--- title: Why a mindset of stubborn optimism about the climate crisis is needed, now more than ever description: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re usually right”—Henry Ford image: https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/figuerres.png --- ![Outrage + Optimism logomark](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/OutrageOptimism_LogomarkOnly_White.svg)Outrage + Optimism ![Down arrow](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/layout/GO_Icons_ChevronDownBlack.svg) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/19539524/layout/linkedin-brands-b.svg) Follow on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/outrageoptimism) [![Instagram icon](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/19539524/layout/instagram-square-brands-b.svg) Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/outrageoptimism/) [![Twitter icon](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/19539524/layout/twitter-brands-b.svg) Follow on Twitter](https://twitter.com/OutrageOptimism) [![YouTube icon](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/layout/youtube-brands-b.svg) Follow on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/c/outrageandoptimism) ![Logomark](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/OutrageOptimism_LogomarkOnly_White.svg)Close Menu ![Close](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/GO_Icons_CloseBlack.svg) ![Outrage + Optimism logo](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/OutrageOptimism_Logo_V3.svg) ## Behind the scenes on the politics, investments and actions meeting the climate crisis head on ![Arrow](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/layout/GO_Icons_ArrowBlack.svg) ![Global Optimism logo](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/GlobalOptimism_Logo_V2.svg) ## Stubborn optimism is a choice. Join us in tackling the climate crisis with conviction, scale and speed ![Arrow](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/layout/GO_Icons_ArrowWhite.svg) ### Share ![](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/figuerres.png) This article first appeared in the [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on 15 January 2024](https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-01/why-a-mindset-of-stubborn-optimism-about-the-climate-crisis-is-needed-now-more-than-ever/#post-heading) ![figuerres](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hs-fs/hubfs/figuerres.png?width=1380&height=920&name=figuerres.png) (Photo by Will van Wingerden / Unsplash; modified by Thomas Gaulkin) By Christiana Figueres, January 15, 2024 *-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------* I first realized the fundamental truth in Henry Ford’s statement (see above) when, during my first press conference as Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Convention, I was asked whether I thought a global agreement on climate change was possible. I blurted out: “Not in my lifetime!” Those words accurately reflected the prevailing mood in early 2010. But as soon as I said them, I realized that if we were to achieve a global deal, I was going to have to change my attitude. To begin with, I personally would have to become a beacon of possibility, modeling the determined mindset that such an agreement would need. Then I would have to work out to ever-increasing concentric circles of influence (first my team at the secretariat, then the large group of country representatives, and then beyond them to the even larger group of stakeholders), enticing everyone toward a positive mindset. The journey was long, difficult, and involved thousands of people working together in a myriad of ways—but a few years after that press conference, we secured the historic Paris Agreement on climate change in December 2015. That agreement, co-written and negotiated with 196 governments, was the world’s first (and to this day the only) legally binding business plan designed specifically to protect people from dangerous climate change. It was a moment of great hope for so many. But a business plan is only worth its salt if it is enacted in a timely manner. [To read more, please view the original article.](https://thebulletin.org/premium/2024-01/why-a-mindset-of-stubborn-optimism-about-the-climate-crisis-is-needed-now-more-than-ever/#post-heading) ![](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/layout/GO_GreyLogomark.svg) ## Subscribe to the blog ## Stream the latest episodes ## Latest news stories ![The climate action that matters is in the global south, argues an architect of the Paris agreement](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/shutterstock_2393654307.jpg) ### The climate action that matters is in the global south, argues an architect of the Paris agreement November 17, 2025 ![Brazil can lead the world at COP30](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/Blog.avif) ### Brazil can lead the world at COP30 October 02, 2025 ![Pope Francis had the moral courage to stand up for the Earth and its people](https://www.ncronline.org/files/2025-04/20150618T0900-ENCYCLICAL%20--565376.JPG) ### Pope Francis had the moral courage to stand up for the Earth and its people April 22, 2025 ![Tending to the Broken Bones](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/1738760572687.jpg) ### Tending to the Broken Bones February 07, 2025 ![My Preparations for November 2024](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/shutterstock_247834897.jpg) ### My Preparations for November 2024 November 13, 2024 ![At Cop29, Azerbaijan must be the anchor for 1.5ºC](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/NEWSTATESMan.jpg) ### At Cop29, Azerbaijan must be the anchor for 1.5ºC August 06, 2024 ![Why a mindset of stubborn optimism about the climate crisis is needed, now more than ever](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/figuerres.png) ### Why a mindset of stubborn optimism about the climate crisis is needed, now more than ever January 29, 2024 ![The Climate Stories Our World Needs Now](https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/DOWN_TO_US_jeffers.webp) ### The Climate Stories Our World Needs Now January 16, 2024 Browse and share ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=6481866&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United Kingdom", "addressLocality" : "Bath", "addressRegion" : "England", "postalCode" : "BA1 3DU", "streetAddress" : "7 Chelsea Road " }, "description" : "Global Optimism works to inspire and catalyse transformations across our economies, and a renewed spirit of human achievement in the face of the climate crisis.", "email" : "info@globaloptimism.com", "image" : "https://f.hubspotusercontent20.net/hubfs/19539524/GlobalOptimism_OGImage_V1.png", "logo" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/OutrageOptimism_LogoPNG-v1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/blog/why-a-mindset-of-stubborn-optimism-about-the-climate-crisis-is-needed-now-more-than-ever", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re usually right”—Henry Ford" }, "naics" : "813312", "name" : "Global Optimism", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org", "https://www.globaloptimism.com", "https://www.facebook.com/globaloptimism", "https://twitter.com/GlobalOptimism", "https://www.instagram.com/globaloptimism/", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/globaloptimism/" ], "telephone" : "", "url" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Christiana" }, "dateModified" : "January 29, 2024, 12:47:31", "datePublished" : "2024-01-29 12:47:31", "description" : "“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re usually right”—Henry Ford", "headline" : "Why a mindset of stubborn optimism about the climate crisis is needed, now more than ever", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/figuerres.png" }, "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/blog/why-a-mindset-of-stubborn-optimism-about-the-climate-crisis-is-needed-now-more-than-ever", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.outrageandoptimism.org/hubfs/logo/OutrageOptimism_LogoPNG-v1.png" }, "name" : "Global Optimism" } } ```