In a global moment where social, environmental and economic challenges require more integrative approachesthe need for forms of dialogue and leadership arises that allow not only to manage problems, but to transform them from the root, generating a change Really comprehensive and significant.
The Humanity must face a ‘theory of deep change’ With five areas for the world to be more sustainable: rethink waste, realize with nature, reconsider responsibility, reimagine the future and redefine value.
This is collected in the Third Biennial Edition of the ‘Interconnected Disaster Risk Report’prepared by the Institute of Environment and Human Security of the United Nations University (UNU-EHS), and released on Wednesday.
Deep change is possible
The Humanity must face a ‘theory of deep change’ with five areas so that the world is more sustainable. This is collected in the third biennial edition of the ‘Interconnected Disaster Risk Report’, prepared by the Institute of Environment and Human Security of the United Nations University (UNU-EHS, for its acronym in English), and released this Wednesday.
The report, which is entitled ‘Changing the sheet’, offers a new approach in the midst of the deepening of inequalities and the escalation of crisesincluding the change Climate, loss of biodiversity and pollution.
The analysis changes the problem diagnosis approach to the search for solutions. States that many of the current solutions are superficial and that, To generate a lasting change, we must question social structures and mentalities that perpetuate these challenges. «Society is at a crossroads.
For years, scientists have warned us about the damage we are causing to our planet and how to stop it, ”says Shen Xiaomeng, director of UNU-EHS, who adds:” We are not taking significant measures. We know that climate change is worsening, but the consumption of fossil fuels continues to reach historical maximums.
We already have a waste crisis, but domestic waste is expected to double by 2050. Again and again, we see the danger that is coming, but we continue advancing towards him. In many cases, we see the abyss, we know how to turn around, and yet we continue to walk with confidence towards him. Because?”.
Very deep causes
The authors propose the ‘Theory of deep change’, which deepens the causes of global problems and identifies the structures and social assumptions that allow their persistence. For example, when a river is so congested with plastic waste that causes disastrous floods, people could criticize the waste management system and demand greater recycling.
However, the ‘theory of Change Deep ‘goes further: first identifies the structures that allow the accumulation of waste, such as single -use articles or mass production systems, and then deepens the assumptions that led to the creation of these systems and that encourage people to keep them, such as The belief that ‘the new is better’ or that the production and consumption of materials are a sign of progress.
Scientists relate their model to a tree, where visible results are fruits, but the real problems are found in the roots, Well, if these are rotten they produce bad fruits. The ‘theory of Change Deep ‘recognizes two types of levers that can be used to boost the change: internal, which include changes of paradigm or mentality that allow redefining the limits of the possible, and external, which imply changes in policies, institutions or education.
Rethink the waste problem
Regarding the area of ’rethinking waste’, the report indicates that The world model of extracting-producing-forces is unsustainable And generates 2,000 million tons of household waste a year, enough to fill a row of shipping containers that turn Ecuador 25 times.
The report urges to rethink the concept of residue and to adopt a circular economy that prioritizes durability, repair and reuse. Kamikatsu (Japan) is a successful model, being a city that has adopted circular strategies such as composting, recycling, clothing exchange and waste separation, and has achieved a recycling rate four times higher than the Japanese mean.
The report warns that Not maintaining resources in use can also affect your availability in the future. Lithium, which is used in batteries for rechargeable items such as phones, is extracted in large quantities, but it is rarely reused, while lithium reserves will be estimated around 2050 and more than 75% of the extracted lithium will end up then in the trash.
Realize with nature
In relation to ‘realign with nature’, it is estimated that One million species of animals and plants are in danger of extinction and 95% of the lands are altered by human activities. The report indicates that humanity must stop seeing itself as separate and superior to it.
Humans have tried to control natural processes instead of coexisting with thembut centuries of exploitation have caused deforestation, extinction of species and collapse of ecosystems. The destruction of nature affects some of the most precious resources necessary for human survival, such as air and clean water, food or materials used for housing construction.
An example of the report is the river channeling, a process that modifies the course of the rivers To flow in a straight line, to improve navigability, create more agricultural land or protect the cities of floods.
Reconsider responsibility
On ‘Reconsider responsibility’, the world shares the home of more than 8,000 million peoplebut resources and opportunities are distributed unequally. This disparity also extends to greenhouse gas emissions and how the impacts of the change climatic.
The richest nations and people contribute disproportionately to emissions, while The poorest support the worst part of disasters Climate related. An outstanding example in the report is the Carbon compensation, where rich countries avoid ambitious climatic objectives By balancing their own emissions by planting trees in another part of the world, thus also moving the negative effects to these other countries.
The report He urges individualism and unilateralism to collective global responsibilityadvocating a multilateral vision for the future.
Reimagine the future
Regarding ‘reimagining the future’, short -term thought dominates decision making. Since society tends to focus on the present, The responsibility to future generations is often transferred. Living people today determine the conditions for the billions of people who are yet to be born and, in many ways, a world with more challenges is left to future generations instead of preparing them for success.
An example in the report are nuclear waste. Yes ok Some consider nuclear energy as a clean alternative and sustainable to fossil fuels, It also produces radioactive waste with a useful life of more than 100,000 years. Currently, humanity has not found a way of properly eliminate these toxic waste, so they usually deposit in temporary depositswhich means containment risks, in the hope that future generations will solve the problem.
Redefine the value
And when it comes to ‘redefine the value’, the report emphasizes that the world is becoming richer, with an increasing GDP, but Greater global wealth does not equals greater prosperity and global well -being.
The benefits are not shared equally and the planet’s health is deteriorating. The report reveals an imbalance in values, where economic value usually puts other values. An example is forests, which support biodiversity, as well as human health and well -being. However, in some places, deforeston lands are valued up to 7.5 times more than forest lands, which generates strong economic pressure on forests and deforestation.
The report quotes Alternative models such as the Gross National Happiness Index of Butánwhich prioritizes well -being and ecological balance over economic growth.