Everything feels big at the moment doesn’t it?
26/03/2026
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Dear Planetary Steward,
Everything feels big at the moment, doesn’t it? With each bi-weekly newsletter we write, the world feels ever more fractured. Geopolitical tensions continue to escalate while people everywhere grapple with soaring living costs, further bolstering the cultural divisions worsened by factional media. Against this backdrop, the latest annual State of the Global Climate report was released this week by the World Meteorological Organization, warning us again that our planet is shifting further out of balance as a result of human activity. Record temperatures are making weather events more extreme and threatening our health and food supplies, with 2015 to 2025 confirmed as the hottest 11 years ever measured, and the rate of ocean warming more than doubling in 20 years.
Most countries also risk further falling into critical food insecurity if global temperatures increase by 2°C, according to separate research from the International Institute for Environment and Development. The new data reveals a deeply unfair distribution of food insecurity, with the climate crisis disproportionately affecting food systems in poorer nations, widening the gap between the most and least vulnerable countries.
The intersection of these crises seems to demand a transformation so vast that it can seem almost impossible to attempt solving. Yet opportunity lies within this environment. The same nature and climate emergency that threatens Earth system stability and food insecurity, offers a pathway to rebuild our systems with justice and resilience. Because when we address energy poverty, we can simultaneously cut emissions and reduce household costs. When we protect ecosystems, we can improve food stability and a family’s weekly food bill.
The Global Commons Alliance is working on those opportunities. Despite global chaos, our members and partnerships are busy proving that bold, collaborative ideas can still emerge from all continents. Members and partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America, are embracing innovation, sharing knowledge, and building bridges across divides. They are turning turbulent times into our greatest catalyst for change. This momentum can be seen at the many international gatherings too. From last week’s The Villars Institute Summit and this week’s IPCC-64 in Bangkok, to next week’s ChangeNOW in Paris where Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Jean Oelwang and Johan Rockström will be speaking (which will be broadcast by We Don’t Have Time), we’re seeing more scientists, investors, creators, businesses and leaders innovating to accelerate systems change for planetary health than perhaps at any other point in history. If you would like to connect with us at ChangeNow, get in touch with Sebastian. And don’t forget to keep track of global and member events in our new calendar.
While it can be difficult to identify progress during times like these, we must remember that we are the authors of our own destiny. The future is being written by the connections and bold ideas we embrace today. The challenges are immense – but so is our collective capacity to rebuild a fractured world.
With all our best, Will Tucker, Co-Director (Communications and Resource Mobilization) Sebastian Schienle, Co-Director (Partnerships and Programs)
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