This (apparent) oxymoron holds the key to fighting climate change. Here is why:
A social system is always designed to achieve a purpose, although it might not be the purpose people say they want it to accomplish. These David Sloath words describe perfectly why, despite the pressing urgency, we don’t see a more determined action and faster progress taking place to mitigate the effects of climate change.
We don’t see it because:
The purpose behind our social system remains to be business as usual.
One of the reasons behind it is that, while a majority of people globally (86% according to Yale University) believe that climate change is happening, many are not acting on their beliefs. Another reason lies in our addiction to events.
In this novelty-driven society of ours, success is often measured by the quantity of events rather than the quality of the solutions. Instead of solving the problem at hand, our leaders make promises to solve problems that themselves tend to create.
And given the time-limited nature of their role, when faced with the problems at hand, the preferred, by default, option is the quick fix.
Events love quick fixes.
Our leaders love events because generating events is much easier than finding and working on long-lasting solutions.
But there is another important component to it. Events are entertaining and lead to popularity. So, instead of finding solutions, all our leaders have to do is come up with new events. With something to talk, debate, and/or argue about.
That is how we end up in this mad-bus kind of situation, where the bus driver, instead of following the set route, tries to please all the passengers’ wishes. Sitting directly behind him are his fellow colleagues; other drivers waiting for their opportunity to sit behind the wheel. In the rows behind them, on the left side is one group, and on the right side is another group of passengers. Each group has its own route and its own agenda in mind. They are very vocal about which way they want the driver to steer the bus.
From time to time, the left side of the bus gets to have a driver who follows their wishes, but then after some time, the right side gets their pick to sit behind the wheel. And, no matter who the driver is, they know that the longer they try to please both sides, the longer they will stay behind the wheel. They can’t help it; they are addicted to sitting behind the wheel.
And there goes the bus. The quick fixes work. Sharp turns, spinning in circles, missing turns, dark alleys, dangerous crossings, no clear path to follow, but the passengers are getting what they want. They are entertained cheering and yelling at each other.
The system is achieving the purpose, although it is not the desired one.
“Addressing the root cause of the problem takes longer, is more expensive, and can entail more risks and uncertainty”. It is why the drivers tend to believe that addressing the root cause is a hard sell and the unpopular one. So, while the drivers are busy coming up with quick fixes to keep the passengers entertained, there is really no one to warn them that the bus is heading towards the edge of the cliff.
Solving complex problems that involve large living systems, such as climate change, requires a clear purpose, as well as knowledge and information about the system’s interactions. But addressing the root cause can never work without the element that binds it all together. It can never work without patience because systemic changes inevitably involve time delays.
That is why we need more drivers who understand it and are brave enough to show patience despite being tempted by rating poles and popularity contests.
Boris Matijas 