We are probably witnessing one of the largest extinctions of species in Earth's history. However, we continue to pretend that nothing has happened. What we are being taught in geology classes (perhaps even in grade 3) is happening before our eyes. Insects, birds and large mammals, not to mention other more or less visible ones.*

Like perhaps some of you, I saw this weekend, the images of this emaciated and starving polar bear published by a National Geographic photographer. Like maybe some of you, I cried over these images. Sadness, rage and helplessness. The feeling of witnessing an unavoidable catastrophe reality show without being able to influence the course of events.

I assure you, it kept me up all night. I kept asking myself: what can I do that I don't do already? Yes, because I don't have a car, I tend towards zero waste, I prefer local and/or organic agriculture, I hardly eat meat, I only fly once a year?

What's the point?
What is the point of all my efforts, which are no longer necessary because they have become part of my habits? What are they used for (apart from the fact that it is probably better for my health) if:

our leaders do not have the courage to make radical decisions...
our leaders deny the very existence of global warming the great businessmen of our time and the many startupers of our "beloved startup nation and elsewhere" don't care about the planet.

People in developing countries still dream of our "comfort of life" aka pollution, burn out and RSA.
the affluent populations do not question their way of life coming from the 30 glorious, beautiful times of liberation but which also made us evolve on the path of programmed obsolescence, disposable and hyperconsumption.

Identify "simple" actions.

Movies, books, great speeches fail to make us aware of this major crisis or perhaps they would not fail if everyday life were not already so difficult for some of us that our energy is mobilized on one thing: our own survival. Unemployment, disease, difficult living conditions... So is there a "category" of the population that should be more concerned about the fate of our blue planet? But who? The rich? The privileged ones? Entrepreneurs? Am I part of it myself when I don't know what to write and perhaps gather people around a cause? What is the simple, immediate action that can have a measurable impact on a large scale?

I remember, for example, the banning of CFCs by the Montreal Protocol to stop the enlargement of the hole in our ozone layer had a strong impact. The hole is disappearing. This is a "simple" action that was applied unanimously.

If we apply the strategy of small steps on climate change, what could be our new "Montreal Protocol"? We already know that it will not be the Paris agreement, too complex, not precise enough, not action-oriented and, above all, less so since the withdrawal of the United States...

Since the collective pains and is in any case part of the long term, who can act?
How can we have a bigger, faster, stronger impact than our individual scale (of "bobo-ecolo")? Besides, couldn't we stop with this cliché? It is all very well to say that we must reduce our GHG emissions. OK. I approve 100%. But what does that mean in practical terms? Does my car really pollute more than the local farmer? What are the scales? What is the GHG emissions impact of SpaceX space tests? or the second communications satellites we send into space with a big rocket fire?

In fact, do we need even more technologies? Seriously? Don't we already have everything we need? Knowing that autonomous cars and other robots, artificial intelligence and distribution circuits are already there? What if all investors signed a charter to promote environmentally friendly companies? Is that teddy bear? Could these investment funds at least stop investing in services that do not include the environmental component?

In the same week, there are devastating fires in California, SOS Mediterrannée that saves migrants from drowning, the price of the bitcoin that exceeds $17,000 and this bear that is starving to death (yes, I don't count Johnny and yet he is able to gather a bunch of people...).

Why are we walking on our heads? (Retorical question)

In closing

And if not? How do we actually help these bears? We donate to WWF? Do we need to create a protection area? A kind of ice floe nature park, such as an area where all species are protected? Yeah, but how do we protect them from melting ice?

I have a scientific background, I am literary, I pride myself on being able to bring communities of interest together. I am an optimist by nature and I truly believe in the power of the crowd, but I don't have the keys.

What do you see as the simple actions that can be taken anywhere in the world that could have a direct impact on our greenhouse gas emissions? At the level of a country, a company or a citizen.

Edit: It wasn't premeditated but I am publishing this post fortuitously while the One Planet summit is taking place in Paris! So I'll put you up with a little form to list the different ideas? They'll say it's my action for this day. (I tried to do it on Framaforms but it's not that simple yet.