Pillar 1: Systems Understanding (BRONZE)

Chapter 1: The Absolute Basics

This opening chapter points at the vital statistic for human life on our planet: the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Why should 426 particles of CO2 in every million particles matter? It is a tiny amount. How could such small thing be such a big deal? Why should we be bothered about remote, abstract, scientific facts?

The Climate Academy is committed to providing a clear systemic viewpoint. Without this perspective, it is easy to miss what really matters.

Greenhouse gases matter because they raise the temperature of the atmosphere. And this temperature has to be understood systemically. Your body is a bio-system, and it cannot cope with even a small change in temperature across the system. It is called a fever, and it has miserable side effects. For a human being, an extra 4°C for the body is a medical emergency.

Likewise, the Earth is a large bio-system. You cannot suddenly shunt up the temperature up, without massive consequences.

This book starts with these absolutely basic system facts. These facts are not visible without the help of scientific research and graphs. But they really do matter.

Chapter 2: Mass Extinction Events

The passage explores past mass extinctions, such as the event that wiped out the dinosaurs and the Permian-Triassic event, the most severe extinction in history. These were caused by natural disasters like asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions.

The text then shifts to the Anthropocene, a sixth mass extinction that is caused by humans. Our impact on the planet is now so deep and pervasive, we now have the dubious honour of having a slice of Geological time named after us. Our relentless consumption-driven biodiversity loss destabilised the natural balance of climate systems and polluted multiple layers of the environment.

To illustrate our fleeting existence in Earth’s timeline, a 24-hour clock analogy shows humans arriving mere seconds before midnight. A fact that underlines both our fragility as a civilization and our extraordinary capacity to affect change.

Finally, given our reckless overconsumption, the chapter playfully questions whether we truly deserve the title 'Homo sapiens' — wise humans. This sets the stage for deeper discussions on responsibility and solutions in later chapters.

Chapter 3: Spaceship Earth

If you were living in a small community on a spaceship and one astronaut started to use up all the supplies for themselves, it would jeopardise the mission. Things would be even worse if another shuttle arrived with more astronauts, but they turned up with no extra food, water, or other supplies.

This is a thought experiment. The Earth is much larger than a spaceship, but it is just like a spaceship. It also has finite resources. It is a “Closed Mass System”.

Sustainability is rooted in the fact that our planet is finite, and it is not exempt from the laws of Physics. The Second Law of Thermodynamics is in play on our planet just like it is everywhere else in the universe. This means that, although the Earth was gifted with a fantastic array of raw materials, at some point, the usable level of these resources will run out. We inherited tonnes of precious metals and minerals from the guts of a supernova billions of years ago, but as we mine and manufacture our way into the future, we will eventually exhaust them.

So, supplies are limited, but the human population has been growing exponentially for centuries.

In 2020, 81 million people were added to the planet (a number roughly equal to the population of Germany). This growth rate of 1.3% annually would result in a population density of one person per square meter on the dry land surface of the Earth in 790 years. This is clearly an impossible situation. But well before even reaching this extreme, resources would be stretched and eventually reach a breaking point.

We do not need to wait hundreds of years to see the stress marks on the planet. Our spaceship is already under a lot of pressure. This chapter has some of the key details.

Chapter 4: Where are we now?

The world is rapidly approaching critical carbon budget limits, yet current national commitments (NDCs) fall drastically short of what is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C or even 2°C. The Emissions Gap remains huge, with current policies putting the planet on a path to 3–4°C of warming by the end of the century. Projections reported in the media are misleading because they include unrealistic assumptions about future carbon capture technologies.

Our fossil fuel dependency remains deeply embedded in our global infrastructure. We have never stopped doing 'energy addition', but the zombie concept of 'energy transition' remains the dominant media story about what we are doing. In other words, renewable energy growth, while significant, has not outpaced the rising demand for energy, so our overall demand for fossil fuel continues to rise.

Efforts to address climate change have largely focused on individual actions rather than systemic shifts. The fossil fuel industry has strategically promoted this narrative to deflect attention from the need for a deep overhaul of the energy sector.

Chapter 5: The United Nations?

This chapter critically examines the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its failure to achieve its singular goal: stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent dangerous climate change.

The chapter starts in Versailles at the time of the French Revolution and tracks the twists and turns of human history towards the creation of the United Nations. Although the chapter indulges different cultural and artistic objects, the central metaphor of the chapter is actually just a box of Cornflakes.

