Make at least one life shift to Change the system
Check out our new ‘How-to’ guide for the CHANGE THE SYSTEM shift. It includes all the info on how to approach this in a step by step way, with resources, guides, tips, links and more.
What is change the system?
WHAT THE SCIENCE SAYS: Big improvements to global infrastructure and economic & financial systems are needed: this is the job of governments and big business.
The research behind Take the Jump outlines crucial changes needed to ensure that we can achieve zero carbon, replace fossil fuels with renewable energy, improve energy efficiency of buildings and industry, invest in green technology, shift heating and transport to electricity and decarbonise our supply chains.
Other crucial work shows that moving towards an alternative economic system will create a more distributive and regenerative economy, resulting in an ecologically safe and socially just society.
WHAT WE CAN DO: Make at least one life shift to Change the system
While Taking the Jump, we’re making at least one change in our own lives to help transform the system. There are many ways that this can be done. Some of these options may not be possible for you, so it’s about embracing what is within your capability. Some options we suggest as ‘life actions’ for the Change the System shift:
INSPIRE & ACTIVATE OTHERS - Join our Ambassador training to learn how
ENERGY SYSTEMS - Swap to a green energy provider for your home
FINANCIAL SYSTEMS - Swap to a green pension, bank or credit card
ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION - Plant trees, rewilding & conservation
HOME ENERGY - Give your home an energy retrofit (if financially viable)
COMMUNITY BUILDING - Connect with your community, run an event
POLITICAL ACTION - Campaigning for better local or national government policies
STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY - Help build grassroots democracy near you
This shift is different to the others because the research doesn’t imply that individuals are responsible for changing global systems. However, we know that personal shifts to our own lives can collectively have a massive impact. These shifts don’t require us all to become public activists, as that’s not for everyone. But the shifts can also be powerful alongside your activism.
Why change the system?
The science is clear: to prevent climate breakdown all action is needed from all actors. Immediately.
Large scale changes in our economies and societies are needed urgently. Business, governments and individuals cannot solve climate change in isolation. We must work together. Each actor must make the necessary changes. It’s important to build a narrative which is not solely dependent on individual action, but as a wider collective society.
Currently, governments and businesses are responsible for the majority of the carbon savings needed, but they are not keeping to their side of the deal. Unless the system changes are well underway within the decade, we will be in extreme danger. The majority of these emissions are beyond our direct control. We shouldn’t need to make the choice between green energy or fossil fuels: it should all be green to begin with. But the current reality is they are not - so we need to make good choices.
How to change the system?
Choosing the changes you make will heavily depend on your own personal situation. For example, if you do not own your own home you cannot make improvements on energy efficiency, or you may not have a pension scheme. It is about assessing what you do have control over and choosing a shift that works with this.
Here are some ideas:
