Categories
Leadership

2020 is dead. Long live 2021! Why I’m still optimistic about climate action.

2020 is dead. Long live 2021! Why I’m still optimistic about climate action.

“Why 2020 is such a big year for sustainability”.

This was the title for an article I authored almost a year ago. Despite the wildfires that were raging across the Australian outback and news of a certain virus outbreak in the province of Wuhan, China, at the time, I was still cautiously optimistic for the year ahead and the promise of what a new decade of international climate action could achieve.

To say that last year failed to ‘live up to the hype’ would be somewhat of an understatement…

Back then, if you were to tell me that the whole world would enter a live action remake of Contagion for the remainder of the year, I’d probably have said something along the lines of:

“But the virus isn’t that dangerous, is it? Isn’t it just like the flu?”; or

“But the Chinese government have managed to contain the spread, haven’t they?”; or 

“Why are people eating pangolins?!”

I consider myself a pretty positive person with an optimistic outlook – but I’ll be honest, 2020 was just plain awful. Looking forward, now that we’ve all had a month of closure to recover from the monstrosity that was last year, let’s review where global sustainability stands in 2021 and what we need to do to resuscitate our response to climate change.  

The Pandemic’s Effects on the Planet

2020 was unprecedented, there’s no denying it. Face masks, hand sanitiser, social distancing; the spread of coronavirus dramatically changed our way of life. In fact, our activities changed so much that even our generations of CO2 emissions were affected. Due to significant falls in global energy demand and domestic and international travel, carbon emissions unexpectedly dropped by record 2.4 gigatons (Gt), representing 8% of our total annual CO2 emissions. The emission decreases from last year dwarf those resulting from any other seismic event of the 20th century, from the Great Depression and the global financial crisis of 2008 to the whole of World War II (see Figure 1 below).

Before coronavirus, nobody would’ve thought that implementing climate actions such as closing polluting industries and reducing air travel seemingly overnight could be possible. Yet in some ways, the lockdown provisions taken to reduce the spread of COVID 19 demonstrated how quickly measures like these can be taken when the need is urgent enough. As we quarantined ourselves, our skies became less polluted, our roads less congested, and the world as we knew it suddenly transformed.

Figure 1: Annual changes in global energy-related CO2 emissions, 1900-2020, IEA

“Well, at least less CO2 emissions is a positive that we can take away from 2020!”

Well, no. Unfortunately, this isn’t the silver lining that it sounds like. Yes, it’s true that last year’s disruptions surprisingly produced the amount of annual emission cuts we need if we’re to reach net-zero emission by 2050. But while momentarily shutting down our global economy and social interactions are necessary and effective methods of slowing the spread of coronavirus, nobody wants to see continuing lockdowns or social distancing measures for the foreseeable future.

As we recover and prepare for a post-pandemic future, we need to plan a response that gives us resilience against the current health crisis, while also preventing the acceleration of sustainability challenges in the future.

Coronavirus & Climate Change: Our Most Urgent Crises

New strains of the virus still present an imminent threat to millions of people around the world, but there is hope for us on the horizon. The gradual rollout of vaccination programmes will, in time, slowly reduce our vulnerability to COVID 19. But (luckily for us…), this isn’t the only global emergency that we’re currently facing.

As we deal with the outbreak of COVID 19, the devastating consequences of climate change haven’t gone anywhere. As I remarked at the beginning of last year, 2020 was supposed to be the start of serious climate action. But while governments and policymakers have justifiably raced to contain and curb growing infection rates, their sense of urgency and political will for climate action has unfortunately taken a back seat. If not addressed, this could lead to a reversal of last year’s global emissions reductions and result in an overall increase, as governments introduce recovery stimulus packages that prioritise rapid economic growth industrial outputs.  

Our fight against coronavirus is of paramount importance, but considering the resulting damages if left unchecked, so too is the fight against climate change. Aside from the catastrophic environmental devastation, climate change will also present a similar threat to public health and social stability in the future – with emergency situations occurring more frequently. If extreme weather events or the ranges of vector borne diseases increase under climate change scenarios, health systems will continually be placed under enormous strain due to increasing shock events, while the poorest and most vulnerable in society will bear the brunt of the impacts.