This is because although the empty space in a box of cornflakes looks a bit useless, it is, in fact, essential to protect the cornflakes from getting crushed. And so it is with the space above our heads - both with the atmosphere and with democracy.

The UNFCCC was set up to protect this atmospheric space. However, despite decades of COP meetings, emissions have continued to rise. The chapter concludes with a call for clarity, science-based laws, and global solidarity to address the climate crisis. It points ahead to the CUTx Index of Chapter 7: a clear measure of where we are, and what we need to do to protect the future of human civilisation.

Chapter 6: Who is responsible?

India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were all severely exploited under British colonial rule, with land, people, and resources used to fuel Britain’s wealth. This led to devastating events like famines and long-term environmental harm. Today, these countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing little to global emissions. Meanwhile, richer countries like the UK continue high consumptive lifestyles, often under the illusion of ‘green’ progress, while the Global South suffers the consequences.

The roots of the climate crisis are not mysterious; they are deeply embedded in the history of capitalism. The East India Company took over India, with the invisible hand of the market guiding its strategy and policies. It was a hand that had nasty knuckles when needed. The blinkered imperatives of growth meant that so much human and environmental wealth outside of the balance sheets of simple profit and loss was trampled on.

Capitalism is now truly global and is finding new layers of human life and the natural world to extract value from. Colonial British rule exercised heavy media censorship in India, a situation that is mirrored today in a global media that is also wired into the same overriding imperative of profit. We have to face the uncomfortable truth that capitalism seems incompatible with genuine sustainability. Indeed, whilst democratic rule has many deeply important virtues and values, it also has a blind spot for environmental issues.

This historical parallel underscores the importance of independent journalism in holding power to account. As Nobel economist Amartya Sen observed, 'No famine in history has ever occurred in a functioning democracy.' Today, young journalists and activists must step into this role, exposing the forces driving climate catastrophe. With guidance from organizations like News Decoder, the next generation has the opportunity—and the responsibility—to challenge the powerful and demand change.

Chapter 7: The CUTx Index

The central chapter in the book. If the rest of the book is about climate literacy, this chapter is about climate numeracy. These are the vital statistics for human civilisation.

The CUTx Index is an authoritative set of numbers, supported for communication by the world’s most eminent climate scientists, it maps out, in the clearest numerical terms, just how close we are to planetary boundaries. These numbers are critical for students to use in all their events and publications.

The UN only speaks about global problems and global numbers, which masks the fact that the world’s richest nations are both historically and currently responsible for the overwhelming majority of the emissions. The CUTx Index is based on the simple idea that the remaining carbon budget has to be divided per capita. It seems to be basic common sense, and a basic issue of human rights that we all have an equal right to the atmosphere.

Once the remaining carbon budget is divided fairly like this, then all kinds of misinformation and fake news about the climate crisis are exposed. Indeed, there is so much misinformation about climate change out there, the CUTx provides remarkable clarity and transparency.

It is absurd that none of the current climate pledges by nations (known as NDCs) have anything to do with the carbon budget. The EU has promised to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 based on 1990 levels, and other nations have commitments to get to net zero by a certain date.... but these have nothing to do with the scientific reality of our situation, and none of these commitments can be reliably compared against each other.

Chapter 8: Tipping Points – Physical

This chapter emphasizes the enormous impact small actions can have on complex systems, using Scrat from Ice Age as a metaphor for triggering tipping points with unintended consequences. It advocates for applying the precautionary principle—the idea that those proposing potentially harmful actions must prove they won’t cause damage—in shaping climate policy.

Drawing parallels with the brake-less bikes of a velodrome and the profit-driven industrial economy, the chapter critiques our reckless pursuit of growth without regard for environmental boundaries. It concludes that tipping points represent the greatest climate threat, and that achieving sustainable, prudent economic growth while avoiding irreversible damage is the core challenge of our era.

Chapter 9: Paradigm Shifts

This chapter explores how paradigm shifts—fundamental changes in the frameworks through which we interpret reality—shape human understanding and action. Drawing on the work of scientists like Galileo and thinkers like Kuhn, it reveals how unseen systems of belief influence our perceptions, decisions, and societal norms.

