Picture this: it’s 2025, and the UK has miraculously hit the target of slashing carbon emissions to zero. Had the Extinction Rebellion protests of 2019 succeeded in their mission, swaying government actions significantly, we would now be living in a world where sanity prevails far more than it does today. But as another year dawns, reality paints a starkly different picture. The UK is still a long way from achieving net zero carbon emissions in the upcoming months.
When Extinction Rebellion (XR) emerged back in 2018, they established the 2025 marker as a driving force for urgency. It served as a call to switch gears rapidly toward decarbonization, aiming to lessen the worst effects of climate change while accepting our past as major contributors to global pollution. With a new year upon us, it’s evident that reaching such monumental decarbonization at the envisioned pace and scope isn’t feasible within the current political and economic bounds. This lack of progress unveils some uncomfortable truths that anyone worried about the climate crisis needs to face head-on, which essentially includes all of us—even those who feel untouched by it directly.
The biggest takeaway we must embrace is the urgent need for a widespread, inclusive climate movement that transcends typical activism to become ingrained in everyday life, engaging businesses, professionals, and citizens alike. To endure through the challenges of the looming climate breakdown, we must foster a movement driven by collective resolve. Channeling our efforts into practical solutions for adapting to the climate crisis already at our doorstep offers a meaningful way forward. This approach will resonate with the silent majority who may care, yet have still remained inactive.
Simultaneously, it’s crucial for both climate advocates and leaders to let go of the notion that decarbonization is the sole remedy to our predicament. Alongside attempts to prevent and reduce emissions, we must pivot our focus towards coping, adapting, and adequately preparing. The silver lining is that everyday folks have numerous avenues to contribute:
On a local scale, community members can engage in retrofit projects that strengthen buildings against extreme weather. Initiatives led by residents can mitigate flooding by choosing plants over concrete for front gardens, or using water-permeable materials where paving is necessary to prevent runoff. Neighbors might unite for a community gardening project or rewild a local area to support wildlife, offering shade and moisture to counteract potential heatwaves. Installing simple grey-water systems can bolster local water security. Starting small, like encouraging the use of water butts or placing watering cans under bath outflows, makes a difference. When adaptation is central to our efforts, it resonates with people—it’s an eye-opener like no other.
We’re already feeling the repercussions of collective inaction. Floods, wildfires, and heatwaves aren’t abstract possibilities any longer; they’re our new reality. It’s time to let go of the illusion that we can halt the damage at its source and shift towards safeguarding ourselves from unavoidable impacts, all while doing so sustainably. As we enter 2025, efforts should focus on bolstering resilience at every level—from fortifying infrastructure where needed to supporting communities already bearing the brunt of climate changes.
Reflecting on 2024 has shown us that climate breakdown is a global crisis requiring local remedies. This realization has prompted the Climate Majority Project to kick off the #SAFER campaign in 2025, advocating for “strategic adaptation for emergency resilience.” The aim is to acknowledge the significant risks to our future without rendering people helpless. There’s plenty that can be done.
Let’s make 2025 the year of proactive climate action, taking tangible steps toward preparedness. Start with your immediate surroundings. Discuss with your neighbors how you can collectively adapt to future climate threats, considering the reality that the UK’s average temperature is now roughly 1.2°C warmer than the preindustrial era. Recognize that the likelihood of experiencing scorching summers like in 2018 has doubled in recent times to about 10-25% each year. Acknowledge the implications of the UK’s sea level having risen by 16cm since 1900.
Mobilize community resilience programs alongside your neighbors, observing and addressing local vulnerabilities. Advocate for local and eventually national governments to invest in green infrastructure, flood defenses, and emergency readiness.
There’s still time. The battle for a livable future isn’t over, but it demands a significant shift in tactics. It’s time to move past dreamy visions of a carbon-free utopia and start implementing resilience-boosting measures to shield our communities and manage the impending challenges.
This doesn’t mean decarbonization isn’t crucial, nor should we become complacent. It calls for a recalibration of our collective mindset. Should we make these changes, we stand a strong chance of raising climate awareness among the public like never before, ultimately fostering momentum for reducing greenhouse gases. A fresh approach for the new year might just be what we all need.