Aside from the catastrophic environmental devastation, climate change will also present a similar threat to public health and social stability in the future – with emergency situations occurring more frequently.

By now, you may be asking yourself:

“If emergency actions can be taken by governments to prevent the spread of coronavirus, why haven’t we seen the same response for climate change?”

The problem lies in something called hyperbolic discounting, otherwise known as ‘the Present Bias’. It’s a behavioural term used to describe human’s tendency to settle for short-term rewards now, rather than work towards preventing long-term costs in the future. When it comes the approaches taken to combat coronavirus and climate change respectively, we can see the effects of this trait very clearly. With COVID-19 and other health-related emergnecies, policy responses and mitigation efforts such as vaccinations and behavioural changes are rapidly developed because the consequences of inaction are immediately visible for all to see. But with climate change, our traditional approach has been vastly different. Because the effects of climate change will continue to get worse over a longer period, some people don’t recognise the clear link between the lack of climate action and the resulting apocalyptic scenario we’re left with.

When we think about how coronavirus has impacted our lives and what lies on the horizon if climate change isn’t met head on, we can’t afford to stand by and do nothing. With economic forecasts predicting the cost of inaction could range anywhere from $10 trillion to $50 trillion over the next 200 years, it’s clear that we literally can’t afford any idleness either. As we tackle the imminent dangers presented by coronavirus, we also need the same level of urgency when preventing dangerous levels of climate change. While we reel from the tragic effects of the current pandemic, if we don’t act on climate change, they will ultimately present a smaller-scaled example of the damages caused by sustainability-related challenges.      

Rebooting the Green Recovery

With the emissions drop of 2020 and COP 26, the crucial climate summit to deliver action on the Paris Agreement happening in Glasgow this November, we have a once in a generation opportunity to rally others together and kick-start real climate action. With studies showing that green stimulus plans can stimulate economic growth, while delivering a higher rate of return for government spending in both the short and long term, it’s clear we need to start laying the groundwork for an economic recovery that prioritises public health, job security, and of course the transition towards sustainable development. And I’m not the only one out there who thinks the same way.   

The UK’s sustainability leaders, political parties, and top 200 Business Leaders are calling the government to ‘build back better’ and commit towards implementing a green recovery. A call for climate action after coronavirus is the people’s will as well. Climate Assembly UK, a citizen body representing the attitudes on climate change held by the UK’s population, has urged for “strong government leadership and cross-party cooperation” to build a long-term, phased transition towards climate progress.

There’s evidence, public demand, and even political will for a green recovery for COVID-19. Now, all that’s left is for us to do is to get to work.

…we have a once in a generation opportunity to rally others together and kick-start real climate action.

Why I'm Optimistic for 2021

Given everything that’s happened since the last article I wrote, I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on whether I still consider myself an optimistic person. With the global pandemic still ongoing and new case numbers remaining high, it’s easy to see why many of us are struggling and finding things financially, physically and emotionally hard right now.

But when it comes to sustainable development, I’m still excited about our future. It may be a long road ahead, but from seeing how the world pulled together to help and support one another during the pandemic, I’m hopeful that we come together again to act on climate change. And with the US reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Agreement and a wave of executive orders from the Biden Administration aimed to address the effects of climate change all occurring in the last fortnight, I think it’s fair to say that things are looking up for 2021.

2020 is dead. Long live 2021.

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Pete Snow | Co-Founder and Head of Strategy
Pete’s passion for all things green and eco-friendly has driven his work with sustainability projects; with focuses ranging from turtles to turnover. With a background in international environmental policy and diverse experience within the corporate sustainability field, Pete is OMBRA’s lead strategist and loves it when a plan comes together.
OMBRA's Chameleon Logo

Want to read more?

Take a look at some of our other posts below:

Categories
Ideas

Why 2020 is such a big year for sustainability

Why 2020 is such a big year for sustainability

For people who are into self-development, the end of January is an important time for reflection. Some of us will use the time to judge how well we’ve progressed, or in my case, how much more effort is needed to shed the holiday weight gain… For others, it may a chance to change direction and adopt a new approach towards accomplishing our goals.
When it comes to society’s progress towards sustainability, it’s also important that we take stock and reflect on the challenges that lie ahead. With the 2010s turning out to be the warmest decade on record and extreme weather events such as the recent Australian wildfires increasing faster than predicted, the need for action has never been greater.

