Little did I know when I was dispatched by the Times newspaper to cover a conference in Berlin in 1995, that I was walking into an arena that would in part define my life and the life of millions, if not billions of people for now nearly 20 years.
The German capital and its new environment minister, Angela Merkel, was hosting something called COP1, the first UN climate conference.
Over 20 year on I have as a journalist; Director of Communications of the UN Environment and also of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and now a TV presenter with We Don’t Have Time, been a witness, actor and commentator on the often anguish-ridden international drama surrounding rescuing our world from runaway climate change.
Through the lens of over 20 ‘COPs’ I have seen the highs and lows, the screams of anger and the applause of partial victories and I have played my part in building the environmental, human and economic narrative on why action at speed and scale is a total no brainer.
We have come a long way, these last 20 years have proved the science but also unleased human ingenuity (think renewable energy): but we are not there yet.
The pollution to our precious atmosphere continues to rise (as do the risks of catastrophe), the oil barons greedily hold on to their deadly treasures and young people are quite rightly, angry, scared and anxious.
But we don’t need more excellent scientific assessments, some magic yet to be created technology or more money. We have all cash and creativity needed to get the job done, if we collectively choose to.
In some ways it is simple: If we “fly from our greed, only take what we need, we hold onto the best things we ever knew. Cause we choose to”.
“If we break down the walls in our mind, we may find, we hold onto the best things we ever knew. Cause we choose to”.
It really is a choice. Will we choose to act in time, maybe?
lyrics
Where did it go wrong, please tell me,
Who do I blame, just name them,
What do we do in this moment.
Take to the streets, they’re empty,
Storm the Parliaments, they’re shut down,
No one in charge, but the rodents.
But we’re not going to let this thing get out of hand, you know.
We’ve got a plan, you know.
Cause we’re not going to lose the best things we’ve ever knew,
Just because some bad wind blows.
Talk to the trees, they’ll listen,
Talk to the bees, they know,
Talk to the rivers, they’ve been around.
Open your mouth, and speak out,
Open your eyes, and see,
Open your heart, it’s a key.
Cause we’re not going to let this thing get out of hand, you know.
We’ve got a plan, you know.
Cause we’re not going to lose the best things we’ve ever knew,
Just because some bad wind blows.
From the mountain tops to the seas,
The swallows will swoop to the breeze,
If we just fly from our greed, only take what we need.
No one’s going to be left behind, this is our moment to shine,
If we break down the walls in our minds, we will find,
We hold onto the best things, that we ever knew…cause we chose to.
That we hold onto the best things, we ever knew…cause we chose to.
That we hold onto the best things, that we ever knew…cause we chose to.
And now we’re going to get back our snow.
credits
from Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows,
released May 5, 2023
Recorded and Engineered in Berlin 2022
Music & lyrics: Nick Nuttall
Produced by: Bernadette Hengst
Voice: Nick Nuttall
Guitar, bass, piano, backing vocals: Bernadette Hengst
Drums: Robert Kretzschmar
Choir: Freddie, Tara and Bertie Nuttall, Gabriela Nuttall Darblade, Ella-Mae Hengst
Nick is both a musician and a climate activist living in Berlin, Germany. His songs are small, miniature, short stories cast
in often melancholic melodies and perhaps inspired by 70s and 80s songwriters like Carole King, James Taylor, Fairport convention, Joni Mitchell and Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.
Just Because Some Bad Wind Blows has been produced by Bernadette La Hengst...more
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