The world is always changing. But now it seems to be going a lot faster. We are currently dealing with the COVID-19 crisis and a climate crisis. We have challenges when it comes to energy, water, agriculture, housing and nature. Professor of Transition Science and Sustainability Jan Rotmans saw it coming for a while. Fortunately, the 'Scientivist' is optimistic. “We need that at this time. We are facing one of the biggest challenges of the past 150 years.”
It will get better
Chaos is part of transition. There will be a maximum amount of pressure on the current system. That’s how you change. “Look agriculture, for example. We know that this system is not sustainable and future-proof”, says Rotmans. “What happens in a situation like this? The regime offers maximum resistance. The existing order. This is visible in the protests of the farmers.”
“The greater the chaos, the closer we get to the core of a transition”
Even though many farmers understand the need to change, they do not give up easily. That is part of a transition. “The greater the chaos, the closer we get to the core of the transition. Radical solutions are then proposed. That is not pleasant for a farmer in the food crisis or a nurse in the care crisis. But in the end, we will get out of this better. The system is going to change.”
We are less powerless than we think
Many people think that your personal choices and actions have little effect in the face of a major crisis or challenge. Rotmans does not agree at all. “We suffer from the illusion of powerlessness. System change starts with personal actions and choices.”
“Everything starts with personal change”
“The indirect effect of our actions is greater than the direct effect. Take for example, the transition from smoking to non-smoking. Everyone thinks that this happened due to government intervention. No! The social norm changed. Smoking used to be fun. Everyone did it. There was a small group that stopped. It always starts with 5 to 10 percent of the population. They read about the harmful side effects, stopped and thus influenced a larger group. And this larger group again influenced the masses. The government only intervened after 30 years. Everything starts with personal change.”
Jan’s tip
Do you want change? “Join a social movement. This is the time of social movements. These are elusive for the institutions. In the field of food, energy, climate, discrimination. Do it together. Together you are stronger!”
Watch the entire interview with Jan Rotmans at Studio Erasmus. In it he elaborates on the changes he sees in society.
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In his new book 'Embrace the chaos', Jan Rotmans argues that we are on the eve of a systemic turnaround. He believes we can all personally play a major role in this.
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