CHANGING SOCIETY IN A CHANGING CLIMATE
Climate change affects us all. Extreme weather events, hot summers and periods of drought are no longer distant threats – they are already reality. This calls for strategies towards sustainable development, driven by technological innovation and a society that actively shapes the transition.
Four colored gears surround a central prompt, “Who should take how much responsibility for fighting climate change?” Percentages from a Swiss public opinion survey (2023) are assigned to actor groups. Consumers: 28%—text discusses consumption choices, durability, and enabling policy frameworks. Non‑profit organizations: 10%—civil society, advocacy, and grassroots movements. Business and industry: 29%—production and supply chains, market incentives, and climate‑friendly products. Politics/government: 33%—meeting climate targets, taxes/levies, and investment in renewables and innovation. Arrows and meshing gears suggest that progress requires coordinated action.
A key aspect is moving away from fossil fuels (decarbonisation), on which we are still heavily dependent. Reducing CO₂ emissions requires a consistent energy transition and the transformation of all sectors of society. This means changes in our consumption habits, construction, mobility and the economy.
The world is not on track to meet climate targets by 2050. Many solutions are already known – now it is time to accelerate their implementation and take greater responsibility together.