Today we went to go see 2040, an excellent film about what the world will look like in the future if society takes decisions, now, to change our ways and use currently available technologies to radically change our agriculture, education, transport and healthcare systems. It’s an extremely hopeful film in a time when there doesn’t seem to be many positive predictions for the future. I highly recommend that everyone see it ASAP! (It’s about time there was some good news!)

Although the film addressed many different ways in which we can change, two movements caught my eye – especially as they relate to refugees. We can’t change that the polar ice caps are melting and that ocean levels are rising, ultimately pushing many people in developing nations out of their homes and flooding arable land. By the year 2100, Cornell University scientists predict 2 billion people could be climate change refugees due to rising sea levels. This situation is desperate, unavoidable, devastating. The film references the great potential in commercially farming seaweed in the ocean. This led me to consider possibilities that will exist through farming seaweed in flooded coastal areas. I know the potential uses and nutritional value of seaweed are diverse, and using this as a food staple, creating local economies in places otherwise devastated by flooding waters seems incredibly hopeful.

The other item mentioned was girls and women’s empowerment. This is clearly an important cause, but I never spent much time considering the environmental impact of educating women. Women who attain high levels of education are less likely to have unwanted pregnancies and will delay having children. Women in developing countries with little or no education (primary school or less), have an average of 5 children – most of whom are unlikely to surpass the education level of their mother. When women are educated communities flourish, and birthrates decline, and educated women raise educated children – exponentially improving the situation. To this end, Project Drawdown estimates 105 gigatones of CO2 emissions could be reduced by 2050.

It was a bit of positivity for someone like me who is often hangry (well, this week at least!) and always depressed at hearing the news.

So, check out 2040 right now! Get on the movement! …and in the meantime, go to our Refugee Ration Challenge page to donate! We’re still hungry, but have $1300 in donations to show for it. Share the love and a few bucks!