Why We Are (our ethos and knowledge sources) The predicted
consequences of accelerating climate change are devastating —
the worst case scenarios are doomsday stuff. The timeframes for
impacts are shortening faster than politics, economics and
society can comprehend, let alone react to — earth systems have
already started to change in ways not expected for another 50–80
years. The world continues to emit greenhouse gases faster and
faster even as we go past the “dangerous climate change”
threshold our current efforts are attempting to avoid.
Sustainability (however defined) will be impossible to achieve
unless there are substantial and rapid reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions. After two decades focused on greenhouse,
sustainability and environmental issues, the
compartmentalisation of our responses to the unfolding crises
that confront us is clearly inadequate to solve them. What is
needed is for our actions, whenever possible, to create multiple
benefits that go beyond just “solving” the immediate proble