Carbon.Copy.

Carbon has an image issue. A lot of people think carbon is bad and that we need to ‘decarbonise’ to remove the problem.

Carbon is perhaps the most mysterious and wonderful of all the elements. It forms molecular chains that enable extraordinary things to happen, from capturing energy to forming memory. Only one element in the entire universe can do that.

We are made of carbon. It’s the second most common element in the human body and forms the vital backbone to all the organic molecules inside us that keep us alive and healthy. The flow of carbon is essential – not only for us but to all life. The so-called ‘carbon cycle’ is an incredible and never-ending dance of carbon atoms, between living organisms (that includes us), the soil, oceans and the atmosphere.

Since the dawn of time (or at least for billions of years), carbon has flowed to and from the atmosphere. But not into the atmosphere at the frightening rate caused by the prolific burning of fossil fuels and other human activities over the past century. We have blocked and broken the natural flow of carbon.

The climate crisis and natural carbon flow are inseparably linked. The ‘solution’ to the climate crisis is not to control the carbon cycle – a biophysical impossibility – but to find a better and safer equilibrium in the flow of carbon by reconnecting with the living world and people around us.

Where do we begin with such a monumental task? Since we’re all naturally a part of the carbon cycle, a credible way forward and meaningful path for personal action starts right where you are. The power to act does not lie elsewhere and neither does the power lie with you acting on your own.

We are natural born copiers. It’s something all of us do, all the time. Our collective power comes from how we connect and copy each other. The bigger, positive impact we can make results from us stepping in, inspired by what others have done and copying what works.

What does this actually look like? It looks like doing something together that’s needed where you live, that you’re good at and that you care about most. Carbon Copy has shared 25 big local actions that may inspire you and, in turn, you have shared hundreds of inspiring climate action stories on Carbon Copy.

The good news is that most of the answers already exist. There’s at least one group of people – possibly similar to your own and not too far away – who have already succeeded in implementing the changes you would like to see. You don’t have to invent something new. It’s much easier to copy what they’ve done and make it yours.