What is the best way to impact climate change? A precocious young student asked this question at a sustainability town hall that I recently attended. The student wanted to know, should he focus on behavior change or the hard sciences? How could he make a difference, make an impact and help improve the planet? The obvious answer is do what you love, what fits. The not so obvious answer is, do what you love, what fits, but know exactly what others are doing.
My passion is food systems reform via policy change. To me, a better food system is the result of policy changes that mandate GMO labeling, curtail marketing to children and institutionalize food policy councils at every level of government. At the same time, I have never spent a day on a farm, let alone ever tended a garden. And I have no idea what makes food healthy, that is, I know nothing about nutrition. But I know obesity is becoming an epidemic, that children, for the first time, might not outlive their parents due to diet related diseases, and that policy is a lever for change (see: tobacco). All of which is to say, just because there are things in this field that I do not know doesn’t mean I’m not qualified to advance food systems change. I’m interested, passionate and am eager to learn. However, I would be a stronger advocate if I knew when oranges were in season and how exactly GMOs work.
My advice for the student would be to absolutely pursue his interests. But achieving change is the result of many different factors, and these factors work best in combination. The more we know and understand the many different levels of work necessary to advance sustainability– the more we are willing to be exposed and are not afraid because the information is not in a domain where we feel most comfortable– the better we will be able to achieve change.
Solving climate change and sustainability issues is going to take the work of many different actors working at various levels. We don’t have to know what exactly everyone is up to; listening, embracing and learning from others, though, is integral to lasting success.
