I recently had the opportunity to sit down with UEA’s own Dr Rupert Read, where we discussed his new co-authored book Transformative Adaptation, the climate crisis, and what we can do about it. 

Could you just briefly explain to our readers where the title, Transformative Adaptation, comes from? 

Too often, the climate movement has focused on stopping human-caused climate change, arguing that if we just reduce emissions then everything will be fine. This attitude was understandable a few decades ago, but we’ve left it too late for that now. A certain amount of climate breakdown is baked in. We must then adapt to this new reality, hence the need for adaptation. Not only this, but we must also make sure it is the right kind of adaptation. For example, to deal with the reality of increased flooding, it is not enough to simply build higher flood walls. Instead, we must work with nature to create win-win-win scenarios through the restoration of mangroves or (here) peatlands that are both natural flood defences and carbon sinks, that will also boost biodiversity. This type of adaptation would transform our preparedness to the upcoming climate impacts, but will also transform ourselves and how we view nature. The ‘solution’, then, to climate breakdown, is transformative adaptation. 

We’ve had a change of government after 14 years of the same party in charge, and we’ve recently seen Just Stop Oil cease protests as they claim to have achieved their aims by getting the government to ban new oil and gas licenses. Do you have any faith in the new government to take meaningful action on the climate (or to at least sincerely listen)? 

I think that we (meaning the climate movement) have spent decades trying to raise the alarm for governments. Before Just Stop Oil there was Extinction Rebellion, which recorded around 100,000 people out on protests, and despite XR’s success in raising awareness, it did not significantly change the political trajectory (other than the 2050 net zero target being set, which was too late to begin with and we are now woefully behind on). I don’t see this Labour Government being too different; they were slow to ‘stop’ new oil and gas licenses, they have rolled back the phasing out of combustion engine vehicles, and they are ramping up draconian prison sentences for peaceful protests. I think it’s time we stop relying on governments; it would be great to have them on-side, but we can’t just wait for them to realise how serious the situation is before we do anything. We have the power to do a great deal of transformative adaptation in our own lives, together, if only we realise how powerful we collectively are. If we start to model what is possible, then governments will eventually have to respond. 

Yes, I think often we forget just how important and meaningful each individual is, and nowadays we’re even more connected than ever. You talk in the book about keeping the advances of our modern world and using the global communication systems we already have to rebuild communities – ‘glocalisation’. Do you think our current ‘always online’ world has damaged people’s senses of local community and made people more apathetic to the world (I’m thinking of things like social media doomscrolling and desensitisation via algorithms) – or does our modern connected world offer unique advantages – such as ways to connect with local grassroots climate initiatives? 

The fad in recent years for largely virtual ‘communities’ of interest across the world is an artefact of a temporary moment in human history, a moment wherein elevated technological progress coincided with a lack of substantial blowback from the waste products of that ‘progress’. That moment is coming to an end, most obviously through the rapidly rising tide of climate disasters. Incredible and horrendous scenes like we have seen over the past several months, from Valencia to Los Angeles, are set to become normalised. For the foreseeable future, climate impacts will, on average, become worse every year. Among other things, this will affect not just food prices, but food supplies, full stop. 

In the future, real communities – people near you who can actually help you reliably access food, water, warmth, electricity, repairs, early warnings against disasters, etc – will again become increasingly important. Our future will be in part ever newer, as we enter deep into a terrifying unknown, and in part ever more ancient, drawing on needs and capacities that we fantasised had been left behind. 

So how compatible is our reliance on technology with the environment? 

The question is a bit too big for a quick answer. For my perspective on technology, see my book ‘THIS Civilisation Is Finished’ or my recent book ‘Why Climate Breakdown Matters’. 

Thank you, I’ll look into those (and I’d encourage our readers to do the same!) On a related point – social media especially can be overwhelming and bad climate news can make people worried, anxious or even apathetic. What advice would you give to people who feel this way? 

That there is nothing wrong with you for feeling that way; it is the correct reaction to the sombre and sobering assessment of environmental collapse. In fact, I would argue that those that do not feel worried or anxious about the state of the environment must either not understand it or be sociopathic. It is all too easy to think this is out of your control and be paralysed by that thought. What I would urge people to do is think about what is in your control and start there (but don’t end there!). Could you make your garden more wildlife friendly? Could you push for a community orchard? Could you get the policy of the university changed to take seriously that future careers may look nothing like past careers, and in fact that students tragically but truthfully today cannot necessarily expect to have a lifelong career at all, because society will not be here in the same way when young people today get old? When combined, there is an awful lot of difference that we can all make. The trick is to find your power, along with others. 