Climate activists often feel alienated because they operate within an emerging paradigm that contrasts sharply with mainstream values. Despite resistance and inertia, the chapter points to signs of profound transition—a “flickering” indicating both the decline of outdated systems and the rise of a new, sustainable model. Just as past scientific revolutions eventually became accepted truths, so too can the reality of ecological limits and the necessity for systemic change. This shift, once it gains momentum, will be unstoppable and lead to a more just, collaborative, and beautiful world. The chapter ends with hope and urgency, urging readers to recognise and embrace the coming transformation.

Chapter 10: Tipping Points – Social

The conclusion highlights the urgency of the climate crisis, emphasizing the disconnect between scientific reality and societal response. Despite growing awareness, systemic transformation has yet to occur. A shock—whether from natural disasters or policy shifts—is needed to catalyse action. Two key triggers for change are proposed: education and law. A systemic climate education could empower future generations, while legal frameworks could enforce necessary economic and environmental boundaries.

Drawing parallels with the Civil Rights Movement, the text underscores the power of focused activism and legislative change. Figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers exemplify the impact of legal battles in driving societal transformation. Social tipping points, once triggered, can create rapid shifts, as history has shown. Given the limited time left to address climate change, bold, systemic action is essential to achieving meaningful progress.

Chapter 11: The Psychology of Climate Change (1)

The next two chapters have a different rhythm.

They contain a sequence of bite-sized reflections on why humans have not yet responded properly to the climate crisis. If the science of climate change is so clear, and if the consequences of inaction are so dire, then there must be a range of odd psychological forces in play that hold us back from action.

The most extended reflection pulls on the work of Daniel Kahneman and Dan Kahan. Kahneman’s, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (2011) offers a clear start in understanding why people often resist on climate science despite understanding the risks.

At the end of the chapter, Konrad Lorenz makes an appearance, with some geese and a a pair of Wellington boots.

Chapter 12: The Psychology of Climate Change (2)

The bite-sized reflections on the psychology of climate change continue.

Featuring, amongst many other things, a hamburger and a rock band, DNA and FOMO, the Buddha and a King.

Chapter 13: The Paradox of Innovation

The bite-sized reflections on the psychology of climate change continue.

Featuring, amongst many other things, a hamburger and a rock band, DNA and FOMO, the Buddha and a King.

Chapter 14: Climate Anxiety

This chapter explores climate anxiety through the lens of literature, arguing that fiction uniquely captures the complexity of the sustainability crisis. After acknowledging how rational it is to be anxious about climate change, it takes a poet from the 19th century (Tennyson) and a novelist from the 20th century (Kafka) to move forward.

It highlights the importance of action as an antidote to anxiety, the importance of standing by scientific data, and the value of creativity and courage as full human responses to the situation.

The remarkable works of both Tennyson and Kafka show how powerful the pen can be. Their publications captured some of the deepest truths of the human condition, and they stand as luminous examples of the power of literature.

The second pillar of the Climate Academy is Civic Engagement. By shifting the focus outward and engaging in art, individuals can transform anxiety into meaningful impact.

Chapter 15: The Climate Academy (1) The Piraeus

This chapter underscores the importance of a systems perspective in understanding the climate crisis. It critiques the fragmented and superficial way environmental issues are taught in schools and presented in the media, highlighting the absence of a clear framework for comprehending planetary boundaries and tipping points. The chapter calls for an education system that fully integrates ecological literacy, particularly in Economics and Geography, to reflect the true scale of the crisis. It argues that systemic change, not just individual actions, is necessary.

Looking ahead, the chapter finishes by looking towards solutions, drawing inspiration from Plato’s Academy.

Chapter 16: The Climate Academy (2) The Academy

Ultimately, systemic change may be complex, but it is achievable.

The original Academy, located outside the hustle and bustle of the city of Athens, was founded by the philosopher Plato. It aimed to cultivate philosopher kings and queens through a deeply holistic education.

The Academy emphasizes the importance of “problem framing” over mere problem-solving, and following the example of Socrates, it points to the potency of asking simple questions to those around you.

The chapter concludes by underlining the importance of virtue-driven leadership and the transformative power of just laws as levers for systemic change. The Climate Academy provides a space for students to gain a clear vantage point on the crisis and offers them the chance to act as System Entrepreneurs.

In a world of siloed knowledge and increasingly siloed communities, it is refreshing and empowering to think and act in ways that pull things together.