The last few days, my over-riding emotion has been one of frustration. Like, REALLY frustrated. So if you’ll allow, and given I always find it cathartic to talk / write about my challenges, I’d like to tell you why. And it's not because my grass looks pretty dead (although that is annoying)...
Two reasons.
The first: If ever we needed a reminder, climate change is HERE. Yes it’s just a hot couple of days here in the UK, and yes that’s weather and not climate… but the frequency and scale of these types of events IS climate. And the trend is there for all to see. And yet, the amount of posts I see on social media with people still questioning how real climate change is completely baffles me, and the sheer ignorance and cases of ‘superiority complex’ people must have that comes with it angers me – as that can be the only answer, right? People who genuinely believe that THEY know better than thousands upon thousands of highly qualified people / scientists that have spent the majority of their adult lives learning and researching about this topic. And to be clear, ‘research’ is NOT spending an hour on Google and YouTube. ‘Research’ is NOT listening to what your mate on WhatsApp or down the pub says about stuff with no evidence. ‘Research’ is not cherry picking one or two observations and then drawing conclusions solely from that. GRRRRRRRRRR!
My second reason: With the help of so many amazing people that have helped me over the past few years, we have a great idea (Hope Energy) that we believe will do a lot to tackle climate change. We predict we’ll be able to reduce at least 3 ½ million tonnes of CO2 over 6 years by people using Hope Energy rather than having a tariff with an average fuel mix, simply by people switching their energy supplier – and that’s just the start. I have fantastic people willing to, in effect, leave their career of dozens of years elsewhere and jump ship to join me at Hope Energy, because of our mission. And yet, we’re still not there and I still can’t launch Hope Energy yet. The plan very much is to still do so, but the energy Gods have been against us since our journey started over two years ago, and right now it’s looking like a 2023 launch. And make no mistake, there’s still a number of hurdles to jump, too. So I’m feeling sorry for myself and frustrated, and like I’ve let down the planet and the many kind folks that have been (and still are) supporting me and us by not being able to get the beast out the gate yet.
But know this: We are making progress and I will not give up (or at least not until our wonderful Board tell me to!!). There is no plan B, because there is no planet B. And until I find a way to have an even greater impact in the fight against climate change, all eggs are in the Hope Energy basket. Because as David Attenborough says, we are running out of time… but there is still Hope.
I feel slightly better now. Thanks!