The Tiny Gold Necklace I Remember from a Day on Climate and Health

On Monday Anna and I spent the day at the “Climate & the Future of Health” gathering at the Conduit in London.

As with many events, the most memorable moments happened between the sessions.

One theme kept returning: stories.

Most facts blur by the end of a conference. Stories stay with us.

One conversation that stayed with me was with a representative from the Museum for the United Nations, UN Live. Before we spoke, I noticed a small gold outline of Africa hanging from her necklace, no bigger than my thumbnail.

She told me about Sounds Right, an initiative that recognises nature as an artist on Spotify. Millions of people listen to birdsong, rainfall and natural soundscapes. It is a simple but powerful example of how culture shapes what we value.

In my own conversations, I kept returning to a simple story: two fields. One with cracked soil and yellowing crops. The other with rich, dark soil producing nutritious food. Different outcomes. Different conditions.

Paul van Zyl, founder of the Conduit, struck a hopeful note. We know much of what needs to be done. The challenge is creating the policies, incentives and direction that allow change to happen faster.

One of the strongest sessions featured Mayors from Phoenix and Miami. They did not talk about climate ideology. They talked about flooding, heat, health and practical solutions. Similar leadership can be seen in Paris and Barcelona, where difficult decisions are helping create healthier cities. Mete Coban, deputy Mayor for London, is working hard to restore nature and reduce pollution in in our city too.

Perhaps change starts when we pay more attention to conditions and tell better stories about them.

Looking back on the day, I remember one thing more than any slide or statistic: a tiny gold outline of Africa on a necklace.

Sometimes what we notice shapes what we remember. What we remember shapes what we do.

Warm (in fact very warm) regards,

Mark