While humanity hurtles toward a climate catastrophe, the debate has changed from understanding the science of climate change to finding effective solutions. Although there is close to unanimous agreement that greenhouse gas emissions have to be radically curtailed as quickly as possible, concrete progress is agonizingly slow. Many point to a telling omission: there has yet to be an effective leader on climate.
So what does great climate leadership look like, and why aren’t we seeing more of it? For the last two years, I have been on a journey to discover what really makes a great climate leader. This journey is the subject of my new documentary, Climate Changers, directed by Johan Gabrielsson.
In our search for solid climate leadership, we have wasted too much valuable time and witnessed too many missed opportunities. Perhaps the most striking example is provided by Saul Griffith, an engineer and cofounder of the nonprofit Rewiring Australia, who has pined for “electrifying everything.” That’s just his way of saying that we must transition ourselves from relying on fossil fuels to clean energy sources. It was a very important point that Griffith brought up during our discussions, which had to do with a “dearth of political leadership” setting things in abeyance. He expressed frustration, the sense of which is shared across generations: despite the very clear path ahead, systemic inertia and a lack of visionary leadership are holding up real change.
Griffith’s call to complete the shift to electrification has become emblematic of a more general strategy needed for effective climate change mitigation. Electrification is one of the most powerful solutions to reduce GHG emissions when paired with renewable energy sources. Such strategies, however, require more than technical innovation but very strong leadership to drive change in policy, garner public support, and align economic incentives.
In search of the whereabouts of effective climate leadership, we turn to reviewing a few of the key attributes, separating out those that work from those that fail. On the leadership side, the manifestation of strong climate leadership exemplifies a deep understanding of science and the ability to convey complex information into tractable action. They are able to inspire and engage a range of constituencies, from policymakers to community groups. Moreover, they can be resilient in the face of opposition and navigate complex political, economic, and social dynamics influencing climate policy.
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While there is clearly a need for these kinds of leaders, one frequently sees a chasm between what is needed and what is available. A lack of political leaders who have the capabilities or vision, combined with business leaders failing to invest due to perceived risks in sustainable business practices. All this has created a gaping hole that leads to lost opportunities and frustration about the pace that can be sustained.
Our documentary, Climate Changers, sets out to shine a light on those who are doing it right: successfully spanning this chasm. We would like to offer role models of leadership and hope that our viewers will be inspired to take similar steps towards mitigating climate change. These climate leaders are people who are not only exceptionally knowledgeable in their areas of expertise but also adept at building support bases, advocating policy change, and bringing new ideas to life.
That is to say, as we wrestle increasingly with the pressing reality of climate change, our quest for effective climate leadership becomes all the more critical. Progress is painfully slow and has been for some time—an indication that visionary people are needed to drive meaningful action. Through our documentary and in further efforts, we would like to spell out what a great climate leader looks like, inspiring more to step forward so the shift to a sustainable future gets the impetus that is really needed
