Mindset

People can adapt to climate change and reduce their vulnerability to it. Measures such as moving to higher elevations, cultivating and planting new crops that thrive under new climate conditions, or using new building technologies are all adaptation strategies. Human physical and mental wellbeing is affected by the future and these expected changes. 

Solastalgia is a new term developed to better describe environmental stress. Unlike nostalgia, solastalgia is the distress caused by environmental changes directly connected to our home environments.

It is important to focus on your immediate circle of influence. Pro-environmental lifestyle changes, such as minimizing your carbon footprint and using less of the planet’s limited resources, can help improve psychological wellbeing as it can give people a sense of control. Preparation makes people feel better.

Mitigation means trying to stop climate change. We know that replacing fossil fuels with clean power, eating less meat, flying less, growing trees instead of clear-cutting them, using smarter farming and industrial techniques, sharing transport and having fewer children are all needed. Yet we must also face the situation and prepare by building seawalls, raising houses, moving farmland to cooler regions, planting heat-tolerant trees and buying out homeowners in flood-prone areas. 

People are aware and conscious of climate change and want to see brands, governments, and local authorities reflect their values. Around seven in ten people globally consider it important that brands align with their values around the environment and social responsibility, and 52% of global consumers believe that government and local authorities are not doing enough to support environmental issues. 

Banner Image, Forest bathing by Bradley Davis

Reduce vulnerability 

Solastalgia 

Pro-environmental

Align with values 

Climate change will result in thermal stress that will affect jobs worldwide. It has also been said it may lead to more and better jobs. Both adapting to the effects of climate change and measures to mitigate emissions offer opportunities to create new jobs. Businesses can move towards a more decentralised model where they operate through a network of smaller office spaces rather than large headquarters, potentially also moving production facilities to cooler areas.

Restructuring industries and cities will transform work and create more local economies. Easy accessibility within cities available and limited commuting will change the work-life balance. Many may remain working from home, and this will have an impact on local neighbourhoods. They will be more dynamic during the day, but also city centres may be also be affected with lunch hours and rush hours becoming less busy. 

Communities will become more self-sufficient. Microfactories, local businesses and working from home will bring work from the cities into communities. Food can be grown and distributed locally; products can be made where the consumers reside. In food processing, micro-factories could alter the demand for local produce and the diversity of crops in a region.

Climate change is an inescapable presence in the future workplace. Gen Z is much more concerned about climate change than the older generations, and they seek jobs that will actively contribute to averting climate collapse. They feel they can not afford not to.

Every job should be a sustainable job on some level. Sustainability used to be a separate compartment, but now every job should be involved in some way. Working with a carbon budget for designs, projects or collections would lead to improved design, materials and manufacturing choices.

Decentralised 

Local economies

Microfactories

Averting climate collapse

Rising average temperatures, sea levels and the increased impact of severe weather conditions will all adversely affect the sports industry if no action is taken. Athletes will have to make changes and adjustments, for example, to the length of outdoor workouts when temperatures are excessively hot or plan to exercise earlier or later in the day. Sports like skating on natural ice are under threat. 

Repair and maintenance will play a more significant part in our lives. Mending workshops teaching people how to repair their clothes, wax their coat and repair an appliance will increase emotional durability by creating a bond with long-lasting items. 

One tree absorbs around one tonne of carbon during its lifetime, making it one of the cheapest, most cost-effective means of reducing carbon. It is not the fastest method but planting a tree symbolises hope and an investment in the future. Planting trees is a grounding ritual plus a promise for the future. 

The outdoors has a healing effect on us all, and athletes are more aware of being outdoors without creating an impact by walking, running or biking. Being outdoors in all weather and seasons strengthens our resilience and connection with nature. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony. 

Also, sports events should operate and be organised within a carbon budget, creating zero waste and serving only vegan and vegetarian food. Playing more games at one venue limits the impact of travel by fans.

Repair and maintenance 

Planting trees 

Being outdoors 

A carbon budget

55% of global consumers say that the rising energy costs impact their spending. The increasing gas prices and uncertainty about the future have made people cautious about spending and made them seek alternatives for their growing bills. The switch to renewable energy is speeding up, and people are rethinking their travel and daily commuting arrangements. 

Living off-grid independently from the current system can be an empowering lifestyle choice. Instead of being dependent on the usual infrastructures of urban living, people are self-sufficient. By living off-grid, people reconnect with nature supplying their power, water and growing their food. Tiny houses are energy-efficient; people have fewer possessions and are more in contact with the natural world. 

Preparing for emergencies has become more commonplace. People are prepping and preparing for energy shortages and extreme weather events such as floods. They are creating a plan just in case and building financial resilience by saving up for extraordinary circumstances, extra water and additional food supplies are collected and having some cash, just in case.

People value the simple pleasures of life, flowers, plants, being in the natural environment, fresh fruit, being together, reading a book. Life can be simple.

People vote through spending. Ethical and sustainability issues remain a significant driver for nearly a third of consumers, who claim they have stopped buying certain brands because they do not align with their values. Consumers are most likely to make sustainable or ethical purchases in essential everyday categories. Packaging and waste reduction are at the top of their list. Today there is a 50/50 split between those willing to pay more or not for eco-friendly and ethical brands.

Seek alternatives

Living off-grid

Simple pleasures

Prepare for emergencies

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Vision 2024

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