To accelerate climate solutions, make life better and communities stronger
Adopting new behaviors is fastest when there’s a value proposition that is tangible and compelling.
Electric cars took off when people found them to be a better experience. Same with e-bikes, induction stoves, smart thermostats, and distributed air monitors.
Other climate solutions that are winners for residents are parks, rec centers, libraries (both conventional book libraries and libraries for tools), and shaded streets.
It’s a similar story for transportation and access. Frequent public transit, low-stress bike networks, community carsharing, safe places to drive golf carts, and a coffee shop or grocery store a short walk from home—those are all wildly popular when they are designed and allowed to deliver a compelling experience.
The policies and tools for deeper and wider solutions are available, and the public is interested.
The next step is to turn up the dial on tangible benefits and dig into ways initiatives delivering climate solutions can be better for people and communities anyway, and focus on that.
Here are some ways forward:
- Effect timely transitions: Aim for moves that deliver society-level scale and speed with real inflections occurring by 2-5 years. More…
- Focus on wellbeing: Lead with affordability, comfort, health, and time saved—benefits that stand on their own without climate credentials. More…
- Harness the power of local government: Put the uniquely influential power of local communities, which have largely flown under the radar, to greater work. More…
- Develop compelling services: Formalize solutions concepts into packages that unite the value proposition, policy elements, and ownership of the user experience into one. More…
This agenda is not a softer substitute for structural change. It is a strategic way to achieve it, informed by experience and practical realities.
If we want faster climate action, we need to make it obvious how it improves daily life. Focus on wellbeing so people can feel the gains. Empower communities so decisions and delivery happen where they are most effective. Build compelling services so every solution comes with a clear promise, an owner, and a great user experience.
Do that and climate policy becomes less of an argument and more an offer people are eager to accept. The hardest challenges move to the background as task-oriented teams mobilize to realize visions. On offer is a reinforcing cycle of adoption, investment, and trust that brings a safer climate and stronger communities within reach.
By centering wellbeing, building community power, and turning ideas into compelling services, we can convert broad support for the idea of climate action into faster and more durable widespread progress.
Resources
Policy priorities for good living, thriving communities, and next-level climate action (blog)
Key climate solutions for communities (blog)
Moreworks 