Taking stock of Sustainability Action

Here’s a look at our progress to date and what we should aspire to work towards for 2020 and the rest of the decade:

Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals

Here’s the situation: if we’re to ensure sustainable social, environmental and economic progress outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we have just ten years to complete the transformative action required.
Ten years.
And so far, progress to date hasn’t been the best.
According to key findings from the 2019 SDG Report, while progress has been made in areas such as extreme poverty reduction, widespread immunization and decreasing child mortality rates, levels of climate change are rising, with carbon dioxide concentration and ocean acidity levels increasing drastically.
As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urges:
it’s abundantly clear that we need a much deeper, faster global and more ambitious response…to unleash the social and economic transformation needed to achieve [the] 2030 goals.
António Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
Thankfully, a surge in public demand for sustainable development is causing a global awakening. With greater concerns for sustainability issues from Millennials and increasing examples of climate change activism led by Greta Thunberg and other inspiring figures, there has been a better opportunity for action.

Businesses’ Sustainability Performance

The business world has also started to wake up to sustainability issues. As a key driver in the push for the sustainable transformation of the global economy, leadership and engagement from business are essential to accomplishing the SDGs.
However, according to the 2019 UN Global Compact Progress Report, contributions from businesses towards the SDGs are currently not enough, with roughly 48% of member companies implementing sustainability practices into their operations. It’s clear that businesses need to make a dramatic shift in their approaches to corporate sustainability by raising ambitions within their own companies through responsible leadership and honest and transparent communication to deliver tangible and sustainable impacts.

The Decade for Action

Coined by the UN Global Compact at the World Economic Forum at Davos last week, ‘The Decade of Action’ couldn’t be more a more accurate reflection for what’s needed from sustainability efforts in the future. If we are to accomplish the SDGs set for 2030, 2020 needs to become a tipping point for large-scale commitment to sustainable business.
Here’s a brief look at what we can expect for 2020:

Trends for the 2020s

While unsustainable trends such as increased fracking from fossil fuel companies and large-scale deforestation from food companies continue, there are also plenty of sustainable trends that are on the rise and give us reasons to be optimistic about our future.
The State of Green Business 2020 report released earlier this month details just some of the exiting business trends expected for 2020. From the rise of employee sustainability activism to the number of companies issuing sustainability reports, the business world can expect a sustainability shakeup in the next decade.
We predict to see a lot of activities in these areas from businesses looking to lead and capture interest from sustainability stakeholders over the next few years.

Circularity goes Mainstream

Once considered a theoretical approach to business management, circular models are likely to become the core strategy for value-chains. By taking a innovate approach to material flows throughout business’ operations, the increase of circular business will allow for reduced numbers of raw material extractions and reduce the amount of end-use waste generated by products and services.
IKEA’s goal to become a fully circular business by 2030 recognises the intrinsic value that circular methods can offer business. With increasing circular opportunities identified through strategy frameworks and life-cycle assessments (LCAs), we believe we’ll see a shift towards closing material loops, for good.

Sustainability for SMEs

As sustainability criterias impact mainstream business decisions for larger companies, smaller companies and members of larger supply chains can also expect increased sustainability requirements in the future.
While we should applaud sustainable efforts from larger companies to date, we should also encourage other smaller enterprises to follow in their footsteps and drive progress forward. With more and more SMEs and entrepreneurial start-ups using innovative solutions to solve current sustainability issues, we expect an explosion of SME interest in sustainability.
If we are to accomplish the SDGs set for 2030, 2020 needs to become a tipping point for large-scale commitment to sustainable business.

Ten years to transform

We’ve made a start, but we need more commitment from business leaders today if we’re to deliver on the SDGs. And we need it now. There’s still time to mobilise solutions to the world’s sustainability issues, but we need purposeful leadership, ambitious targets and transparent commitments to progress.
Here’s to the 2020s and to ushering in a new era of sustainable ambition.

