Action
…following a clear, practical plan to improve our chances
„Once the crises on our doorstep strike in their full force, our response will be proportionally dramatic and mobilising – much like in wartime. We will change at a scale and speed that today we can scarcely imagine. And this will transform both our economies and our societies.”
Paul Gilding
How do you feel about Paul Gilding’s statement above?
When The Great Disruption was published in 2010, Gilding was already arguing that
it was time to move beyond “worrying about climate change” and instead prepare collectively for its impacts, because a planet-scale wave of crises was no longer avoidable.
By this, he did not mean climate change alone, but a fundamental transformation of the Earth’s interconnected systems.
In the decade since, the accelerating pace of extreme weather and environmental disruption has repeatedly reinforced his argument. These developments signal that we have reached the limits of an economic model built on consumerism at planetary scale – and that we must now live with the consequences of the damage it has caused. Building resilience is, ultimately, preparation for exactly this reality.
How do we begin?
Improving personal and community resilience requires a different way of thinking about the physical reality of our planet, how the economy actually functions, and the nature of human psychology. As Albert Einstein observed:
„No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”. If this is true, then how do we begin to think differently about what Paul Gilding called the „crises on our doorstep” and about the complex challenge of adapting to them?
If we take the need for action seriously, a few shifts in thinking become essential:
- developing a clearer understanding of the interaction between planetary ecology and the economy;
- gaining a deeper sense of what genuine resilience means in difficult times;
- honestly accepting the possibility that we may no longer be able to act fast enough, or at sufficient scale.
How should I prepare?
Prepare for the form of collapse you consider most likely. For many, this means readiness for different types of disruption: securing food and water, building emergency supplies, and learning basic first aid. In many situations, these steps can prove genuinely useful.
Depending on where you live, it is sensible to be prepared for the natural hazards specific to your region. Some people also choose to develop practical skills – such as basic repairs or sewing – that remain valuable regardless of circumstances.
Equally important is building and maintaining strong relationships with neighbours and the wider community around you. In certain situations, these connections can be critical – and this remains true whether collapse occurs or not.
The way we don’t do it
Our immediate response to a problem that feels too vast to grasp is denial. We tend to choose this over the deeply uncomfortable work of accepting reality. The what, how, and why not are paths we already know all too well.
Here are just a few familiar ways this plays out:
- We face reality, then simply turn away from it – ignore it, or make a joke of it.
- We face reality, then reassure ourselves that humanity is clever enough, and some brilliant new technology will surely fix this too.
- We face reality, but immediately retreat into rationalisation, arguing that economic growth matters more than climate change, because we can only deal with extreme weather if we can afford to.
- We face reality, then declare ourselves too busy – there’s no time to deal with something so distant and abstract.
- We face reality, then tell ourselves we’ve already done our part: we avoid plastic, drive an electric car, maybe even grew tomatoes on the balcony.
- We face reality, then forget it. Remember it again – only for it to fade once more. A kind of self-protective amnesia, circling the truth without letting it in, because fully taking it in would mean admitting that everything is going to change.
Overwhelmed by feelings
When you reflect on your emotional responses to the collapse of climate and natural systems, the loss of the life you once knew, and an uncertain future – what do you actually feel?
Excitement and determination? Or heaviness and overload? Either way, being flooded by emotion is a natural response to a future that can feel deeply uncertain, even hopeless.
As needed
To support a shift in perspective and the emergence of a different kind of action, we have compiled a list of activities that you, your family, and your community can begin right now.
These are summarised in ten points. While they build on one another logically, there is no need to follow them in sequence. Every individual and community will find the steps that best suit them as a place to begin.
A Responsible Task
The task list begins with a personal commitment: regularly track your results in the Assessment test, and aim – within the shortest possible time – to improve them by reducing the number of “no” answers and increasing the number of “yes” responses.
The next step is to build broad, active relationships within your local community, through direct, lived connections with the people around you. Finally, if and when you reach this stage, the aim is to help weave like-minded, resilient communities into living networks – both nationally and internationally. This, too, remains a matter of choice.
The Path of Action
1. Improve your test results
Review the results you obtained by completing the Assessment questionnaire (remember to record the result with the date each time you complete it), paying particular attention to the questions where your answer was “no”. Choose one area where you feel most capable of turning a “no” into a “yes”, and commit to doing everything within your means to achieve that change.
Understand and appreciate that resilience can improve significantly through relatively small adjustments. This is fundamentally a matter of choice, perspective, and lifestyle.
Commit yourself to regular review and incremental change, continuing this process until the results genuinely reflect the level of resilience you expect of yourself.
2. Connect with your neighbours
Individual efforts only gain real meaning within a community. And community does not emerge on its own — it must be built through deliberate, active steps. Genuine community can exist only where physical proximity is present: family, relatives, friends, neighbours.
It makes sense to begin with neighbours you already know to some extent, even if the connection so far has been only superficial.
This is easier for you as well, as starting a difficult conversation is far more natural with people who are not complete strangers. Encouraged by early success, gradually reach out to neighbours who do not yet know you. Start a conversation, or leave a short note in their letterbox.
Slowly and thoughtfully, signal that you are planning a small gathering or shared meal because you would like to get to know your neighbours better – including them – and that you would genuinely welcome their presence. If they do not come the first time, try again. It is an excellent opportunity: people generally enjoy eating and drinking, and in a relaxed atmosphere, meaningful conversations can begin to unfold naturally.
3. Involve those closest to you
Within the family we acquire our earliest understanding of how the world works. Family is also the first and most important source of love and support when life becomes difficult. What could be a more genuine way of returning that care than by helping family members understand the importance of building resilience? Where the conversation begins matters far less than the fact that it is carried by care and compassion.
