‘GREAT ADAPTATIONS’ IS WARMING UP
By Ruby Glasspool (UK Executive Director)
We recently received feedback on Morgan Phillips’ book, Great Adaptations: In the shadow of a climate crisis, from Antionette Frearson in the Education for Sustainable Futures Special Interest Group at the University of Worcester. Of course we were delighted, but in her review she makes an interesting point. Antionette readily admits her distaste at the creation of air-conditioned pavements in Doha, and yet shares with us that she developed her understanding of why this was being done from reading the book, and could more clearly see the motivations behind it.
It is of course very easy to judge any sort of lavish attempt at cooling ourselves and the planet down, but we do need to be better informed at why we are responding in these rather thoughtless ways. If we are better informed, it paves the way for a more just, fairer adaptation for us all. And Morgan Phillips’ book does just that - informs without judging. This incredible book is only just warming up! Here is Antionette’s full and wonderful review:
Once I started reading this book, I couldn’t stop and picked it up at every available opportunity. It was so engaging and fascinating, I chatted away to my hubby and 10 year old daughter about some of the different themes.
The book really brought home how important it is that climate change should no longer be the ‘elephant in the room’ with global governments and policymakers and that we should all be talking about how we’re going to adapt to our changing climate - a lot more than what we are doing.
The author highlighted that adaptations need to be beneficial and valuable to all, as there is a risk of maladaptations that either do not suit the community they’re intended for that would benefit only a few and potentially harm others. An example of a maladaptive approach was the use of air-conditioned pavements in Doha, Qatar for the purposes of hosting the recent World Cup - powered by fossil fuels which is found in abundance there. Yet, just before I shook my head in dismay, it was explained that in an effort to mitigate their increasingly sweltering climate, Saudi Arabian residents had made these oil-fuelled adaptations in an attempt to continue living and socialising outdoors, as opposed to the prospect of living an isolated life indoors at the mercy of indoor air-conditioning. I could now see the reasoning behind the seemingly extravagant act of cooling pavements, just not with a carbon-rich fuel which is exacerbating the problem!
Nonetheless, it was so inspiring to read about truly great adaptations that are already benefitting so many, such as the agroforestry project in Nepal, the ‘Make Rojava Green Again’ venture, as well as the pioneering work of Glasgow and Warwickshire Council in adjusting to climate change. The author states that the success of any adaptation depends on how it addresses the needs of a particular community and if the residents can see the benefit, they will work collaboratively for its continued success. I started to reflect on how we can possibly use these successful adaptation models to steer our own climate change work in education.
The author also brought home the need for climate justice; governmental policies and decisions favouring the wealthy and able whilst leaving the less fortunate and those with disabilities to struggle (and perhaps perish) in the face of increasing severe storms, droughts, floods and heatwaves. He gave some distressing examples of inequalities that have been observed in both the US and Paris. The latter is making some headway into supporting residents cope in future heatwaves after suffering an unprecedented loss of life in a 2019 heatwave, but there is still much to be done.
All in all, the book felt like a call to arms to encourage everyone, everywhere to acknowledge the changes that are happening now in today’s climate so that we can adapt ourselves and our environments for a hotter world. Supporting the educators to educate the children seems a good place to start. I, for one, feel motivated and empowered to join the cause!
By Antionette Frearson, University of Worcester