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Pete Snow | Co-Founder and Head of Strategy
Pete’s passion for all things green and eco-friendly has driven his work with sustainability projects; with focuses ranging from turtles to turnover. With a background in international environmental policy and diverse experience within the corporate sustainability field, Pete is OMBRA’s lead strategist and loves it when a plan comes together.
OMBRA's Chameleon Logo

Want to read more?

Take a look at some of our other posts below:

Categories
Leadership

3 Important Lessons Sustainable Leaders can learn from the Renaissance

3 Important Lessons Sustainable Leaders can learn from the Renaissance

Sometimes, YouTube can be an absolute lifesaver.
When people ask me what I think about unfamiliar subjects such as out-there political theories, literary masterpieces that I probably should have read but haven’t, or the artistic works of Johannes Vermeer and his attempt to bring glamour to everyday menial actions (true story), I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really have an educated opinion about them. Instead, to not seem quite as uncultured as I actually am, I’ll generally watch a brief 5 to 10-minute video on YouTube on the subject to get the gist.
So, in preparation for a holiday to Rome later this year and to formulate some basic knowledge about the city’s rich culture, I decided to gel up on my knowledge of the Renaissance. This involved paying yet another visit to The School of Life’s YouTube Channel. These guys do an amazing job of taking important historical ideas and events and translating them for modern-day audiences and clueless individuals such as myself. If you’re like me and need an overview of complex subjects which you have a very limited understanding of, I can’t recommend these people enough.
While watching the video and listening to the core ideas behind the historical period, I was surprised to find some similarities between the lofty goals of the Renaissance’s great thinkers and those of us who are trying to instigate some sustainable change throughout our spheres of influence. No – I’m not subtly trying to compare myself and fellow change agents to the likes of Leonardo Da Vinci, but I do believe the delivery methods of the period’s ideals can teach us important lessons on how to better ourselves, and the planet at the same time.
On that note, here is an undeniably amateur translation of what the Renaissance’s goals can teach those of us working in sustainability:

1. Present a vision for the world that inspires others to follow your lead

Beauty. Truth. Wisdom.
These were the ideals that Lorenzo de’ Medici, one of the Renaissance’s most famous financial figures and most important patrons, wanted to promote to inspire others. As the leader of The Medici Bank, a prominent financial institution in Europe during the 15th Century, Lorenzo helped to secure philanthropic funding for some of the period’s greatest philosophers, architects and artists. Under his guidance, Lorenzo directed these artisans to create beautiful, inspiring works that focused on his vision for society; changing the Italian peninsula forever.
For individuals looking to create their own sustainable renaissance, filled with circular economic principles and all things environmentally friendly, one of the most important attributes to have is a compelling vision for the future. Ensuring organisations develop an authentic purpose that drives positive sustainability impacts is critical, but without an empowering vision that encourages employees and customers alike to aspire towards greater sustainability performance, the scale and impact of initiatives will always be greatly reduced.
The comprehensive vision Lorenzo had was arguably the main driver responsible for the Renaissance. Although it’s estimated that the Medici spent roughly $500 million USD in today’s wealth, the reason the Renaissance is so iconic to us now is because of the desire to make philanthropic efforts to promote philosophical values.
Considering the world’s economy is currently valued to be around about the $86 trillion USD mark, it’s fair to say that the potential availability of finance for sustainable measures isn’t the issue. It seems to me that what’s lacking is a shortage of inspiring, sustainable visions that mobilise the right people into action.
…without an empowering vision that encourages employees and customers alike to aspire towards greater sustainability performance, the scale and impact of initiatives will always be greatly reduced.

