Rapid climate mitigation: the non-technical strategies

Abstract

Climate science suggests that to avoid major impacts from climate change, global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2020 and be reduced to close to zero between 2040 and 2050. This highlights the need for rapid emissions reductions, as well as the scale and scope of the task. This research identifies non-technical strategies to achieve this ambition, and comes in two parts: contingency plans for national governments, and strategies for citizens acting as a social movement.

The first part envisions a scenario in which a sudden major global climate impact galvanises governments to implement emergency climate mitigation programs. It draws upon historical accounts of social, technological and economic restructurings in several countries during World War 2. Wartime experience suggests some potential strategies for rapid climate mitigation in the areas of finance, labour and governance. However, it also has severe limitations, resulting from its lack of democratic processes, and the likelihood that governments may prefer adaptation strategies, or may deploy geoengineering instead of mitigation by a rapid, more sustainable, energy transition.

Recent history suggests most governments are unlikely to take effective action without very strong pressure from their peoples. The second part examines the prospect for strengthening the grassroots climate action movement. It draws upon results from a survey of 47 contemporary social action groups across the world, supplemented by accounts of large-scale nonviolent resistance in four countries to develop campaign strategies. It finds that although the movement can be strengthened by employing similar strategies used by previous social mobilisations, the uniqueness of the climate challenge necessitates the design of novel forms of activism. Smaller-scale approaches that highlight the capacity of local and community actions should be prioritised alongside larger, outward-oriented protests.

Effective climate action must embed these approaches into our institutions, not only within the political structures of governments but also within the social structures that shape the realities of our everyday lives.