Environment Forum Dialogues

IEF members held two Zoom meetings in North America, one in Ottawa, Canada, with 4 participants, and one in the USA with 8 participants.

Why do we so often deny or ignore what science and traditional knowledge say about the climate crisis and share or tolerate misinformation, even knowing lives are at risk?

- The manipulating messages by vested interests obscure the reality of climate change. The climate crisis is not directly visible; it is complex and scary. It is easier and comforting to believe in simple slogans that question the threat of the climate crisis.
- There is a difference between denying climate change and being indifferent to it. Although a minority, deniers can cause a lot of confusion, and social media provide a platform for such ideologies.
- Extremes of wealth and power versus poverty and disempowerment have created a lack of trust in science and institutions.
- Better education and critical thinking skills are needed.
- People are dealing with more urgent short term issues of family, work, etc.
- Scientific knowledge is not a sufficient motivator for climate action. There is a need for a strong sense of moral responsibility.
- Younger people are more concerned. It makes sense to work through communities.
- Conversations that focus on what not to do are not attractive. It is important to communicate how an environmentally responsible lifestyle can be good, happy, and fulfilling.

Why do we continue with production and consumption models that harm the most vulnerable and are not aligned with the 1.5ºC Mission?

- Most people don’t understand the 1.5°C mission, they don’t relate production and consumption to it. It isn’t clear to them that this is a critical reality; (i.e. the water in the frog’s pot is not boiling yet.)
- There is a win / lose, zero sum mentality.
- People are thinking in a materialistic model – focusing on increasing profits and consumption, on status and power, and the systems reinforce actions that are competitive.
- Materialism, and consumerism are much developed while spiritual and ethical values are lagging behind. GDP was invented to justify the capitalistic/materialistic economic model.
- Consumerism, greed, status, and the ego can be overcome with a spiritual perspective on life that emphasizes well-being and service as true human fulfillment.
- Carbon pollution is a problem of the commons at a global level and must be addressed with laws, regulations, oversight, and incentives.
- Economic activities need to minimize extraction and abandon the exploitation of humans and the environment.
- Gender equality would help bring a more nurturing and peaceful worldview.
- We must address climate change in the larger context of inequality and the outrageous extremes of wealth and poverty. The scarcity of financial resources for climate action or to combat poverty is a myth to perpetuate the status quo.
- There is a lack of a sense of oneness and interconnectedness with all of humanity and all life, a lack of justice, compassion, and love.
- We need to touch people’s hearts and incorporate ethical and spiritual dimensions to motivate action.
- The Bahá'í conceptual framework is very helpful for climate action. The question is how do we apply values to governmental dynamics and social structures? We can reframe values and put them into specific contexts.
- It is important to nurture the concept of reciprocity inherent in traditional Indigenous systems which is missing in modern economic models.
- We need to find creative ways for a just transition to clean energy and sustainability, for example by providing alternative jobs, and by financial incentives such as subsidies.

What can we do to ensure that rich countries, major producers, and consumers of fossil fuels accelerate their transitions and contribute financing for these measures in the most vulnerable countries?

- Global governance is needed. The UN Veto needs to be eliminated.
- Worldwide carbon taxes can be used to benefit the most vulnerable peoples, to create a clean energy infrastructure, and to assist with loss and damage.
- Incentives and funding for affordable clean technologies that benefit nations should be encouraged worldwide.
- The use of the media (social and other) and art to communicate the existential threat of the climate crisis and of human suffering would be helpful to evoke empathy and motivation for action.
- We need to nurture a new consciousness of global citizenship. The teachings of the Bahá'í Faith can help to transform narrow nationalism and self interest towards recognizing the oneness of humankind, the interdependence of all nations, and that the earth is just one country and one big ecosystem.
- The scope of action by communities is limited. The three protagonists – individuals, institutions, and communities - must collaborate.
- Fossil fuel companies could easily invest in the transition to a clean energy future.
- Governments and business must accept responsibility. There has been much progress in attribution science for climate change impacts. It is now possible to quantify a company’s responsibility for a natural disaster.
- Carbon taxes, boycotts, and measures for restorative justice can help.
- AI companies should be required to be off-grid to reduce energy and water consumption.
- Climate change is a systemic problem; there is no silver bullet. Far-reaching actions in all economic activities are required.
- It is difficult to reconcile people’s basic needs and the needs of the environment with people’s desires and the dependence on fossil fuels.
- All actions by individuals, businesses, and governments should prioritize the common good.

What traditions, histories, or practices (cultural, spiritual) from your community teach us to live in greater harmony with nature?

- Reconciliation in Canada has recognized the values of indigenous peoples and empowered their role in land stewardship and sustainability.
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that States must tackle fossil fuels, and failing to prevent harm to the climate could result in them being ordered to pay reparations. The appeal to the ICJ came from Indigenous peoples in Vanuatu.
- Love of nature and being close to the land results in a strong ethos of protection such as Vermont’s climate superfund law, and other laws where companies must pay for damages to the environment or producers must pay for waste.
- We can nurture our connection with nature with camping, hiking, parks, gardening, agriculture.
- Religious teachings are replete with nature metaphors.
- We are not only talking about stewardship of the Earth. A fundamental transformation of culture is needed. Bahá'í efforts in grassroots spiritual and moral education all over the world can contribute to this transformational change. It is important to combine moral with environmental education because one alone will not result in the necessary transformation of culture and of the economic system.
- In all these efforts it is important to have congruence and coherence of means and ends. Unity must be established through unity.

Considering that we need to guarantee diversity in the collective, how can we mobilize more people, leaders, corporations, companies, and nations to support and ethical changes in combating the climate crisis? What ideas and values could inspire us in this mission?

- Spiritual teachings and religious voices should be strengthened as they promote moral values and ethics to the world’s populations.
- There is a great need for both environmental and spiritual/moral education. One of them alone will not result in effective climate action.
- Human behaviour originates in the heart. That is why it is important to spiritualize our lives and cultures.
- We can build on the core teachings of all religions and traditions – to care for each other and for nature – and collaborate. We need to work with others that are like minded and like hearted for the well being of humanity and the spiritual progress of the world.
- Faith based organizations can mobilize their members, and there is much motivation in interfaith collaboration, one example being the G20 Interfaith Forum.
- We need to spread the message of unity in our diversity – One People One Planet - by talking with our neighbors and networks, with our representatives, by voting, and by inviting others to join.
- The climate movement needs to be harmonized. It should not be led by a few leaders that dictate actions. It would be helpful to apply the approach of the decentralized method of the world-wide Bahá'í community to democratize and unify the climate movement.