2. Develop creative examples of your vision based on systematic evidence

In case you’re wondering, the building in the banner image is The Duomo, Florence’s iconic cathedral.
Built in early 15th century, there’s no denying that it’s a staggeringly beautiful building. When you compare it to some of the buildings that are being erected around London at the moment, it really does put our 21st-century construction efforts to shame. If you’re like me and you’re also a complete layman when it comes to architecture, you’ll be looking at the shape and design of the building and wondering “how the @#$% did they build this?!”.
The truth is that everyone from artists and architects to philosophers and politicians from this period had a good deal of material to learn from and apply towards their goals for beautiful cities and wise societies. The Renaissance, meaning ‘rebirth’ in French, was a revival of Ancient Greek and Roman ideas and examples that came before. From the specific dimensions of a Corinthian column to Epicurean thoughts on how to live a rich and peaceful life, key Renaissance figures were on a philosophical mission to conduct research into systematised Classical ideas that had worked in the past, and apply their inspiration into practice, with artistic works and urban planning.
While it’s perhaps a little unfair to compare your average business strategy to a Renaissance masterpiece, there are some practical lessons we can take away from the period. When it comes to designing a sustainability action plan, build credibility into your plan by ensuring practical consistency with benchmarks from leading sustainability leaders in the industry, as well as adhering with recommendations from the globe’s scientific communities and recognised sustainability organisations.
Granted, your action plan may not be as stunning as a painting by Raphael, but with a little effort, your consistency and progression against key sustainability targets might just cause some inspiration for the next generation.
Align your organisation’s efforts with proven methods to improve sustainability performance by:
  • aligning objectives with those of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
  • tracking and measuring progress with climate science metrics such as science-based targets; and
  • ensuring transparent communications through standardised reporting systems.
  • 3. Harness the power of advertising to make behaviours more attractive and desirable

    Beautiful stuff sells.
    All marketers and advertisers know this very well. When it comes to marketing a particular product, service or belief, if you can make it irresistibly desirable, chances are you’ll have a line of people wanting to buy into whatever you’re selling.
    It might surprise you to learn, but the Renaissance artists were arguably some of the best advertisers ever to have existed.
    Famous masters like Botticelli and Michelangelo made their works in the service of the Renaissance’s core ideas and intellectual ambitions. By making stunningly creative works of art that depicted honourable and desirable qualities, they utilised beautiful imagery to make people want to instinctively aspire towards imitating the characteristics promoted. Through this innovative combination of advertising and philosophy, the Renaissance’s great masterpieces helped to translate beneficial ways to live one’s life into a beautiful format.
    When it comes to advertising sustainable values, the world has much to learn from these master promoters – sorry, painters. To truly captivate the world’s interest and desire to address our highly materialistic and damaging lifestyles, we need to make sustainable alternatives attractive enough to encourage people to change. Where the conversation around sustainability usually reverberates around ’climate catastrophes’ and ‘inhospitable environments for humans’, we need to reframe the focus and highlight the exciting and realisable future that sustainable development presents us with.
    I’m not saying that companies and other organisations should paint a lovely picture of their brand’s poor attempt at self-improvement and distract stakeholders from the lack of tangible and meaningful sustainability efforts that their implementing. Far from it. The threat of climate change is very real, and no one is disputing that half measures, shown sexily, will be enough to deliver the impacts we need.
    What I am saying, is that to encourage the radical shift in our unsustainable behaviours, we need to use the incredible power of marketing and advertising to showcase examples that are for the good of the planet and that also aspire others around us to become economically, environmentally and socially virtuous.
    To truly captivate the world’s interest and desire to address our highly materialistic and damaging lifestyles, we need to make sustainable alternatives attractive enough to encourage people to change.

    Recreating our own Renaissance

    So, there you have it. Through a little bit of philosophical plagiarism and subliminal messaging, the Renaissance brought about one of the most creative and celebrated periods in human history. By recreating some of the period’s approaches to promoting desirable behaviours, there’s no reason why our generation can be responsible for the latest inspiring chapter in our history:
    The Sustainable Renaissance.
    The Sustainance…
    The Sustainassance…
    The Sustainabilassiance?
    You get the idea.
    If you’re interested in learning more about the time period, take a look at The School of Life’s video on The Renaissance, available here.

    Share this post

    Share on facebook
    Share on twitter
    Share on linkedin
    Pete Snow | Co-Founder and Head of Strategy
    Pete’s passion for all things green and eco-friendly has driven his work with sustainability projects; with focuses ranging from turtles to turnover. With a background in international environmental policy and diverse experience within the corporate sustainability field, Pete is OMBRA’s lead strategist and loves it when a plan comes together.
    OMBRA's Chameleon Logo

    Want to read more?