“The trick is to find your power, along with others” — that’s such a beautiful sentence! It really helps to remember that we’re not alone in this. Awareness is one part of the climate problem – but as you mention in the book a lot of people know we are in crisis, but not many do anything about it. How can we encourage action in today’s (seemingly) more apathetic world? 

By relating it to how people want to live their lives. Instead of the messaging being about an invisible gas and its impact on communities far away, relate it to how the polycrisis impacts the audience directly. In other words, adaptation and resilience, not just decarbonisation. If the audience is the UK, then it is our rivers that are polluted, how might this impact you and your children? It is our crops that are failing, how is this impacting your shopping? Renewable energy is the cheapest on the market, so why are your energy bills going up? It turns out, there are so many win-win scenarios for nature and people that it’s not hard to be ‘ecologically selfish’ in a way that works for us all! 

I suppose it’s just about restructuring our relationship with nature and each other. Which brings me on to my next question – do you think there is still a community spirit when it comes to the climate crisis? 

Absolutely! Community is the most important factor in climate action. I think what stumps some people is trying to tackle the overall problem of emissions at a global level. Instead, transformative adaptation and resilience building shows that communities can and do come together to improve their collective lives. In fact, communities yearn for this collective project where they can feel and see the tangible improvements they are making to themselves and their surroundings. 

I’m glad to hear it! It makes it all feel much more manageable knowing that there’s collective action. Before the Easter break, we celebrated Climate Week at the UEA, and you mention in the book that we need to “embody the transformation that we aim to bring”. Are there any local initiatives or projects in Norwich you know about that readers can get involved with? 

There’s lots of great stuff going on in Norwich and Norfolk. The Norwich Eco Hub is a good place to start. It’s a directory highlighting local efforts, why they matter and how people can get involved. 

(A link is provided: https://norwichecohub.co.uk/_) 

The Norwich branch of the Green Party is also very active. https://norwich.greenparty.org.uk/ 

Should universities themselves be doing more to advocate for sustainability/signpost to such projects? 

Yes. Universities are uniquely filled with proactive optimistic bright young people who are able to organise and produce truly wonderful results. Throughout the 20th and 21st century, most major protest movements either originated or were empowered by student bodies. The hunger is there. As for universities themselves, they must stop seeing themselves as impartial observers who are above the inner workings of society and must fulfil their role as active participants in it. My old sparring partner Michael Gove was wrong, we have not ‘had enough of experts’; expertise is what we need now more than ever. 

I remember him saying that – it felt remarkably complacent at the time and it feels the same way now. So, there are things that universities can do as institutions, what can our students (or indeed anybody) do to feel proactive and embody the transformation we aim to bring? 

The first and most important thing is to talk about it. I know this can seem daunting and believe me I’ve had my fair share of uncomfortable conversations about the climate crisis, but the topic is as important as it is sometimes uncomfortable. Do your friends know how bad a situation we are in, and the impacts that we will be facing over the next few years? Do your parents know? These conversations are where the hard yards are won. Beyond that, look for what needs doing in your community – there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, transformative adaptation empowers communities to take action within the context of the communities. Some tips for where to start could include how much food does your community produce? Are you at particular risk of flooding (if you are in Norfolk then the answer is ‘yes’)? What is the state of the biodiversity in your communities? From here, you can design action that best fits your communities needs and tackles your particularly contextual risks. 

Do you have any closing words for our readers (or anything else you’d like to add)? 

You are never too small to make a difference. We are in a terrible situation, and devastating climate breakdown isn’t something that’s coming; it’s already here. In the last 6 months we’ve seen two category 5 hurricanes in Florida in the space of 2 weeks, record flooding hit Europe which was particularly deadly in Valencia, and England having the second worst harvest since records began. A decade ago, the Governments of the world signed the Paris Agreement to limit warming to 1.5ºC; we have already surpassed this degree of heating with no sign of slowing down. Recognising this reality is the first step, the second is coming together in our communities to make sure we are as prepared as possible for the climate breakdown that is unfolding. Transformative adaptation is the best way to build resilience in our communities. This is about your whole life. Find your calling in this epochal grinding slow crisis. Make your life count. 

Transformative Adaptation: Another World is Still Just Possible by Dr Rupert Read et al. is available now. Many thanks to Dr Rupert Read and Tara Greaves for the interview opportunity.

Photo Credit: Sam Bowen