How do we have hope for a better world? In 2025, this is a question with serious implications for the future of democracy.
Not only does a loss of faith in our future open the door to unscrupulous people with authoritarian instincts, it can stop good people from acting.
This is a particular problem when it comes to tackling climate change. As we see the data showing 2024 as the hottest year on record, as we watch Los Angeles burn in the middle of winter, as the incoming US President says he'll withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, it’s hard to feel positive. And yet, there are antidotes to despair, even about giant, global issues.
Primary among them is the act of caring for other people in our community. The climate crisis increasingly requires this. Vulnerable people – and, as we’ve seen in LA, sometimes the not so vulnerable – are suffering here and now, not in some distant future.
In our own community in South Australia, extreme weather is not only unpleasant but can be deadly, particularly for older people. Working together to help people who are suffering, and preparing intelligently so future generations can have a better life, is something that so many people can get behind. And that’s why bringing people together to improve our community’s response to climate change is one of our focuses for this year.
Don Dunstan wasn’t a bloodless technocrat – as a politician, he often talked about striving to give everyone the chance to live a full, enjoyable life. That’s why his interests went beyond the economy and machinery of government to issues like urban design.
In a heating planet, the way we design build our homes and cities is more important than ever. In a world in which some leaders increasingly equate compassion to weakness, supporting other people can be a radical act. And our ability to impact our own community isn’t a hopeless case: we can do something to help our neighbours and friends, while striving for global change.
David Washington
Executive Director