    Take a look at some of our other posts below:

    Categories
    News & Insights

    We’re committed to climate conflict transparency and to use our creativity to inspire sustainable change

    We’re committed to climate conflict transparency and to use our creativity to inspire sustainable change

    Climate Emergency and Creative Conflict Letter

    As creatives, communications agencies and media experts, we see the climate emergency.
    Just over a month ago, Extinction Rebellion (XR) called upon advertising agencies to “Declare a climate & ecological emergency and act accordingly.”
    We agree. Because creativity has consequences and our industry cannot be neutral. As communicators, we have the power to inspire change or to keep serving destruction.
    We could end this letter here, with a commitment to use our power of persuasion and storytelling for the right side of history.
    But a promise is not enough, because our industry hasn’t faced the same scrutiny as others. Remember, we’re good communicators and might be able to wiggle out of this.
    OMBRA has committed that before this year is done, we will disclose our ‘climate conflicts’. Whilst respecting client confidentiality, we will reveal the percentage of our turnover categorised by industry, including income from fossil fuel companies and other high carbon clients.
    You can find the list of other pioneering creatives and agency signatories here: https://www.creativeandclimate.com/
    We know many of our colleagues and friends across the creative industry are anxious/terrified about the climate emergency. We also know that disclosing climate conflicts will be too early, and too controversial, for many Agencies today.
    But, we firmly believe that we cannot serve climate solutions, whilst still serving the industries most answerable for causing the climate emergency.
    And of course, disclosure is only the first step on a journey that must lead to divestment – divesting agency-client rosters of these clients. Agencies need to align our businesses with climate science, just like everyone else.
    Thanks for the nudge, XR

    Share this post

    Share on facebook
    Share on twitter
    Share on linkedin
    Pete Snow | Co-Founder and Head of Strategy
    Pete’s passion for all things green and eco-friendly has driven his work with sustainability projects; with focuses ranging from turtles to turnover. With a background in international environmental policy and diverse experience within the corporate sustainability field, Pete is OMBRA’s lead strategist and loves it when a plan comes together.
    OMBRA's Chameleon Logo

    Want to read more?

    Take a look at some of our other posts below:

    Categories
    News & Insights

    Let’s make the future more sustainable, more inspiring and less Mad Max…

    Let’s make the future more sustainable, more inspiring and less Mad Max…

    Have you ever noticed how the future is portrayed in films?

    Blade Runner 2049; Children of Men; Mad Max: Fury Road; Geostorm.
    If you’ve watched any of these dystopian disaster epics, you’ll know that we’re heading for a post-apocalyptic existence, struggling to survive in the geological wasteland that is Planet Earth. As entertaining as these movies may (or may not) be, the artistic vision for our future is often – well – pretty bleak.
    As you already know, climate change poses a serious threat to future generations around the globe. Granted, it’s unlikely that tsunamis the size of skyscrapers will engulf cities due to malfunctioning climate-controlling satellites. Or, that society will devolve into tyrannical tribes, roaming the desert in search for Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.
    But the reality is our world is changing.
    Higher surface temperatures, rises in sea level, melting ice caps and glaciers. All the symptoms of global warming will affect regions across the world, causing catastrophic impacts to local communities and the natural environment.
    Sounds terrifying, right?
    To prevent a live-action version of Geostorm, without the special effects – we need to act to prevent climate change. And we need to act now.
    At OMBRA, we believe that to galvanise society into action, sustainable or otherwise, people need inspiring examples to follow. They need to see what their lives could be like if they took the next step and believed in the power of their actions.

    More half-full, rather than half-empty thinking.

    Now, at this point, you may be reading this while adopting the fetal position to prevent any additional climate-related stress. We get it. Climate change can be a scary subject. Traditionally, whenever most people think of climate change, they picture an inevitable, looming disaster that presents massive, socio-political complex issues for future generations. ‘We can’t do anything about it’ etc.
    Well. The truth is, we can.
    Since the Industrial Revolution, scientific research has shown that human actions have been responsible for the increased concentration of greenhouse gases and levels of global warming.

