TED is an organisation that has as its goal to spread ideas. Most of us know TED from the TED Talks we have access to online, through which speakers share their thoughts on their big ideas. At the TED-Countdown in Edinburgh, the TED-Speakers shared a blueprint for a net-zero future with the goal to have a positive influence on the ongoing COP26 in Glasgow. During the Conference which lasted four days, we alternated between talks on the main stage and smaller breakthrough sessions held in groups of 20 people, as well as networking and socializing over lunch and dinners.
TED-Countdown Summit in Edinburgh, a Student’s View
by Maurus Pfalzgraf, student at ETH Zürich, 11 November 2021
Maurus Pfalzgraf looking at climate TRACE. (photo credit: Ryan Lash / TED)
The TED-Countdown Summit 2021 brought together 1,000 climate leaders in Edinburgh. Read below, the experience of an attending ETH Student.
Maurus Pfalzgraf at the Community Lunch at TED Countdown Summit. Listening to @queerbrownvegan (photo credit: Ryan Lash / TED)
As a bachelor student from ETH Zurich studying Environmental Science, I was extremely honoured to be invited to the conference. I received an invitation from TED as a Swiss climate activist. Travelling from Zurich to Edinburgh by train, I was full of expectation and curiosity about what was to come.
The Conference was extremely inspiring. However, as activist I must also criticize how technocratic all the suggested solutions were. Everyone was talking about efficiency, no one talked about sufficiency. As a politician in the Cantonal Council of Schaffhausen, I understand that it is easier to win people with the message that we will not need to reduce our consumption. What I am striving for now is a different message: we have no other choice than to do so. We are at a tipping point, and must take action now.
When I was about seven years old, I watched The Inconvenient Truth. A film made by former Vice President of the United States Al Gore, who was also in attendance at the Countdown. I can clearly say that he is the reason why I am so passionate about climate. To meet him in person was a massive highlight of the meeting for me.
I can highly recommend watching the talks from the Countdown Summit. My personal highlight was the talk from Tzepora Berman about the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. It reveals the huge difference between the amount of fossil fuels we can extract safely, and the amount which is currently still planned to be extracted by companies and governments. In addition, don’t forget to watch the Talk from Thomas Crowther (who is also from ETH Zurich) about Restor, which had its public launch at the Countdown. Restor is a global data platform supported by Google which aims to connect the global restoration movement. See more at https://restor.eco
Al Gore speaks at Session 5 at TED Countdown Summit. (photo credit: Ryan Lash / TED)
Tzepora Berham at Session 2 talking about the Fossil Fuel Treaty. (photo credit: Bret Hartman / TED)
Thomas Crowther speaks at Session 2 about Restor. (photo credit: Bret Hartman / TED)
To sum up, my personal takeaways from the Countdown Summit are:
• We need a non-proliferation fossil fuel treaty, starting with a registry about how much fossil fuel is to be extracted.
• We need to get a global price on carbon all over the world.
• We need to get more people on board when it comes to climate activism.
• We need to take a breath and not start too fast in this marathon for a better future. If we are not okay and we do not have clarity of purpose, we cannot help anyone.
• We need a non-proliferation fossil fuel treaty, starting with a registry about how much fossil fuel is to be extracted.
• We need to get a global price on carbon all over the world.
• We need to get more people on board when it comes to climate activism.
• We need to take a breath and not start too fast in this marathon for a better future. If we are not okay and we do not have clarity of purpose, we cannot help anyone.
When I start my Master’s Degree in Environmental Systems and Policy, I will have to do an internship. And I hope, that I can do it working on the Fossil fuel registry, under the leadership of Tzepora Berham. I can only recommend that you also look for inspiration and guidance from the remarkable people with big ideas featured by TED in the field of climate action, and beyond.
The talks are online, and there was a global livestream event on October 30th. All this is to be found on: https://countdown.ted.com/
Photo credit: Jonas Volter
About the author
Maurus Pfalzgraf is a 21 Year old activist and politician living in Schaffhausen. He studies Environmental Science at ETH Zurich and will soon start the Master in Environmental Systems and Policy.
