A message from our CEO & Co-founder, Christopher Bean
At Skytree Scientific, we’re driven by the relentless pursuit of scientific discovery and innovation. But we also recognize that our work doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The challenges facing our planet, particularly the urgent threat of climate change, demand a collective response that transcends individual disciplines and organizations.
As the Co-founder and Strategy Director of Planet Pulse Foundation, I’ve seen firsthand the power of bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise to tackle complex environmental issues. The Foundation’s work embodies the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and practical action that we believe is essential to addressing this crisis.
We see a natural synergy between our scientific endeavors at Skytree and the Foundation’s efforts to accelerate climate solutions. Whether it’s through developing new technologies for renewable energy, advancing our understanding of climate systems, or supporting community-led initiatives, we’re committed to contributing our expertise and resources to the fight for a sustainable future.
The article that follows offers a powerful reminder of the urgency of this moment and the potential we must create meaningful change. It’s a call to action for all of us – scientists, policymakers, businesses, and individuals – to come together and answer the call for a sustainable future. At Skytree Scientific, we’re ready to do our part.
The Great Buy In: A Global Call to Action on Climate Change
The specter of climate change looms large over our world. Glaciers are melting, forests are burning, and storms are raging with unprecedented fury. Millions across the globe will leave the communities they once called home. The consequences of inaction are no longer abstract predictions; they are a stark reality unfolding before our eyes. Yet, amidst this crisis, there is a glimmer of hope. The Great Buy In, a bold and ambitious theory, proposes a path toward a sustainable future through collective action on an unprecedented scale.
The Urgency of the Climate Crisis
The urgency of the climate crisis cannot be overstated. Scientific consensus unequivocally confirms that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are the primary drivers of global warming. The resulting changes in our climate system are already causing widespread disruptions:
- Extreme Weather Events: Heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, devastating communities and ecosystems. Scientists are now calling for a new category 6 rating for classifying hurricanes.
- Rising Sea Levels: Coastal cities and island nations face existential threats as sea levels rise, displacing millions and inundating critical infrastructure. Indigenous Alaskan villages are already having to be relocated from sea level rise.
- Biodiversity Loss: Species are disappearing at an alarming rate, disrupting delicate ecological balances, and threatening food security. Wildlife populations have decreased by a shocking 69% from 1970 to 2018.
These impacts disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations in our society, including women and children, BIPOC communities, and communities in the Global South. The climate crisis exacerbates and amplifies existing inequalities, whilecreating new challenges for global development.
The Great Buy In: A Paradigm Shift
The Great Buy In presents a paradigm shift in our approach to climate action. It moves beyond the notion that individual actions alone can solve the crisis, recognizing that we need a collective effort of unprecedented scale. This theory proposes that when over 50% of the global population actively engages in climate action, we reach a tipping point where transformative change becomes possible.
This is not about a small group of environmental activists or a handful of eco-conscious consumers. The actions of a select few environmentalists will not be enough to stop the climate crisis. It’s about a vast majority of people from all walks of life—across cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and political ideologies—coming together to demand and create a sustainable future.
Why 50%+? The Power of Collective Action
The power of collective action is evident throughout history. Social movements have toppled oppressive regimes, advanced civil rights, and sparked revolutions. This same power can be harnessed to address the climate crisis. When a critical mass of people unites behind a cause, it creates a momentum that is difficult to resist.
Consider the global climate strikes that mobilized millions, particularly young people, to demand urgent action from leaders. Researchers have found these protest movements can be more cost-effective than even the most established charities. We can also witness the rapid growth of renewable energy adoption as communities and businesses embrace sustainable solutions. Wide scale adoption and innovation have decreased the cost of solar energy by 99% over the last four decades. These examples demonstrate that when we act together, we can create a ripple effect that drives systemic change.
