Directions:
Think of a problem that is related to climate change–one that is concrete and currently affecting a community you are part of. Get as specific as you can (e.g., Carbon emissions has increased by x% in the last ten years). You need to choose an issue that you can define, create strategies for solving, and is both global and local.
Where do you even begin? Great question. It is probably THE leadership question. No leader ever knows where to begin when tackling a big issue. Begin with passion? Sure! If you are passionate about a global issue (e.g., Polar ice melting, soil contamination, immigration related to climate change…) and you have a vision you can get behind, that’s a fine place to start. Begin with your field? Yes, if you know what field you want to go into, find out where the pressing issues are right now related to climate change and begin there. Begin with a Google search on “pressing global issues related to climate change”? That’s good too. But don’t start with the solution! For example, mass shootings in the US is a problem, but banning guns is a solution. Don’t start by saying “I want to ban guns” –start with true curiosity about the problem (mass shootings) and let the solutions rise to the surface through research.
For this assignment, you will define the problem you have chosen to try to solve (related to climate change). This will be roughly 4 paragraphs long, Remember:do NOT include the solution in this part of the project.
Paragraph 1: Define the problem at the big picture level– What is it? Why does it matter?
Paragraph 2: What are the barriers or complications surrounding the problem – give more detail about the problem
Paragraph 3: What does the problem look like in a specific context –this is the specific problem you are trying to solve (it’s the “local” version of the problem)
Paragraph 4: Where else in the world does the problem exist –this is your second global perspective and should be a place where it has been a problem, but they have seen some success. However, don’t talk about the success in this part of the project, stay focused on the problem.
Look at this Example for more helpLinks to an external site. – see how each publish gets more specific, supported, and includes two global perspectives.