This rebellion is not for me…

Extinction Rebellion is not for me.

This might surprise you given my background in wildlife conservation and my current project; trekking to the North Pole to raise funds for wildlife conservation and promote sustainable energy sources. You may think I am a fully committed Extinction Rebel. However, I am not.

For decades activist groups have campaigned and fought for their causes, often with immense bravery and valour. Extinction Rebels are no different, they are compelled to act and stand up (or sit down in some cases) for their cause - it is inspiring.

However, I do not believe inspiration is enough. We are inspired on a daily, weekly, monthly and hourly basis by documentaries, speeches and causes and yet, we are still losing the battle to halt climate change.

So the big question is, why?

Why has a movement like the Rebellion failed to secure the future of a planet in which humans coexist harmoniously with nature. I believe it is down to the confrontationally polarising approach activists often take. Chastising Government officials and business leaders alike, accusing them of acting recklessly and seemingly insinuating that they are destroying the planet intentionally (something, it must be said, cannot be entirely excluded from the debate) is, clearly, not the way to achieve your goal; if your goal is a sustainable future.

It also need not be the case that climate activists and business leaders or Government officials sit on opposing sides of the table (or pink boat barricade). An increasing number of forward thinking businesses are now seeing the economic efficacy of investing in renewable technologies and practices. Take the renewable energy sector in the UK, in 2018 the Low Carbon Renewable Energy Economy was worth £46.7 Billion.

With a multitude of exceptional start-ups like Octopus Energy leading the way in the transition to a renewable, carbon neutral future; and the best thing about it? They are making profits doing it.

So you see, the way to actualise your ambitions of a sustainable world is not to work against those in a position to make it happen, challenging and vilifying them. It is to make the point that having a pro-climate approach to business is the sensible business decision. Jumping on commute trains, blocking Trafalgar square and Piccadilly as well as planning to stop MP's attending parliament does little to win the favour and support of key stakeholders - there are better ways of halting climate change.

In essence, we were stuck with a difficult choice; good business or saving the planet. Now, though, good business is saving the planet. All it needs is for us to illustrate it clearly and responsibly.