On 1st November, nominations open for The Earthshot Prize, “the most prestigious global environment prize in history” according to its website. The competition is open to a wide range of evidence-based solutions to our biggest environmental problems. It aims to “turn the current pessimism surrounding environmental issues into optimism that we can rise to the biggest challenges of our time”.

Grand words. Here’s my entry: everyone holds the key and everyone can learn how to use it.

Unintended consequence

But if we are told that the key is in Big Ideas Out There, then we assume we don’t possess it ourselves and take no action. This is the unintended consequence of unfettered belief in technology. As experts have been pointing out to our Prime Minister – reported by Roger Harrabin a few days ago – technology is not a “silver bullet”.

Or, more accurately, it probably isn’t. Maybe we will see miraculous developments, in nuclear fusion or carbon capture, say. Or maybe not.

We seem to be programmed to take sensible risk precautions as individuals but not as a group. Imagine you are walking near a cliff-edge in the most technologically advanced footwear, advertised as having the best grip ever. It starts to rain and become very slippery. Will you carry on walking precariously near the drop, trusting the technology; or will you move further away, even if in so doing you take longer to reach your destination?

Very few people would rely solely on their footwear. So why are we reluctant to apply similar prudence with respect to our lifestyle in the face of climate change?

Everyone can learn how to use it

Education, both formal and informal, provides the means for understanding what we can do and, apropos the above question, what stops us from doing it. There is nothing more important to learn nowadays, not even how to spell the word glacier or how to count the number of endangered species. And many of us, including – on the basis of the news at least – both our Prime Minister and SUV-driving leader of the opposition, do not appear to have been fully educated.

Teaching ourselves if needs be, we can learn about our innate ability to adapt; that we have no divine right to this or that particular way of life (and nature does not care if we think otherwise); that blame is useless; that it is never too late to change; though maybe it is cutting it fine to spend time arguing whether 98% or 99% of climate scientists believe in global warming, rather than simply going with the majority expert opinion.

Some might say that education requires time, which we don’t have, so we need to support technological solutions. I would say that windfarms and solar panels, even if we go hell for leather, will take several years to build up the necessary market share; while nuclear, hydrogen and/or carbon capture will take decades. Whereas, whatever our income level, most of us can adapt our lifestyle – diet, travel, heating, holidays, clothes, other purchases, and so on and so forth – straightaway and without having to carry the burden of an irretrievable, albeit indefinite, commitment. We do not have time not to.

So my optimistic idea – apologies for its offbeat nature but the Committee does stress they are open to a wide range of suggestions – is that everyone learns how to use the key we all share. In addition to finding Big Ideas, of course. We need all measures. Because otherwise, Earthshot Committee, the earth really will be shot.