The Climate Movement and Our Olympian Fields of Action: Introduction
Olympian Fields of Action Series - Post #1
Welcome to an extensive series on what I am calling the Climate Movement’s Olympian Fields of Action.
The Climate Movement can be thought of as analogous to the Olympic Games, and its offshoots, the Paralympics, the Special Olympics, and the Senior Olympics. Where we are active are our “Fields of Action.”
In contrast to the actual Olympics, countries — and the Climate Movements within them — are not competing against each other; rather, they are, in effect, competing against their own performance, ever seeking to improve upon it, as they work together as a team to achieve a standard of excellence. Furthermore, their “medal counts” are being added together into a world-wide medal count of all the myriad ways we are achieving our vision, purpose, and Major Goal (see below).
Individual team members also seek to improve their own performance on a plethora of Fields of Action that can look quite different from one another, just as for one Olympic athlete the field of action is a swimming pool, for another an ice rink, or a gym mat, or a diving platform or a snow-covered mountain, or a beach volleyball court. All Climate Movement Member/Athletes race against the clock, while the standards of excellence are our own gifts and abilities, as we strive to improve our form and execution.
As we think about all of the types of Olympic athletes there are —
sprinters,
marathoners,
hurdlers,
high-jumpers,
poll-vaulters,
shot-putters,
cyclists,
archers,
weightlifters,
wrestlers,
tennis players,
ping pong players
volleyball players,
butterfly and freestyle swimmers,
divers,
artistic swimmers,
gymnasts,
skiers,
snowboarders,
skeleton racers,
skaters, and
curlers
— we recognize that in the Climate Movement version of the Olympic Games, the efforts of each individual athlete, with their special gifts and abilities, all contribute to the success of the entire team, the national teams, and the world team.
Some have gifts that allow them to perform best on one particular Field of Action, while others compete in multiple events, just as certain swimmers, runners, gymnasts, and skiers do. Some events require multiple skills, like the decathlon or the gymnastics all-around.
But unlike the actual games, in the Climate Movement everyone can win a medal, be it Bronze, Silver, or Gold; every person and every nation and all of humanity can strive for Gold.
Every person can shine forth, but not for individual glory in itself; we shine to light the way forward, adding our light to all the others as we blaze a glorious path towards a brighter future.
And like the opening and closing ceremonies, where athletes from around the world are gathered together in a Stadium to showcase both national pride and the unity of the human family, there are climate Fields of Action where we are all participants. The two largest are:
growing and improving the Movement itself, and
public policy and political engagement, including advocating for, implementation of, and defense of needed policies, as well as supporting political candidates who are leaders on climate action, and opposing opponents of action.
In this Climate Action Stadium we are all needed on these two grand Fields; we all can make a difference together, a difference we cannot make on our own.1
At the same time, no one else can be you. Only you can be you. We all have a part to play — every person on this Earth. Only you can play your part. Only you can bring to bear your gifts and abilities, your passion, your relationships and the trust and respect you have earned.
Your unique contribution could be primarily local and communal and relational in nature. Your Field of Action may be quite obscure — no cameras, no crowds, only family and friends (and maybe not even them) to watch you give your all and go for Gold at those precise moments when victory can be achieved.
And so as Climate Action Athletes both of these things are true:
we have a unique contribution only we can make, and
we must join together if we are to achieve our ultimate victory.
What, then, are your gifts and talents that lead you to certain Fields of Action? Maybe a suitable event hasn’t yet been created that fits you. Well, help create your Field of Action!
Just as in the Olympics, where there are larger categories such as athletics (or track and field), aquatics, gymnastics, wrestling, skiing, and ice skating, so too with the Climate Movement. Such categories of Climate Action are determined by our overarching vision, purpose and Major Goal.
What is our purpose? To achieve our Major Goal, which describes our vision. As such our vision, purpose and Major Goal are wrapped up in one succinct statement of 18 words: to overcome climate change by creating a just and prosperous sustainability that enhances wellbeing for everyone and everything.
Here’s what we’re about: overcoming climate change by creating a just and prosperous sustainability that enhances wellbeing for everyone and everything.
To briefly situate our Climate Movement discussion in the broader vision it is good to remember what I sketched in the Introductory Series, that there are Four Catalytic Sources of Transformation — the Catalytic-4 — to help us achieve our purpose and Major Goal:
The Climate Movement itself
Climate Action Supporters: the closers, the clinchers.
ARTC, or the Accelerating Rate of Technological Change
Governments-and-Markets
Recognizing these other Catalytic Sources of Transformation from the beginning and situating ourselves within them helps those of us in the Climate Movement see we are not alone. It is not all up to us. We are indispensable, yes. But we have help from the others in the Catalytic-4.
Why are we indispensable? Because we must ensure that the other three Catalytic Sources of Transformation play their roles in achieving our vision, purpose, and Major Goal at the speed and scale necessary to make our future come faster.
Want to join the Climate Movement?
Want to join the Climate Movement?
No one has the authority to say who’s in or out. But here’s a way to affirm your commitment by taking the Climate Movement Promise. Join us!
If you are new here check out our Introductory Series, as well as other posts in this Olympian Fields of Action series. If you like this post, please “like,” comment, and share to help spread the word. And thanks for all you are doing.
While all of us everywhere must grow and improve the Climate Movement, there can be exceptions to the general rule that everyone participates on the public policy and political Field of Action. Such exceptions could include countries where government effectiveness is low (e.g., “fragile” or “failed” states) or where such engagement is too dangerous.