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Climate Change - A Bob Rumson Problem

by Mike Mc (Part 1 of 3)

"Bob's problem isn't that he doesn't get it. Bob's problem is that he can't sell it!" - President Andrew Shepherd in The American President

Eight hours of discussion at the United Nations for the Investor Summit on Climate Risk and what ends up swirling around my head? The shortcomings of Bob Rumson, a fictional political foil attempting to unseat a sitting (and fictional) president. Unexpected.

Even so, having let the day at the UN sink in for a bit, I understand why the words of Andrew Shepherd stick with me. Those that want faster, better action on the issue of climate change have a Rumson-esque problem. Consider that:

• At the Summit, Professor John Holdren of Harvard delivered an impassioned and thorough analysis on why people need to care about climate change... and it took 45 minutes.
• At the movies, An Inconvenient Truth offered a similarly impassioned and thorough analysis on why people need to care about climate change... and it took 100 minutes.

I left the Summit wanting to share what I had learned but struggling to find a way to concisely spread it. I get the issue, but if I have 30 seconds at dinner to get my parents excited, I'm in trouble.

Ultimately, pro-environment messages are destined for success. However, in a situation where time is of the essence, considering how to package those messages to speed the uptake is absolutely crucial.