1. The Lens
Before solutions, before strategies—there are worldviews. Foundational beliefs about human nature, the purpose of life, and what counts as progress. These are rarely stated outright. But they seep into every story, policy, investment, and conversation.
This lens reveals that climate isn’t just an emissions problem. It’s a mirror of what we believe the world is for—and who we think we are within it.
Beliefs may be learned, inherited, or instinctive—but their origins don’t guarantee their truth. When a belief that feels deeply personal is shared by millions and rooted in error, it can shape systems that drift from reality.
2. Contending Frames
- Individualism vs. Interdependence: Am I a self-made agent—or part of a shared web? One view prizes autonomy, the other reciprocity.
- Extractivism vs. Reciprocity: Is the Earth a resource bank—or a relationship? Extractivism sees value in what can be taken. Reciprocity sees value in what can be sustained.
- Scarcity vs. Abundance: Is there not enough to go around—or more than enough if we redesign how we share? The first hoards. The second collaborates.
- Technocratic vs. Participatory Outlooks: Should climate solutions be engineered from the top—or co-shaped from below? This frame determines who gets to design the future.
Worldviews are not binary. Most people hold a blend. But which one is dominant often decides what feels “realistic,” “radical,” or “responsible.”
3. When Worldviews Collide
Much of our climate gridlock is not about facts. It’s about frames clashing underneath:
- A “clean energy transition” may mean liberation to one person—and betrayal to another, if it’s built on historic exclusion.
- Planting trees can be seen as resilience—or as land-grab, depending on who’s consulted.
- A geoengineered sky may signal breakthrough—or hubris.
Disagreement doesn’t mean failure. But when we fail to notice the worldviews underneath, we argue symptom instead of source. And when enough people share a belief that’s disconnected from fact—such as “climate isn’t real,” or “nature is endless”—those illusions can become systemic. We can’t solve what we refuse to see clearly.
4. Surfacing Belief as Design Material
So what happens when we surface our worldviews?
- We can examine inherited assumptions
- We can notice which beliefs are aligned with current reality—and which no longer serve
- We can design futures that welcome more of humanity, not just the familiar few
Worldviews aren’t just filters. They’re futures in disguise.
5. Invitation
- What beliefs about the world were you taught?
- Which ones still guide your choices—and which have quietly expired?
- What worldview might help more people thrive together?
This isn’t about picking the “right” lens. It’s about learning to see through more of them—and testing our lenses not only for comfort, but for alignment with truth.
```