Homo sapiens, a species fundamentally rooted in pattern making and storytelling, is living through a climatic, economic, social, and cultural transition that is desperate for a new narrative: This is a primary rationale for our conference.
Drawing on the language of green and sustainability will take concerned individuals and organizations only so far. A growing body of evidence suggests that climate change-induced impacts on agriculture, the economy, public health, and water- and food- supply networks would not only undermine the abilities of literally hundreds of millions to meet basic needs for food, water, and shelter, but could also weaken the psychological and social resilience of human populations.
This two-pronged material and psychosocial threat to human civilization is occurring right now. During this crucial period the growth of popular resolve and resilience will be needed so that citizens are able to communicate their wishes to policymakers and begin to prepare for significant economic, climatic, cultural, and social dislocation. Nonetheless, obstacles stand in the way of preparing for climate change: Uncertainty, denial, habituation, mistrust, proportionality and, as always, a laundry list of immediate and practical priorities.
These are the elephants in our living room and they’re getting bigger. It’s time to ask how to be rid of obsolete institutional paradigms and learn to see new problems in fresh ways; how to address uncertainty and the collateral damage of inaction; and how to influence the global, regional and local decision-making space of our audiences without sacrificing moral leverage.
Even if we accomplish this, the accelerating pace of climate change may outstrip humanity’s ability to institute the dramatic and widespread structural changes needed to ensure just, inclusive, and large-scale adaptation. If this proves true, then individuals, as well as private and public sector organizations, need to foster psychosocial adaptation that helps people become more resilient to climate change—and more capable of being in service to fellow citizens—as the inexorable shift towards a more challenging climate regime unfolds.
Consider this: Whatever success might be possible in the next crucial years would require us to develop and harness a common language—a qualitative, not just quantitative, lingua franca that mobilizes humanity’s shared stories.
This groundbreaking invitee-only conference, which explores mental health and psychosocial adaptation to climate change—and potential cultural, social, and policy remedies—is proud to be associated with Gaining Ground’s production of “Resilient Cities: Urban Strategies for Transition Times.”
