By Edu Abade
In what appears to be a daunting future for the global environment exacerbated by the climate crisis, over 80 percent of people in 33 countries of the world expect rising global temperatures this year, while 72 percent foresee more extreme weather events.
This was the verdict of a global poll by Ipsos, which was released in the New Year, adding however, that as “we step into 2025, the reality of climate change is undeniable to most and that far fewer people are aware of the incredible progress being made to combat the crisis globally.”
A global think tank on climate change, We Don’t Have Time, says: “Many people in the climate space are still focused on a theory of change that involves building awareness about climate in the-arguably vain-hope that this will result in action. But these numbers suggest this is not necessary: the awareness is already there.”
Its Sustainability Strategist, Joseph Gelfer, suggests that the climate movement must evolve its messaging, insisting: “While the urgency of the crisis is clear, people now also need a reason to believe we can rise to meet the challenge. That we can win!
“While focusing on the catastrophic consequences of inaction has raised awareness, it has also fed despair. The solution is that we also need to amplify stories of progress that inspire hope and participation.”
The group of climate crusaders also maintained that in spite of the challenges, there has been some progress worth celebrating, insisting that despite all the setbacks, 2024 was a year of significant climate wins, setting the stage for an even better 2025
In its first bulletin released on January 5, 2025, it said with over 85 million Electric Vehicles (EVs), some countries of the world are already redefining transportation and reducing emissions.
“Renewable energy sources will overtake coal as solar, wind and hydro together are now the largest sources of global electricity generation with green jobs booming, just as demand for eco-focused talent grew by 11.6 percent in 2024, fueling a sustainability economy.
“There is sustainable growth in the European Union (EU). Emissions fell by 4 percent in Q1 and 2.6 percent in Q2, while Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.3 percent and 1percent, respectively, compared to the same quarters in 2023. This demonstrates that climate action and economic growth can go hand in hand—but we need to accelerate these efforts to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.
“Solar energy is set to meet half of global electricity demand growth, while advanced tools are driving rapid emission reductions, tackling one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Storage capacity is expanding eightfold, paving the way for a resilient, renewable-powered future,” the group stated.
We Don’t Have Time further restated that these breakthroughs are not just headlines but proof that its efforts are making a difference and highlight an important truth that every action counts.
“By sharing these stories of progress, we can replace fear with hope and show people how their actions contribute to meaningful outcomes. This is how we inspire broader participation and build a movement that’s up to the task-creating a sustainable, thriving future.
It urged environmental activists and climate crusaders to share the successes, start conversations and highlight solutions in their networks and communities, adding: “Together, we can shift the narrative and spark the action needed to drive meaningful change.
“But to truly win this race, we need more time-and that’s why we’ve launched the #BuyMoreTime campaign. With more time, we can amplify these wins and a prosperous and fossil-free future for all.”