Age must, of course, be taken into account. Different approaches are appropriate for older generations than for younger ones — and the same applies to friends and colleagues.
Those who already know what you are involved in, or who have shown some interest in preparedness themselves, are often more open to the topic.
However you choose your words, the underlying message remains the same: “I care about you.” There is little value in persuading someone who is not yet ready. Focus first on strengthening your own resilience, so that in time you are genuinely able to support others.
4. Engage with decision-makers
If, in the course of adaptation, you or your community encounter challenges that require external support, do not hesitate to contact your local or national representatives – in writing and in person, depending on the scale of the issue.
It is often said that when a politician receives five letters on the same subject from different people, they are compelled to take notice.
Never forget that politics is driven by power and money – and never forget either that you are a voter.
5. Share the Assessment with people you know and your wider community
Everyone knows other people. If you have reached this point, it means that among your family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours there are already some whom you have approached on this topic – and at the very least prompted to reflect on their future. When faced with situations that feel overwhelming or bleak, people tend to look for something tangible to hold on to, and an opportunity to do something.
Sharing the Assessment questionnaire offers exactly that. Invite them to explore it, complete it, and then decide – based on their results – whether they wish to become more resilient in the face of the changes ahead. Some will not respond, and some will not complete the questionnaire at all. Others, however, will be genuinely grateful that you thought of them. And that, in turn, opens up yet another path along which a growing community can strengthen.
6. Bring interested people together
More and more of us are experiencing the limits of a purely virtual existence. When a voice and a face are finally attached to what was previously little more than a name, a human connection gains substance and trust. Writing to someone or speaking with them is entirely different once you have met in person. And let us not forget: in the company of like-minded people, we tend to gain energy rather than lose it.
It is not an easy task to draw people away from their daily routines, especially in a world shaped by convenience and constant distraction. Yet if you succeed, you will have achieved something meaningful. Those who truly care about their own future and that of their loved ones also want to understand what they can actively do about it.
Naturally, the responsibility then lies with you to organise the gathering, provide a clear framework, give it substance, and facilitate the conversation.
The twelve thematic areas of the Assessment offer a strong foundation. You may also invite practitioners or professionals to help participants explore specific topics in greater depth, perhaps in smaller groups. Observe carefully, the impact will speak for itself.
7. Create space for those ready to act
After a face-to-face meeting, it will quickly become clear who is most committed – those willing to invest time and energy from their own lives to advance the work of preparation and adaptation. These are also the people most likely to engage deeply with the subject in their own time, contributing thoughtful insights and practical suggestions that genuinely support your efforts.
Prepare these conversations with care. Where appropriate, define a clear focus, facilitate the discussion, and capture all meaningful ideas and observations. You will soon see who is drawn to which topics, allowing you to match people thoughtfully with tasks that align with their interests and strengths.
It is particularly valuable when several people are drawn to the same area, as they can offer one another mutual support and momentum. Remember: on their own, individuals can only do so much. The aim here is to cultivate a real, functioning community.
And such a community can only emerge from people who think alike — and are willing to commit.
8. Spark interest in the local media
Once your face-to-face meetings have reached a wider circle – and a core group has committed to the work of preparation and adaptation – you may arrive at a point where moving to the next level becomes challenging. At this stage, the local media can become a valuable ally.
Through them, the topic can reach a much broader audience. Media outlets can also encourage interested people to explore ways of strengthening their resilience: completing the assessment, building relationships with neighbours, or taking part in future in-person gatherings.
The media is always drawn to stories that feel new, relevant, and engaging – and at a local level, few things matter more than issues that directly affect people’s lives. It is therefore helpful if several committed members of your group feel confident speaking to the media about the topic. Time and effort invested here often reach a tipping point, where critical mass begins to form.
And remember: what interests many will soon attract even more.
9. Create shared experiences
Few things turn a group of people into a community as powerfully as shared experiences, doing things together. These activities can take many forms, and it is worth finding a balance between lighter, enjoyable moments and more meaningful, purposeful ones. A simple example might be a group walk or hike, which can also build practical skills such as navigation, map reading, or recognising edible wild plants.
At the same time, we must not lose sight of the purpose of community-building in this context: strengthening the resilience of individuals and, through them, the resilience of the community itself. For this reason, shared activities such as gardening, mending clothes, cooking, practical DIY skills, animal care, or learning self-defence offer both knowledge and experience. They also create bonds rooted in shared memories and mutual trust. This is where the foundations of a real community begin to take shape.
10. Share knowledge and build connections
Much has already happened to humanity over the course of our short yet densely recorded history. One might even say that little can truly surprise us anymore. And yet, it is becoming increasingly clear that what lies ahead presents a challenge no single generation has ever faced before – neither in scale nor in severity.
As Jem Bendell puts it: “Collapse is inevitable, catastrophe is probable, extinction is possible.” In such circumstances, sharing knowledge is not merely a useful activity; it may well be a responsibility.
It gives as many people as possible the chance to face what is coming in a way that is realistic and appropriate to their own situation. For this reason, as your local community takes shape, it is vital to seek out connections with other groups who share a similar outlook – both nationally and internationally. The knowledge and experience others have already gained can save you time and energy, just as what you learn may later help them in return.
As time passes and these processes continue to unfold before our eyes, more and more people will turn to us with uncertainty and questions. How many of us are then able to offer support to one another may well prove decisive.
„Hopeful and hopeless are two sides of the same false coin. What we need in order to move forward is not hope, but a free resolve drawn from honest grief.”
Stephen Jenkinson