The Danger of Hope Alone: Why Waiting Out Climate Change Is a Risk We Can’t Afford

Part 4: Grounded Hope: What It Requires

Grounded hope isn't wishful thinking—it's rooted in a clear understanding of reality and a firm commitment to change. To cultivate this kind of hope in the face of the climate crisis, several key components are essential:

1. Acknowledging Reality

The first step is to honestly assess the challenges we face. Global temperatures are rising at an accelerating rate, and the window to limit warming to 1.5°C is rapidly closing. Achieving this goal now depends on rapid technological breakthroughs and a significant annual reduction in fossil fuel consumption.

Yet, these efforts are being actively undermined. The fossil fuel industry and other powerful corporate interests continue to resist clean energy development and democratic reforms. For example, corporate America played a decisive role in blocking President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, which included major investments in clean energy and social programs aimed at reducing inequality—a key driver of climate change. These same interests also publicly supported the Voting Rights Act while covertly funding its opposition in Congress.

None of this is surprising. Year after year, global CEO surveys show that environmental sustainability and social equity rank low on their list of priorities. In the United States, the situation is particularly grim. With Republicans now in control of the federal government and the Democratic Party still heavily influenced by corporate donors, there is little reason to expect renewed climate leadership. The Trump administration has already begun rolling back the modest climate initiatives of the Biden era.

2. Setting Clear Goals

Despite these political setbacks, people around the world—including in the United States—are clear about what needs to be done. Large majorities understand the risks of climate change and want more aggressive action from their governments. In the U.S., most people support carbon neutrality by 2050, expanded use of alternative energy sources, and active participation in international climate agreements. These shared goals provide direction, purpose, and a foundation for collective action.

3. Strategizing for Action

Once goals are identified, the next step is to map out viable strategies to achieve them. This means exploring multiple pathways, recognizing that no single solution will suffice. One obvious strategy—relying on elected officials to act—has proven insufficient. Decades of inaction make it clear: governments and corporations, left to their own devices, will not move quickly enough, even when public opinion is strongly in favor of change.

Across the globe, political elites remain closely tied to corporate interests. In the U.S., corporate contributions to political campaigns and lobbying efforts dwarf those of all other interest groups. As a result, even the supposedly progressive Democratic Party has repeatedly failed to prioritize climate action. Meanwhile, the Republican Party, which once supported climate policy as recently as the 2008 election, has become a stronghold of climate denialism.

4. Believing in Our Own Power

Ultimately, meaningful change depends on us. We must believe in our own capacity to act, organize, and persist. Grounded hope is not passive; it is active. It demands motivation, resilience, and a willingness to work together to overcome powerful resistance. Through grassroots movements, political engagement, and sustained pressure on those in power, we can forge a path toward environmental sustainability and climate justice.

5. From Words to Action: What We Can Do Now

Grounded hope only becomes meaningful when it moves from intention to action. While systemic change is essential, individual and collective choices can still make a measurable difference, especially when they challenge the cultural and economic norms that drive climate destruction.

Consume Less. One of the most effective things we can do is reduce our overall consumption. A good place to start is by simplifying, keeping only what we use and need, and resisting the constant push to buy more. Decluttering isn’t just about tidiness; it helps us shift our mindset away from impulse buying and toward long-term sustainability. Choosing to buy fewer things, keeping items longer, and repairing instead of replacing them to reduce the demand for overconsumption, one of the major sources of environmental harm.

Change What We Eat. Our diet has a profound impact on climate. Livestock production is responsible for an estimated 12–17% of global greenhouse gas emissions—on par with the emissions from all transportation globally or the entire European Union. It also drives about 40% of global deforestation, primarily to clear land for cattle grazing and feed crops, reducing carbon sinks.

Western diets, heavy in beef and dairy, are a major part of the problem. To meet climate goals, meat consumption in these countries must drop by as much as 90%. Replacing beef with chicken can help, since chicken has a far lower environmental footprint. But the most climate-friendly choice is a plant-based diet. Beans and other pulses offer an affordable, nutritious, and sustainable protein source. Plant-based diet includes a variety of delicious choices.

Cut Our Food Waste. In the U.S., food waste generates greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from 50 million gas-powered cars. It also makes up nearly a quarter of the waste in landfills—where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing waste at home, buying only what we’ll eat, and composting leftovers are powerful climate actions.

Rethink Transportation. Transportation accounts for 17% of global emissions and 27% in the U.S. To reduce our impact, we can drive less by walking, biking, carpooling, combining trips, or using public transit. When we do drive, smaller and more fuel-efficient vehicles make a difference. Cutting back on air travel—one of the highest-emitting activities per person—also helps.

Buying Less Clothing. The apparel industry produces about 10% of global emissions and consumes vast amounts of water, much of which ends up polluted. It also relies on exploitative labor practices, particularly in the Global South, where young women often work in unsafe and abusive conditions. Buying fewer new clothes each year and choosing sustainable, ethically made garments when possible, supports both environmental and social justice.

We Must Get Organized. Personal choices matter, but they aren’t enough on their own. Because governments are often beholden to corporate interests, grassroots political action is essential. That means getting involved—joining local, state, and national organizations focused on climate action. Groups like the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Nature Conservancy, NRDC, and the World Wildlife Fund are already doing vital work. Support them. Volunteer. Donate if you can.

Pressure Elected Officials. We also need to push our representatives—consistently and loudly. Call your Senators and House members in Congress. Write letters — handwritten ones are harder to ignore. Visit their offices, when possible, at home or in Washington. Let them know climate action is a top priority for everyone—and that you’re paying attention. We can also contact federal agencies like the EPA, Department of Energy, and Department of Agriculture to demand stronger climate policies.

Challenge Corporate Power. In the long term, we may need to confront polluting corporations directly through boycotts, shareholder activism, and sustained public pressure. Real progress will require breaking the stranglehold of profit-driven interests over public policy.

Hope that’s grounded in reality—and backed by action—isn’t naive. It’s a necessity. And it’s how we build a future worth fighting for.