our policy-makers for change and call on everyone to stop and acknowledge the very real threat that we’re facing.
If we don’t empower the people to take action and responsibility for their role, the inevitable is destruction.
The fact is the planet can’t hold on any longer to an only profit-driven model, companies need to act now and they need to act fast!
If this real-life horror story scares you as much as it scares me, and you want to start taking action.... let's talk about how Decade Impact can help you - because time is running out!