    Human Actions.

    If we can change the actions that damage our planet and our societies, to ones that protect them instead – we can create a future where humanity exists in harmony with the natural world.
    There are already pioneers among us who are developing the route for us to follow. Renewable energy innovations; Disruptive circular economic businesses; revolutions in sustainable agriculture and nutrition. The solutions to the universal issues affecting our planet are already out there. The question is, how do encourage people to go beyond our existing achievements and create lasting changes to our behaviour as a society?
    The solution? We need to believe that our world can be better.

    Our future deserves better than the one we imagine for ourselves

    When it comes to predicting the future, it’s fair to say that people generally don’t adopt a very positive approach. Looking back at our selection of disaster movies – what is the one thing they all share? It’s that story of a dystopian future. A future where the world has fallen into decay. A future which doesn’t encourage, or inspire.
    In many ways, when we think about the consequences of climate change, we’re often greeted with the same story. An uninspiring, daunting future of irreversible environmental damage, where our prospects for a happy, healthy existence are diminished.
    But what if we rewrote the story for the world’s future?
    What if, when we thought of the future, we reflected on our impacts on the natural world, took massive sustainable action and took responsibility for protecting the environment?
    Well, that would be a story we could be all be inspired by.
    We believe that while climate change presents humanity with an immense challenge, it also presents us with an incredible opportunity to create and build a better existence for ourselves and the planet.

    Let's make our future a breathtaking one.

    At OMBRA, we believe that to galvanise society into action, sustainable or otherwise, people need inspiring examples to follow. They need to see what their lives could be like if they took the next step and believed in the power of their actions. And what could be more inspirational than a majestic, vibrant and sustainable world.
    Since our evolution, humanity has tried to separate itself from the constraints of the natural world. We’ve believed that we as a species were independent of our environment – victors of the apparent battle of man against nature. But the truth is humanity and the natural world have always been dependent on one another. We need to embrace and rekindle our relationship with the natural world. In the 4.5 billion years of our planet’s history, nature has always found a way to evolve and adapt to the external constraints placed upon it.
    We say it’s time for humanity to take inspiration from our planet and plot our own sustainable evolution.
    OMBRA’s foundations are based on the goal of reintroducing people to their interdependent relationships they have with the natural world. We wanted to harness the same emotions of wonderment and amazement people experience when surrounded by nature and use them to reach out to people across business, politics, and society.
    Our purpose is to inspire people to imagine and create a progressive, sustainable future for the world. Through our combination of innovative sustainable strategy and beautiful creative design, our message to the world is simple yet powerful;
    Make sustainability breathtaking

    Are you ready to change the world?

    We know following the sustainable road ahead to solve climate change will not be easy. But when our species put our minds to a task, we can solve anything.
    Think about it.
    We’ve cured diseases, built airplanes, and even sent a dozen-odd people to the moon and back. If we believe we can do something, history has shown us that we can do it.
    We believe that while climate change presents humanity with an immense challenge, it also presents us with an incredible opportunity to create and build a better existence for ourselves and the planet.
    And we know we’re not the only like-minded people out there.
    While OMBRA’s journey has only just begun, we’re excited to get to work with fellow climate optimists and help people envisage the next generation of sustainable societies, businesses, and lifestyles for the future.
    Together, we know we can create a future worth working towards and one that doesn’t create a backdrop for the latest cinematic disaster epic.
    Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be showcasing our naturalistic ideas to all you would-be visionaries out there. So, keep an eye out and help us spread our vision of a sustainable future worthy of an Oscar or two.

    Share this post

    Share on facebook
    Share on twitter
    Share on linkedin
    Pete Snow | Co-Founder and Head of Strategy
    Pete’s passion for all things green and eco-friendly has driven his work with sustainability projects; with focuses ranging from turtles to turnover. With a background in international environmental policy and diverse experience within the corporate sustainability field, Pete is OMBRA’s lead strategist and loves it when a plan comes together.
    OMBRA's Chameleon Logo

    Want to read more?

    Take a look at some of our other posts below: