|
|
The RE-AMP Network
|
Simply put, saying the challenges we face are "systemic" is to say not only that they involve a lot of moving parts, many not initially evident, but that they are deeply interconnected. So its often not possible to fix any one of them, even ones that may seem on the surface to be pretty straightforward, without at the same time fixing a bunch of other ones--often problems of very different kinds, arising in different sectors, and not even showing up except at different levels of scale--and many if not most of them requiring quite different kinds of "fixes" and different kinds of tactics.
So what then does it mean to insist on “systems change” as the only way way to actually solve the now planetary crisis, as the only kind of solution complex enough to match the complexity and magnitude of the problem?
Understanding climate change as a systemic problem of how all the ways we meet our needs--and beyond our real needs, our wants--takes huge "causal loops" of many things interacting with many others, it's just not a matter of one day "pulling the plug" or turning off the spigot. Farming systems and natural systems and system of transportation and protection and enforceable legal agreements or laws and banks and money and human beliefs and behaviors, talents and hard work, and justice and choice, and especially human relationships.
Understanding this both shifts our view away from blaming ourselves, or corporate greed, or another range of bad actors, to one of analyzing the systems and their dynamics, pinpointing key points of leverage, and getting clear on just what kind of change needs to happen at precisely the point to change the outcomes. Systems change is difficult, but it is not impossible. We do variations on it all the time. And that, in effect, is the reason we keep using the words "strategy" or "strategic action" or "spiritually strategic action", because if climate action, or eco-justice, or stopping fossil fuels, or recovering our soils, or achieving resilience, or saving habitat--or if any of our campaigns are to work, we have to aim the right actions in support of the right solutions at precisely the right parts of the system.
Protest cannot merely demand that somebody do something and do it now, but name what is specifically needed to make the difference, and take the actions that not only motivate the right people to do what is needed, but enable them to take the right steps that will result in the concrete goal: like a just transition to a sustainable infrastructure that enables accessible and affordable public transport, or sustainable housing stock that actually enables the reduction of household emissions.
Fortunately, we have good, even great examples, of just how to do the many different kinds of things that are needed on almost every side. And that's what we'll look at here: and not only the inspiring stories of new solutions proving that if taken to scale these answers actually could change the systems, but of the right kinds of strategies and actions for getting those new answers into all the places where they are needed.
So what then does it mean to insist on “systems change” as the only way way to actually solve the now planetary crisis, as the only kind of solution complex enough to match the complexity and magnitude of the problem?
Understanding climate change as a systemic problem of how all the ways we meet our needs--and beyond our real needs, our wants--takes huge "causal loops" of many things interacting with many others, it's just not a matter of one day "pulling the plug" or turning off the spigot. Farming systems and natural systems and system of transportation and protection and enforceable legal agreements or laws and banks and money and human beliefs and behaviors, talents and hard work, and justice and choice, and especially human relationships.
Understanding this both shifts our view away from blaming ourselves, or corporate greed, or another range of bad actors, to one of analyzing the systems and their dynamics, pinpointing key points of leverage, and getting clear on just what kind of change needs to happen at precisely the point to change the outcomes. Systems change is difficult, but it is not impossible. We do variations on it all the time. And that, in effect, is the reason we keep using the words "strategy" or "strategic action" or "spiritually strategic action", because if climate action, or eco-justice, or stopping fossil fuels, or recovering our soils, or achieving resilience, or saving habitat--or if any of our campaigns are to work, we have to aim the right actions in support of the right solutions at precisely the right parts of the system.
Protest cannot merely demand that somebody do something and do it now, but name what is specifically needed to make the difference, and take the actions that not only motivate the right people to do what is needed, but enable them to take the right steps that will result in the concrete goal: like a just transition to a sustainable infrastructure that enables accessible and affordable public transport, or sustainable housing stock that actually enables the reduction of household emissions.
Fortunately, we have good, even great examples, of just how to do the many different kinds of things that are needed on almost every side. And that's what we'll look at here: and not only the inspiring stories of new solutions proving that if taken to scale these answers actually could change the systems, but of the right kinds of strategies and actions for getting those new answers into all the places where they are needed.
"Individual accountability is not a substitute for systemic change."
~ Jamie Arpin-Ricci, Writer, activist, & community pastor
understanding the path toward systems change
"System change not climate change" is a slogan often seen on climate action protest signs. But what does is it mean to insist on “systems change” as the way to actually solve our planetary crisis, or as the only solution complex enough to match the complexity and magnitude of the problem?
Many activists are convinced that the challenges posed by climate change can only be addressed with fundamental changes in our economic, social and political systems. This usually happens through the active collaboration of diverse people and organizations working toward shared goals of lasting improvement to problems at a local, national, and global level.
Understanding climate change as a systemic problem requires huge "causal loops" of many things interacting with many others. Farming systems and natural systems and system of transportation, imbalances of power and money, human beliefs and behaviors, and especially human relationships--are all closely interconnected.
Many activists are convinced that the challenges posed by climate change can only be addressed with fundamental changes in our economic, social and political systems. This usually happens through the active collaboration of diverse people and organizations working toward shared goals of lasting improvement to problems at a local, national, and global level.
Understanding climate change as a systemic problem requires huge "causal loops" of many things interacting with many others. Farming systems and natural systems and system of transportation, imbalances of power and money, human beliefs and behaviors, and especially human relationships--are all closely interconnected.
Saying the challenges we face are "systemic" is to say they involve a lot of moving parts--and also that they are deeply interconnected. It is usually not possible to fix any one of them, even ones that may seem on the surface to be pretty straightforward, without at the same time fixing a bunch of other ones. And many if not most of these problems require quite different kinds of "fixes" and different kinds of tactics.
Understanding this shifts our view away from blaming ourselves, or corporate greed, or another range of bad actors. Instead, we focus on analyzing the systems and corresponding dynamics, pinpointing key leverage points and the changes needed to effect new outcomes. That is why we keep using the words "strategy" or "strategic action" or "spiritually strategic action." Because if climate action, or eco-justice, or stopping fossil fuels, or recovering our soils, or achieving resilience, or saving habitat, or any of our other campaigns are to work, we have to aim the right actions in support of the right solutions at precisely the right parts of the system.
Peaceful climate protests have their place in raising awareness and mobilizing support for climate concerns. But we cannot effect meaningful change by merely demanding that somebody do something and do it now. In order to make a difference we must name what is specifically needed, and take the actions that motivate the right people to take the right steps toward concrete goals. Examples of concrete goals are, a just transition to a sustainable infrastructure that enables accessible and affordable public transportation, or sustainable housing stock that actually enables the reduction of household fossil fuel consumption.
Fortunately, we have good, even great examples, of just how to do the many different kinds of things that are needed on almost every side. And that's what we'll look at here: the inspiring stories of new solutions proving that if taken to scale these answers actually could change the systems, and the right kinds of strategies and actions for getting those new answers into the places where they are needed. Click on any of the images below to find opportunities for hopeful engagement with systems change initiatives being replicated around the world. Or for deeper dive into systems change theory, click here for a landmark article on the levers of system change and here for a guide for action learning exercises to accompany the article
Understanding this shifts our view away from blaming ourselves, or corporate greed, or another range of bad actors. Instead, we focus on analyzing the systems and corresponding dynamics, pinpointing key leverage points and the changes needed to effect new outcomes. That is why we keep using the words "strategy" or "strategic action" or "spiritually strategic action." Because if climate action, or eco-justice, or stopping fossil fuels, or recovering our soils, or achieving resilience, or saving habitat, or any of our other campaigns are to work, we have to aim the right actions in support of the right solutions at precisely the right parts of the system.
Peaceful climate protests have their place in raising awareness and mobilizing support for climate concerns. But we cannot effect meaningful change by merely demanding that somebody do something and do it now. In order to make a difference we must name what is specifically needed, and take the actions that motivate the right people to take the right steps toward concrete goals. Examples of concrete goals are, a just transition to a sustainable infrastructure that enables accessible and affordable public transportation, or sustainable housing stock that actually enables the reduction of household fossil fuel consumption.
Fortunately, we have good, even great examples, of just how to do the many different kinds of things that are needed on almost every side. And that's what we'll look at here: the inspiring stories of new solutions proving that if taken to scale these answers actually could change the systems, and the right kinds of strategies and actions for getting those new answers into the places where they are needed. Click on any of the images below to find opportunities for hopeful engagement with systems change initiatives being replicated around the world. Or for deeper dive into systems change theory, click here for a landmark article on the levers of system change and here for a guide for action learning exercises to accompany the article
Connections, Inspiration and Solutions
Systems Change Lab
Systems Change Lab starts from the assumption that reaching net-zero emissions, halting biodiversity loss and building a fairer economy will require transformational change across nearly all systems. They were formed to campaign for systems change, monitor system change globally, and identify key drivers of systems change and share lessons learned. Their website is an amazing trove of research and resources.
|
Among the deepest, most well-informed and systematic reflections from leading thinkers, developing over the last decade, and focused on the specific systems changes necessary for a livable future and how these are showing up as emerging solutions, new kinds of social relationships, and envisioned futures.
The next systems project |
catalyst 2030 and
|
Green house think tank
How dozens, even hundreds, meeting in person, can get to know, share and build on the ideas of those participating, often resulting in surprising agreements from quite diverse people. Ideas can change the world, and Green House is about challenging the ideas that have created the world we live in now, and offering positive alternatives. Their mission is to communicate the critical analyses and policy prescriptions that will be part of the new paradigm and make them accessible to change agents.
|
climate majority project -- mainstream climate narrative
The Moderate Flank seeks to shift the mainstream climate narrative towards truthfulness, and collectively build resilience in response to the challenges that lie ahead. They find, bring together, and support pragmatic, urgent climate initiatives already taking place. They also work to create an overall sense of identity and direction for the emerging new “moderate flank”, which is mainstreaming urgent climate action.
|
System Change not Climate Change is a non-profit network of North American eco-socialists united in the belief that capitalism is driving climate change and that a radical international grassroots movement can stop it. SCNCC believes the climate justice movement will unite with the labor movement, First Nations/indigenous and other struggles for liberation to create an alternative to the upside down world shaped by fossil fuels and corporate power.
|
How 6 Midwestern states made a miracle that connected those in each part of their energy system to come together, map its dynamics, move it towards solar and thus, among other victories, stop the construction of 30 new coal plants.