The words we use and the stories we tell ourselves really matter. None more so that when we’re talking about this third rock from the sun that we inhabit.

So, if our government (and the world for that matter) is going to do more than merely mouth platitudes around saving our planet, then our future will have to be reframed, reframing is vital.

This is because it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and hopeless as we see climate change’s rapidly worsening effects, along with mindless consumption, driving Earth to destruction.

The latest IPCC report, melting ice caps, out-of-control fires, plastic pollution, water shortages, income inequality, housing shortages – there’s no shortage of crises to get upset about.

Two polar reactions; anxiety coupled with inertia, and ‘we’re doomed anyway’ coupled with ‘let’s party harder’ will not save our species (and the millions of others along on the same ride).

Doing nothing is nonsense.

We need to redescribe what’s possible.

We need to inspire.

We need to harness hope.

This, of course, is predicated on the understanding that “we can’t have endless growth on a finite planet”.

However, as friend and colleague Grant Symons of Transition HQ originally expressed (at least to me)…

(Unlike many in the climate change business, Grant is focused on practical, realistic  and doable ways to change organisations so they aren’t a drain on our planet. See some of his writings on this here.)

“We can’t have endless growth on a finite planet

But we can have LIMITLESS DEVELOPMENT.”

If our government reframes the change required in our economy, environment and society as ‘Limitless Development’ (though through an objective rather than illusory lens), then we have hope.

Demonstrable Limitless Development is inspirational and aspirational, achievable from the bottom up (most important of all) and top down.

Limitless Development is about:

• Doing everything better, but using less energy and resources
• Redefining what is valued now and in the future
• Reimagining how to live better
• Regeneration of our environment
• Bettering our wellbeing now and in the future
• Moving to a new relationship with nature and each other

Limitless Development means we are reframing our future – through the words we use to inspire the actions we take – and we give ourselves a fate to look forward to.

Because the counterfactual is truly scary.

The same old same old sure as hell will see our children’s children going down with mothership Earth.

‘Limitless Development’  sets up a way to avoid that.

(Or perhaps I’m being naive…but what is the alternative?)