This week, climate leaders from around the globe have gathered in Paris to launch the Climate Reality Project’s worldwide tour, marking ten years since the historic Paris Agreement. Among those present is Sandrine Dixson-Declève, a tireless advocate for climate action, who took the moment to call for urgent reflection—and renewed courage.
"Ten years since Paris, it’s crucial we ask ourselves tough questions," said Dixson-Declève. "Are we truly living up to the commitments we made? Or are we slipping backward?"
https://youtu.be/JHPvh0dVWeA
Sandrine journey in climate diplomacy began decades before the Paris Agreement, back in 1992, alongside figures such as Al Gore and John Kerry through the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). The organization brought together lawmakers from all political spectrums and continents, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Europe, to find common ground on environmental issues.
Reflecting on today's deeply polarized geopolitical environment, Dixson-Declève emphasized the need to rebuild trust and find common ground again. "We can’t allow ourselves to be trapped by the politics of despair," she urged, echoing Christiana Figueres. "We must create new narratives, bridge divides between North and South, conservatives and progressives, and genuinely understand each other’s pain points and motivations."
Her experience has taught her that empathy and human connection are powerful catalysts for change. She described negotiating with Russian energy leaders and consulting for Saudi Aramco—not by confrontation, but by focusing on shared human concerns. "When discussions turned toward protecting their children’s future and health, that's when breakthroughs occurred," she explained.
Yet Dixson-Declève remains deeply concerned by what she describes as a profound "morality gap" within global leadership. She calls out a generation of leaders who prioritize profit and power over people and planet. "We've enabled leadership without accountability, disconnected from core human values," she cautioned.
As the granddaughter of resistance fighters and Auschwitz survivors, Dixson-Declève has resistance deeply embedded in her identity. For her, this is not just a climate crisis—it's a moral imperative tied to democracy, human dignity, and the survival of our planet.
"Complacency is complicity," she declared passionately. "We must resist complacency, reclaim our values, and retake control. Our climate reality depends upon it—and we must do it together."
In Dixson-Declève’s words, the path forward is clear: bridge divides, reclaim moral leadership, and transform climate commitments from words into genuine action. The next ten years must be different—and it starts today.
To learn more about the Climate Reality Project tour and how you can join this global movement for climate action, visit:
https://www.therealitytour.org/2025/begin?ref=WeDontHaveTime
