Associate Professor - Passion for Energy System Analysis & Modeling, Energy Transition, Sustainable Development, Climate Change Mitigation
"Stubborn optimist" is my way of cooping with the increasing climate change and with decision makers not doing their job to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels. Christiana point at one thing that for many years has been my approach when working with scenario analysis to guide the energy transiton. We have the opportunity to shape the future. The future is not just something that happen, we can do something. It is not easy, but we have the opportunity to act and reduce the climate impact. This also makes the word 'uncertainty' tricky when approaching the future, we need to differ between what we can impact and what is given (and can come with uncertainties). Some takeaways from Christiana Figueres' article (not in her order): 💻 🔬 We also have the responsibility – and the opportunity – to shape the future differently. We must take stock of the science, triple down on our efforts and deploy the perspective of possibility. ⏰ 🥁 A sense of despair is understandable, but it robs us of our agency, makes us vulnerable to mis- and disinformation, and prevents the radical collaboration we need. Doubt holds us back from taking bold action, which is why it is strategically seized upon by incumbents, who have invested millions of dollars (probably much more) in sowing uncertainty around the climate crisis and its solutions among the general public. 🌞 🌬For example, what has been achieved in transforming the energy system to this point, pushing against a fossil fuel industry deliberately intent on delaying progress, and within a lacklustre policy environment, is extraordinary.
Global Climate Leader 🔸 Co-Host, Outrage + Optimism 🔸 Former UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Chief Negotiator of the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015 🔸 Founding Partner, Global Optimism
The despair expressed by climate scientists this week isn't scaremongering - they are doing their job. They are telling us where we are, but now it’s up to the rest of us to decide what this moment requires of us and to radically change the direction of travel. My piece in The Guardian yesterday. #stubbornoptimism https://bit.ly/4bdo3DY
