The authors highlight the importance of hope to tackle the climate crisis, foster activism, and protect people's wellbeing (1).
The remaining carbon budget must be used wisely to tackle this crisis and limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (2). Time is running out and hope must also be nurtured by immediate and visible changes in society. Why is the topic of coherence so little emphasized when it comes to talking about what needs to be done?
Coherence must be implemented at the highest level. It has already been stressed that policies need to be more coherent and based on reliable data in order to effectively tackle climate change and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (3).
There is also a lack of coherence in many of the messages delivered in the media and in everyday life, which is very discouraging. For example, shouldn't a television journalist who stresses the seriousness of the climate issue act accordingly by turning off the air conditioning in the studio and simply dressing in weather-appropriate clothes?
The search for greater coherence in discourse and action is needed at all levels of society. Achieving this should substantially enhance the hope of climate activists and help to further protect human wellbeing and planetary health.
References
1 Frumkin H, Cook S, Dobson J, Abbasi K. Mobilising hope to overcome climate despair. BMJ 2022;379:o2411.
2 Haines A. Use the remaining carbon budget wisely for health equity and climate justice. Lancet. 2022;400(10351):477-479.
3 Coscieme L, Mortensen LF, Donohue I. Enhance environmental policy coherence to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. J Clean Prod 2021 ; 296 :126502.
Competing interests:
NF is a member of the Alliance Santé Planétaire.
Rapid Response:
Seeking coherence to nurture hope
Dear Editor,
The authors highlight the importance of hope to tackle the climate crisis, foster activism, and protect people's wellbeing (1).
The remaining carbon budget must be used wisely to tackle this crisis and limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (2). Time is running out and hope must also be nurtured by immediate and visible changes in society. Why is the topic of coherence so little emphasized when it comes to talking about what needs to be done?
Coherence must be implemented at the highest level. It has already been stressed that policies need to be more coherent and based on reliable data in order to effectively tackle climate change and meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (3).
There is also a lack of coherence in many of the messages delivered in the media and in everyday life, which is very discouraging. For example, shouldn't a television journalist who stresses the seriousness of the climate issue act accordingly by turning off the air conditioning in the studio and simply dressing in weather-appropriate clothes?
The search for greater coherence in discourse and action is needed at all levels of society. Achieving this should substantially enhance the hope of climate activists and help to further protect human wellbeing and planetary health.
References
1 Frumkin H, Cook S, Dobson J, Abbasi K. Mobilising hope to overcome climate despair. BMJ 2022;379:o2411.
2 Haines A. Use the remaining carbon budget wisely for health equity and climate justice. Lancet. 2022;400(10351):477-479.
3 Coscieme L, Mortensen LF, Donohue I. Enhance environmental policy coherence to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. J Clean Prod 2021 ; 296 :126502.
Competing interests: NF is a member of the Alliance Santé Planétaire.