Resilience 2 to 1 is winding down after 15 years. We are a group of mostly aging volunteers and we are all moving on and establishing new ways to respond to the climate crisis. Fortunately, over the past few years we have noticed lots of new groups coming on board with climate adaptation and resilience. There is a lot of new expertise and growing interest in the subject. So while we move on to new ways of caring there are lots of new groups and websites available to continue the work on climate resilience.

While I realize that we are in a dark moment globally, I do have hope. The war in the Middle East exposed just how insecure it is to depend upon fossil fuels. I am sure several leaders in southeast Asia are now drawing up new plans for rapid electrification and decarbonization. This is made possible by breakthroughs in China with incredibly cheap solar panels and EV’s. They just announced an EV that can charge in 5 minutes.

So this is not a moment to despair but instead one in which we all need to evaluate where we invest our time and energy so that we can maximize our contribution to the transformation of economies. That isn’t to negate the difficult moments we all face going forward. Increasing weather extremes which will destroy habitations and local environments, stress on the food supply and water supplies, inflation as supply chains falter. So not an easy time. But a critical moment on the road to change.

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For myself, I will continue to teach about climate adaptation, electrification, and decarbonization. I have over 20 students signed up for a course starting soon. And I am working on Master Gardener certification so I can knowledgeably help my community grow food for humans and other creatures. Others are investing in actions and activities that they find meaningful and useful. Anything that enhances adaptation and resilience especially at the local level is important.

The outgoing board here at R2:1 wish you all the best. May you find meaningful ways to enable personal and community resilience while also building relationships and creating beauty as you go. We need beauty as it will feed our souls for the journey. Work with one another. Take care of one another.
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