Think globally Act locally

The “think globally, act locally” slogan has been an integral part of climate action. It embodies the idea that instead of waiting for grand breakthroughs to “fix the world,” we should implement environmentally conscious solutions into everyday decisions and actions. Though on their own of negligible impact, in aggregate, these can have a globally transformative effect.

Important Points in Think globally Act locally

To think globally means that we must be really conscious that all human beings live on the same planet, in a moving environment managed by biodiversity within the frame of nature’s laws. And that each of our acts has an impact for all. Earth is one. Life is one. If we cut ourselves from this idea, we are lost. So, that means that we must have a holistic view of the world — with its differences insides cultures and societies, in each territory, in each community.
To act local is obvious. In the economical frame, it means that particularly food products should be proposed on the base of local resources and sold locally for the most fresh of them. Of course, transformed products (canned in a glass jar for example) can have a longer life and eventually can travel anywhere, but provided that the means of transport has no impact on the environment …
Many people wait for international action on fixing global issues such as climate change, pollution, unemployment etc. But a few people are taking the responsibility and are incorporating eco-friendly solutions in everyday activities. So, they are thinking about the issues at a global level and are acting locally to bring change. These ideas can be implemented by other local communities creating a big change.
But sometimes the change in local communities do not result in the change at the global level because some countries are releasing a vast amount of greenhouse gases negating the positive impact created by others.
The phrase – Think global and Act local can be applied to businesses too. Now, there are so many companies that operate in two or more countries. These multinational companies originate in one country and expand their products and services to other countries. But, while launching the products in other countries, if they do not take the local needs into account, they may fail because people may not relate their products. One-size fits all approach will not work in the international expansion of businesses.
Take coal for example. Though its use in the developed world is on the decline, the level of demand for this fuel is expected to remain stable over the next two decades as the developing world picks up the slack (for a detailed discussion see here). In fact, by depressing prices, decreases in the demand for coal in the developed world could even give additional impetus for coal use elsewhere—making it more competitive against other, cleaner energy sources like natural gas or renewables.

First, there is a prominent rift between the developed and developing world in terms of their environmental goals and preferences. The wealthy, developed countries are not experiencing serious growth in their energy demand given their slower economic and population growth. They can also afford to pay more for cleaner energy options. In contrast, high levels of economic development and population growth in regions such as China, India, or the remaining countries of South-East Asia imply a dramatic increase in the need for affordable energy sources that could lift millions from poverty.

Second, climate action does not take place in a vacuum. In an environment where not all participants put CO₂ emissions and eliminating fossil fuels as their first objective, cuts in demand by some can boost the demand elsewhere. Thus, local action geared toward reducing CO₂ emissions may bring negligible cumulative effects. In addition, citizens in developed countries who are willing to pay more for clean energy may paradoxically be subsidizing fossil fuel use in other countries if lower global demand for those fuels depresses prices.

Third, not all environmentally focused initiatives are compatible with climate action goals. Some environmental actions, for example, reducing use of single-use plastics by banning plastic straws and/or plastic bags and replacing them with alternatives may be highly effective in helping marine environment but could actually increase the level of CO₂ emissions.

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