Published on: 14th May 2025
by Claire Haigh.
Greener Vision is holding a series of discussions to explore how to develop a response to the climate crisis commensurate to the scale of challenge. ‘The Pillars of Unity’ series will build on the key conclusions from Greener Vision: Pathways to Net Zero and explore how we might embrace more holistic thinking and develop an approach that creates unity.
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The global average temperature continues its relentless rise. Global warming reached 1.58°C over the 12 months to the end of April 2025. UN Climate Change Chief Simon Stiell has warned that the world is on a trajectory to 3°C[i].
But at a very time that the world needs to step up efforts to tackle the escalating climate crisis we are witnessing a global green backlash, strengthened by the election in the US of Donald Trump, and a fracturing of a once strong political consensus in the UK.
The science has not changed. Now is not the time to walk back ambition.
Four out of five people in the UK are concerned about climate change[i] but the risk is that party politicking will undermine public support for net zero. UK emissions need to be reduced much more rapidly if net zero targets are to be achieved.
The UK is not on track to achieve the 2030 goal of a 68% cut in emissions. The easy wins in terms of decarbonising the power sector have happened. Little progress has been made in sectors where people need to make changes in their behaviour. However, it may be that the challenge is not public belief but political will.
The “89% Project” speaks for the “silent climate majority”[i]. Most of the world’s population wants stronger climate action. A perception gap means that climate policies are not as ambitious as public sentiment. Making people aware that their pro-climate view is the majority view could unlock a social tipping point and push leaders into climate action urgently needed.
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world”
In his famous quote, Mahatma Gandhi emphasized the importance of personal transformation as a catalyst for positive change.
The world is now experiencing the impacts of climate breakdown. We must rise to the challenge of this escalating emergency. The central proposition of Greener Vision: Pathways to Net Zero is that policy as usual will not achieve net zero.
- How can we approach climate policy differently?
- How can we avoid short-term thinking and stop political expediency from driving critical decisions?
- How can we respond adequately to the climate crisis in a fragmented world and create more unity rather than division?
Systemic change is a deeply personal endeavour. Our social and economic structures are a product of our way of thinking. We need new thinking, creative solutions and systemic change.
Climate policy should be informed by five key ‘Pillars of Unity’:
Seeing the whole picture – we need to become more honest and self-aware about our decision-making. Are the assumptions underpinning our response to the climate crisis fit for purpose? We are part of the problem if we persist with the illusion that ‘business as usual’ will achieve net zero.
Integrating heart and mind – we need to engage our emotional brains in climate change. Rational scientific data loses out against a compelling emotional story that speaks to people’s values. The tendency to separate thoughts and feelings runs deep in our culture and is profoundly destabilising.
Being at one with nature – we need a radical realignment of how we perceive ourselves in relation to others and the environment on which we depend. We need to connect with our natural empathy and respect for all living species and foster the understanding that protection of nature is “protection of our very selves”.
Healing the whole system – too much attention is given to treating symptoms of problems and not enough to their underlying causes. We need a whole systems transition to net zero. We need to address the root causes of climate change: our addiction to fossil fuels.
Becoming citizens of One World – Climate change is a global intergenerational problem requiring unprecedented levels of cooperation. We need a new kind of internationalism. 86 percent of people globally want to see their countries set aside geopolitical differences and work together on climate change[i].
[i] https://www.ft.com/content/f17d09af-8f44-409a-b1dc-ad33a0792446
[ii] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/desnz-public-attitudes-tracker-spring-2023
[iii]https://www.politicshome.com/opinion/article/labour-must-fight-badenoch-farage-on-net-zero
[iv] https://eciu.net/analysis/reports/2025/net-zero-economy-across-the-uk
[v] https://institute.global/insights/climate-and-energy/the-climate-paradox-why-we-need-to-reset-action-on-climate-change
[vi] https://www.iea.org/events/summit-on-the-future-of-energy-security
[vii] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/24/britain-will-accelerate-push-to-net-zero-starmer-tells-energy-summit
[ix] Joanna Macy & Chris Johnstone, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power, New World Library 2012, 2022
[x] https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-06-20-80-percent-people-globally-want-stronger-climate-action-governments-according-new
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About the Author
This post was written by Claire Haigh. Founder & CEO of Greener Vision & Executive Director of the Transport Knowledge Hub. Claire was previously CEO of Greener Transport Solutions (2021-2022) and CEO of Greener Journeys (2009-2020).
