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Climate One

Individual Matters (2/12/13)

Climate One

Climate One

Social Sciences, News Commentary, Earth Sciences, Science, News

4.7583 Ratings

🗓️ 13 February 2013

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What matters more when addressing climate change: individual action, corporate action, or policy change? In all cases, the key to change is disrupting default behaviors. Target, Walmart, and American Airlines are all very good at using "nudges" to disrupt our behavior and get us to buy more stuff, says Gernot Wagner (Author, 'But Will the Planet Notice?'; Economist, EDF). "The trick,” he says, “is to use behavioral nudges on a policy level to move everyone in the right direction [for sustainable behaviors.]" Individual action matters too, says Christopher Jones (Co-Chair, Behavior, Energy & Climate Change Conference; Researcher, CoolClimate Network), once you take one small action you are far more likely to take another in an “on-ramp” to collective action. But “there are some decisions that matter more than others,” contends Glen Low, (Principal, Blu Skye). By reaching decision makers in corporations that have a lot of influence, such as Walmart, he says you can get “systemic change with a handful of people.” A conversation between experts on motivating change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

At Warwick Business School, we don't just teach business. We put you at the centre of it.

0:05.6

At our London Hub in The Shard, you'll be surrounded by global players, bold thinkers and key decision makers.

0:12.8

Talked by industry leaders, you'll step out of the office and into an environment that's closer to the boardroom than a classroom, where every conversation and connection

0:21.9

counts.

0:22.9

Discover our executive education, MBA and DBA programs now by searching WBS, London.

0:30.3

How will we power our future?

0:32.4

Can we create a healthy and clean economy?

0:35.4

Climate One at the Commonwealth Club is at the forefront of the global debate about energy, economy, and the environment.

0:41.5

Bringing together the brightest and most provocative leaders of our time, Climate One is the place where big ideas get heard.

0:47.9

With thoughtful and insightful discussions on policy, business, science, and culture, Climate One founder Greg Dalton gets to the heart

0:55.5

of the matter. It's our future. It's time to come together. Welcome to Climate One and

1:01.1

conversation about America's energy, economy, and environment. To understand any of them, you

1:05.2

have to understand them all. I'm Greg Dalton. People concerned about climate disruption are

1:09.8

changing their personal habits,

1:11.8

switching to fuel-efficient cars, modifying their diet, becoming carbon-smart shoppers.

1:17.6

But do individual actions having any meaningful impact on the global systems that drive

1:22.3

severe weather? Some argue that buying a Prius or other well-intentioned actions may

1:26.7

actually be counterproductive

1:28.3

and result in a net increase in one's personal carbon footprint.

1:32.9

Over the next hour, we'll discuss the role of individual habits in the war on carbon with our audience here at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.

1:40.3

We're pleased to have with us three perspectives on the importance of people as consumers and also as agents of change inside corporations and government.

1:49.3

Glenn Lowe is a principal with Blue Sky where he's a sustainability consultant to Walmart and other corporations.

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