places to meet people who have ideas for ecological change.”
Again, this notion of libraries as meeting places and spaces to share ideas is gather- ing momentum. The library as the “Third Space” already provides access to physical and intellectual resources in buildings that are adaptable and conducive to col- laboration. Increasingly library spaces can be created in ways that suit the needs of the local community, and community-driven action will shape how spaces are used. Bridget believes that individuals and community will be the power behind change, saying: “The message of hope is YOU! You have to choose a side – either you are for continuing biodiverse life on this amazing planet, or you are for letting it be destroyed. This sounds a harsh choice that I am putting to you but it’s the breached boundaries of the planet’s operating system that are giving you this choice. There is the adage that the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is today. It has been too late for many already traumatically impacted by anthropogenic global warm- ing over the past 50 years, but it’s not too late to help future generations.”
Fragile system
And while Bridget says there is still hope, she points to the huge impact of Covid-19 as a reminder that the need for action is constant. Global pandemics have been warned about for years, with many of those warnings linked to the effects humans are having on the natural world. Bridget says: “Covid-19 itself is a big loud message about what we’ve been doing to the environment. It’s a result of deforesta- tion, encroachment on animal habitats and an unsustainable food system. It’s also worsened by air pollution and flight-based tourism. (See more about our enquiry into this here
https://bit.ly/3uKNyHa). “I think it’s making people more receptive to messages about the value of science, and more aware of how fragile our economic system is. We have to tap into this, provide people with the resources to learn more and take meaningful action to tackle the extractive, exploitative systems that make us unhealthy, unequal, and anxious about our futures. The danger is in how media can be dominated by powerful voices such as polluters who want continued licence to operate, more state subsidies and less regulations.” So how do we get involved? How can we
April-May 2021
Climate Museum UK at ONCA.
make a change? Bridget says that there are no simple answers, but instead urges us to look at paths we can take to mini- mise our impact. She says: “Rather than three top tips I’d suggest three pathways to action on which you have to decide what are your first steps. All three path- ways need to be taken, but you can start on one to reach the others. “One, radical de-carbonisation. The UK plan to de-carbonise is too slow, so civic organisations and businesses have to lead the way. Two, go regenerative. Look at how you can generate more biodiversity and energy in positive, self-sustaining
ways that solve multiple problems. Three, adaptation. The impacts of the climate and ecological emergency are here and worsen- ing, so how can your own organisation and communities cope with these changes? “What do they need to learn? What resources might be unavailable in future? How might you need to adapt your building?”
l Bridget will be speaking at CILIPS Annual Conference, which takes place online on 7 and 8 June. Places can be booked by visiting
www.cilips.org.uk/ about/cilips-annual-conference-2021.
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