The recipe for a good Anthropocene | Elena Bennett | TEDxCERN

Summary

The speaker invites the audience to envision two possible futures for the environment—one lush and hopeful, the other dystopian and degraded. They argue that our perceptions of the future shape the actions we take today, and focusing solely on negative scenarios risks fulfilling them. To counter this, the speaker advocates for creating 'positive stories' of the future, built on real-world projects addressing environmental and societal challenges. Through examples like organic food initiatives in Copenhagen and health-for-forest programs in Borneo, the speaker illustrates how these 'seeds' of change can inspire a hopeful, just, and sustainable Anthropocene.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Imagining the future is powerful—positive visions can help shape a better reality for the environment by steering decisions in the right direction.
• 🌍 We tend to envision dystopian futures because we're bombarded with negative environmental imagery, which can make these scenarios self-fulfilling.
• 🚗 People make decisions based on their beliefs about the future, just like steering a car towards where they're looking.
• 🌿 The Anthropocene, the current era dominated by humans, could be positive if it leads to a more just, prosperous, and biologically diverse world.
• 📖 Positive stories about the future must illuminate realistic pathways, show a new place for humanity within nature, and inspire action.
• 🔄 Current global scenarios often overemphasize the power of a single change or follow the same pathways, limiting their potential to inspire radical, diverse solutions.
• 🌟 Seeds of a good Anthropocene are small, positive initiatives people are already working on today that can inspire better futures.
• 🍽️ An example is Copenhagen's shift to organic food in public institutions, which led to numerous beneficial ripple effects like sourcing local food and healthier meal options.
• 🌳 Another example is Health In Harmony’s project in Borneo, which reduced deforestation by providing healthcare in exchange for commitments to reduce illegal logging.
• 👂 Radical listening, where communities are asked about their needs and realities, is a key tool for developing effective, positive change projects.

Q & A

What is the speaker asking the audience to visualize at the beginning of the speech?

The speaker asks the audience to close their eyes and imagine the environment 50 years in the future, in the year 2068. They suggest envisioning a lush green field, a dark forest, or a sparkling blue lake filled with nature and children's laughter.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of positive future visions for the environment?

The speaker emphasizes that our visions of the future can influence our actions. If we constantly envision negative, dystopian futures, we might steer ourselves toward them. Positive visions can inspire us to make better choices and work toward a better future.

What does the term 'Anthropocene' refer to, according to the speaker?

The term 'Anthropocene' refers to the current era in which humans have become a dominant force impacting the planet. The speaker advocates for a 'good Anthropocene,' which would be more just, prosperous, and biologically diverse than today.

What are the three things the speaker believes positive stories about the future should accomplish?

The speaker believes positive stories about the future should: 1) Illuminate realistic pathways to a better future, 2) Show a different, more humble place for humanity within the biological community, and 3) Inspire people to work toward these changes, despite the challenges.

What were the shortcomings of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment scenarios, according to the speaker?

The UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment scenarios focused too much on end goals and the differences between futures, such as cooperation versus division. They didn't explore the pathways or the complexities of getting from the present to a better future, which the speaker argues is crucial.

How does the speaker propose building better stories about the future?

The speaker proposes building stories by focusing on the 'seeds of good Anthropocene'—existing, innovative projects that improve communities. These seeds can help create realistic and inspiring stories by showcasing different pathways to positive futures.

What example does the speaker give about Copenhagen’s organic food initiative?

The speaker describes how Copenhagen aimed to make 90% of the food in public cafeterias organic. This initiative led to less meat consumption, more vegetables, local food sourcing, fresh food preparation, and more training for cafeteria workers, showing how one change can trigger multiple positive effects.

What impact did the 'Health in Harmony' project in Indonesian Borneo have?

The 'Health in Harmony' project provided low-cost healthcare in exchange for communities' commitment to reduce deforestation. The project resulted in an 88% reduction in illegal logging, the regrowth of 20,000 hectares of forest, and a 90% decrease in child mortality under the age of five.

What is 'radical listening,' and how did it contribute to the success of the 'Health in Harmony' project?

'Radical listening' is a method where the project team listens to community members about their needs and challenges. In the 'Health in Harmony' project, this method revealed that communities were cutting down forests out of desperation for medicine, leading to the innovative solution of providing healthcare in exchange for forest conservation.

What is the speaker’s final message regarding how we should approach the future?

The speaker's final message is that instead of focusing solely on problems and solutions, we should inspire hope by telling radical, inspiring, and realistic stories about positive futures. This approach can awaken a longing for a better Anthropocene and motivate people to work toward it.