Impacts of a Global Buy-In
Through the Great Buy In, we can envision a world transformed by collective action. Imagine:
- Policy Transformation: Governments, under pressure from their constituents, enact ambitious climate policies that rapidly decarbonize the economy, invest in clean energy, support biodiversity conservation, and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Market Innovation: Businesses, driven by consumer demand, develop innovative and affordable sustainable products and services, transforming industries, developing circular supply chains, and creating new economic opportunities.
- Community Resilience: Local communities build resilience to climate impacts through sustainable practices, such as regenerative agriculture, water conservation, and renewable energy generation.
- Cultural Shift: Sustainable living becomes the norm, embedded in our value systems, habits, behaviors, and social structures.
These impacts would not only mitigate the worst effects of climate change but also create a more equitable, just, and thriving world for all.
Challenges to Overcome
Achieving the Great Buy In is undoubtedly a monumental challenge. It requires addressing several key obstacles:
- Awareness and Education: Many people still lack a clear understanding of the urgency and complexity of the climate crisis and how they can take action in response. Education initiatives must provide accurate information and empower individuals with the knowledge to make informed choices.
- Accessibility and Affordability: Sustainable solutions must be accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. This requires addressing issues of equity, infrastructure, and financial incentives.
- Motivation and Engagement: People need to feel empowered and motivated to take action. This involves fostering a sense of hope, highlighting success stories, and providing opportunities for meaningful participation.
- Political Will: Overcoming vested interests and political inertia requires building a broad coalition of support for climate action, engaging with policymakers, and holding them accountable.
Strategies for Success
To achieve the Great Buy In, we need a multifaceted approach that encompasses diverse strategies:
- Driving Action: Invest in comprehensive climate education programs in schools, communities, and workplaces with clear and actionable solutions in each community. Utilize diverse media platforms to reach a wide audience.
- Empowerment and Leadership: Support grassroots movements, community initiatives, and youth leadership. Provide platforms for diverse voices and perspectives to be heard.
- Policy Advocacy: Advocate for ambitious climate policies at the local, national, and international levels. Hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
- Economic Incentives: Create financial incentives for sustainable practices, such as tax breaks for renewable energy, carbon pricing, and subsidies for green technologies.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Foster collaboration between governments, businesses, civil society organizations, and communities. Build bridges across sectors and disciplines.
Our Responsibility, Our Legacy
We stand at a pivotal moment in our history. The choices we make today will determine the fate of our planet now and for generations to come. The Great Buy In is a call to embrace our shared responsibility and forge a new path toward a sustainable and equitable future.
It is a call to action for every individual, regardless of their background or beliefs. It is a call to recognize that we are all interconnected and that our actions have consequences for the world around us. It is a call to rise above apathy and despair and embrace hope and possibility.
The Time is Now
The window of opportunity to address the climate crisis is rapidly closing and we are dangerously close to the 1.5 degrees threshold. We must act now, with urgency and determination. The Great Buy In is not just a theory; it is a movement -a movement of hope, resilience, and collective power. It is a movement that can transform our world and secure a thriving future for all.
Join the Great Buy In. Embrace your role as an agent of change. Let us write a new chapter in human history—a chapter defined by collaboration, compassion, and a deep respect for our planet. The time is now. The future is in our hands.
My Climate Journey
This Great Buy In theory came about through a lot of reflection on the climate crisis during the COVID pandemic. It quickly became the center piece of my climate journey and a source of deep thinking about how a true solution could be obtained. I have been evangelizing about this ever since and receiving consistent confirmation and validation.
My climate journey is far from over. It’s an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and taking action. But I’ve come to believe that the Great Buy In is not just a theory; it’s a movement – of hope, resilience, and collective power that each of us can join, in our own way.
As you’ve read this article, I hope you’ve felt a spark of inspiration, a stirring within you that says, “I can make a difference.” Because you can. We all can. Let’s embrace our shared responsibility and forge a new path toward a sustainable and equitable future. The time is now. The future is in our hands.
