Anyone else feeling like our work is pointless? We have more people aware of sustainability and working on this than ever but emissions continue to rise, we are still living in the same systems, and there seems to be no end in sight. I get that maybe we (like the global “we”) are doing the best we can, but it seems like we are inevitably (and quickly) heading toward our full destruction.

I think we are at a tipping point. Policies are slow to develop and basically not enforced. Companies and organizations often do the bare minimum to get by and are involved in, or have massive influence on, these policies. The capitalist system which drives many economies, by its nature, does not benefit from doing what is really needed to change things. We would need to stop using fossil fuels. We would need to have better resource management in place. We would have to make decisions without profit being the main priority. That doesn’t work in the current system. I appreciate that you are trying to shed a positive light but I think that’s been part of why we’re here. It’s been the idea that every little bit helps and we are doing what we can. I get that. But, it isn’t enough. We need swift, short-term, global solutions and those don’t exist outside of emergency situations for the most part. My hope is that the younger generations, who are way more fed up with these systems, will create something better.

I’m ready Ministry for the Future - and omg chapter 15 summarizes my professional and academic goals & frustrations so beautifully.

We have to find the levers we can pull, and be inspired by the communication & behavioral economics lessons provided by folks like George Marshall and Daniel Kahneman.

There is a “fierce urgency now” and perhaps we have to reboot our communication skills to convey that, bring people along, acknowledge how big the transformation is, and what role each of us has to play in it.

Teaching is very rewarding and important but it also doesn’t pay well typically. If you are staying in sustainable endeavors for the money be prepared to not find an income close to what you are earning. Many teaching jobs require teaching certifications and or advanced degrees that often require a doctorate and may still pay minimum wages. I’m a passionate educator who has not been able to support myself without having another stream of income
Staying in a sustainable position is not ideal because you may not be optimally operating at your highest possible level meaning that enough people doing the same slows down the pace towards sustainability goals which is unsustainable if the field is flooded with like minded people
There are no easy answers to your dilemma. I feel for you as I get how awesome it is to have work experience that you love. Perhaps people like us should come up with something to answer this quandary as no doubt we are not alone!

Unless we destroy capitalism and the mindset of profit, we will never be sustainable… so yes, I feel like my work is pointless.

You do realize that for the vast majority of earth's history, global mean temperatures have been significantly warmer than they are right now. We are still coming out of an ice age, so regardless of whether any SUVs were being driven around, global temperatures would be rising. Sea levels are also relatively low compared to the majority of earth's history. The rock record shows that biodiversity actually increases with temperatures, so picking an arbitrary moment in time in the late 1970's as the "global temperature ideal" is the height of human arrogance. Climate changes, That's what it does. Always has, always will. Thinking we can get it to stop changing and stay where it's at right now that's "juuuust right" like some global goldilocks thermostat is ridiculous and flies in the face of actual science. If you recognize this and accept the obvious fact that it's all about wealth redistribution and control, you'll be much happier. If you have any doubt, just watch how many of the global elite will travel by fly private jet to the next COP meeting rather than attending virtually. You can then go about your day going where you want, when you want, and eating what you want just like they do while sleeping just fine at night.

Make my work over the last few years has been very focused on the energy transition and I disagree with you on three points:

1) Climate change is not an existential threat. People who believe that tend to be political, uninformed, or both. None of the serious scientific literature supports the idea that we’re all dead in a few decades from CO2. We have a responsibility to care for the Earth, but climate change is not going to kill off humanity.

2) It’s naive to think you can rebuild global systems that took decades to build and trillions of dollars to finance in 5 years. The call on natural resources to get to net zero is astronomical and will cost more than $250 TRILLION. Like point number 1, thinking that this is an easy call broadcasts an unserious about the topic.

3) It’s also ignorant to dismiss the changes that are already occurring. Policies are rapidly changing, technology is advancing, and massive amounts of capital are forming to reduce the carbon intensity of the global economy.

I think we’re seeing the close of the opening act on the Energy Transition where magical thinking is all too common. We’re beginning to see the required trade offs and hard choices we have to make. But we’re also seeing advances in technology that can be very useful. Don’t underestimate how rapidly things can accelerate once you get on the proper timescale. More than a quarter of the global population has risen from subsistence living to global middle class standards in less than 40 years, all while the energy intensity to drive economic growth has fallen significantly in both OECD and developing economies. Getting the first quarter of people out of subsistence living took centuries and significant leaps in energy intensity. That alone is a major feat.

Don’t be discouraged, but you do need to reset your expectations.