Making sense of the climate crisis

The idea of organising Tipping Point Cocktails came about during a long walk in nature. We were wondering why there is so little meaningful action on the climate crisis? We can talk about politics and vested interests stalling and getting in the way but ultimately power resides in numbers and the political pressure those numbers can create. So why is there so little pressure? Could the greatest obstacle to meaningful action on climate change be our very own minds? There is a lot of information out there, but is there a lack of comprehension? What could happen if we did have a better understanding?

The cultural historian and one of the most prescient and profound thinkers of the 20th century, Thomas Berry, said that: “Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives.” It makes sense; we are talking about the Earth, our only home, a little blue jewel travelling through space, and yet most of us as adults know so little.

In fact! How many of us actually have a good understanding of what climate change means or for that matter how the living systems of the Earth work and how these systems regulate the climate?

How many of us know what tipping points and feedback loops are?

What does it mean that Earth is a self-regulating complex system; and what does it mean that we are dismantling these systems of self-regulation?

This may all sound complicated but it is not. To put it simply, so many of the conditions and environments that we take for granted, including the air we breathe, are created and maintained by life; by a tight coupling and interconnection of all organisms. So, our fates are tied and yet with every species and habitat lost we are tugging on the web of life, breaking its connections, weakening it until… Well, that remains to be seen and is largely up to us.

The good news is there are a lot of people on the frontline working for a better future.

Tipping Point Cocktails is an opportunity to learn a little more. We are not experts but we do invite people who know far more than us to come and share their knowledge, experience and ideas with us. Our aim is to bring people together, raise awareness and build community around the issues of the climate crisis. Along the way, maybe our breath will be taken away by the sheer beauty of life, maybe we will be inspired by those working to protect it, maybe we will appreciate honestly what is at stake and what we are losing and maybe we will get a little fire in the belly.

We are not recruiting, or asking for any commitment or pledge to action. What we want to do is connect the dots and believe that something magical happens when people come together with a shared intention. To put it another way; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and this means no action is too small and everyone has something to contribute to the whole.

A tipping point is defined as “the point at which a series of small changes or incidents becomes significant enough to cause a larger, radical and permanent change.” This can be for the better and we can all be a part of it. We can all be catalysts for change.

So how does it work? Someone offers to host an evening and invites a group of their friends, we invite a speaker and we all discuss, ask questions and share our ideas while having some drinks and nibbles. Before the evening is over one or two of the guests volunteer to host an evening for their friends and this way we multiply creating new connections and new opportunities.

How can I get involved?

Reach out to us, join one of our cocktail evenings or offer to host one!

What do I have to bring?

Curiosity and a sense of humour.