--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Talking with economists, climate…" description: "\"Talking with economists, climate scientists, and psychologists convinced me that depersonalizing climate change, such that the only answers are systemi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/annie-lowrey-7218_change_talking-with-economists-climate-scientis_905340.jpg" --- # Talking with economists, climate scientists, and… ![“Talking with economists, climate scientists, and psychologists convinced me that depersonalizing climate change, such that the only answers are systemic, is a mistake of its own. It misses how social change is built on a foundation of individual practice.” quote by Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/annie-lowrey-7218_change_talking-with-economists-climate-scientis_905340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/annie-lowrey-7218_change_talking-with-economists-climate-scientis_905340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/annie-lowrey-7218_change_talking-with-economists-climate-scientis_905340.jpg) > “Talking with economists, climate scientists, and psychologists convinced me that depersonalizing climate change, such that the only answers are systemic, is a mistake of its own. It misses how social change is built on a foundation of individual practice.” [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing only on systemic solutions ignores the role of personal habits in driving social change. **In simple terms:** Systemic fixes alone aren't enough; personal actions matter. Key Takeaway Blend systemic policy with personal practice. Themes climate social change individual agency policy behavior Mood reflective concerned Type analytical motivational When to use this quote - community organizing - personal lifestyle changes - education campaigns Key Concepts systems thinking psychology environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can individuals influence systemic change? - What personal habits support climate goals? A Different Perspective Personal habits may be limited without supportive policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers Systemic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-systemic-1280292/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Depersonalizing Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depersonalizing-climate-1280290/) [Economists Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economists-climate-1280291/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Social change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-change/) [Systemic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/systemic/) ## Related quotes > [Climate change is killing Americans. Wildfires, heat waves, mudslides, hurricanes, and floods lead to hundreds if not thousands of deaths every year. But those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/climate-change-is-killing-americans-wildfires-heat-waves-mudslides/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [“But if the system is the problem, the truth is that there will not be satisfactory answers in the here and now for lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gar-alperovitz/but-if-the-system-is-the-problem-the-truth-is-that-there-will-not-be/) [Gar Alperovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gar-alperovitz/) > [Relationships matter: the currency for systemic change was trust, and trust comes through forming healthy working relationships. People, not programs, change people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-d-perry/relationships-matter-the-currency-for-systemic-change-was-trust-and/) [Bruce D. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-d-perry/) > [“The only true solutions to complex systemic problems are piecemeal, multi-pronged answers, and they will vary wildly from forest to desert, from city to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bierce/the-only-true-solutions-to-complex-systemic-problems-are-piecemeal/) [John Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bierce/) > [Systemic racism always takes a toll, whether it be by bullet or by blood clot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-smith/systemic-racism-always-takes-a-toll-whether-it-be-by-bullet-or-by/) [Clint Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-smith/) > [Perhaps the greatest challenge for the resolution of a systemic global bank is the possibility that public or private actors in different countries might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-powell/perhaps-the-greatest-challenge-for-the-resolution-of-a-systemic/) [Jerome Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-powell/) > [Far from ending, systemic racism reinvents itself to conform to what is publically acceptable, leaving the quality of black life diminished and more permanently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/opal-tometi/far-from-ending-systemic-racism-reinvents-itself-to-conform-to-what/) [Opal Tometi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/opal-tometi/) > [The lies of systemic racism and the race hustlers dominate the ideologies of universities and even churches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-lies-of-systemic-racism-and-the-race-hustlers-dominate-the/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) > [Practically, systemic thinking can be used to identify problems, analyze their boundaries, design strategies and policy interventions, forecast and measure their expected impacts, implement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-polman/practically-systemic-thinking-can-be-used-to-identify-problems/) [Paul Polman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-polman/) > [While progress has been made, there is still more work to do to root out systemic racism and inequity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ray-lujan/while-progress-has-been-made-there-is-still-more-work-to-do-to-root/) [Ben Ray Lujan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-ray-lujan/) > [Racism may be as systemic as it always was. It is the great problem of America. It's the one stumbling block that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-guillaume/racism-may-be-as-systemic-as-it-always-was-it-is-the-great-problem-of/) [Robert Guillaume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-guillaume/) > [“What is the flow and impact of disinformation? How is the disinformation spreading and what are its effects?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/what-is-the-flow-and-impact-of-disinformation-how-is-the/) [Roger spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [“Systemic disruption requires us to accept that there may be no measurable data to fully substantiate our understanding of those disruptions. Imaging and exploring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/systemic-disruption-requires-us-to-accept-that-there-may-be-no/) [Roger Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [There is a systemic problem in this country, where schools are often forcing parents to turn to Ritalin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/there-is-a-systemic-problem-in-this-country-where-schools-are-often/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [Especially as we engage in critical conversations about the vast inequalities that persist across our Commonwealth and our country, we need to dive deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spanberger/especially-as-we-engage-in-critical-conversations-about-the-vast/) [Abigail Spanberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spanberger/) ## More by Annie Lowrey > [The bunker business is just one instantiation, the grandest instantiation, of what you might think of as conspiracy capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-bunker-business-is-just-one-instantiation-the-grandest/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [It is a country that professes to care for babies. But in the United States, the infant death rate is twice as high as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/it-is-a-country-that-professes-to-care-for-babies-but-in-the-united/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Where Democrats have a real toehold to criticize Republicans is that families still feel very financially fragile. About 2 in 5 adults would struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/where-democrats-have-a-real-toehold-to-criticize-republicans-is-that/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [So overall in the entire economy, the issue is not that health care costs are growing dramatically. The issue is that the burden placed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/so-overall-in-the-entire-economy-the-issue-is-not-that-health-care/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [As a general point, the United States has an extreme budget commitment to prisons, guns, warplanes, armored vehicles, detention facilities, courts, jails, drones, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/as-a-general-point-the-united-states-has-an-extreme-budget-commitment/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Conspiracy theories themselves are big business, of course, selling books, videos, conferences, and all kinds of merch. Then there is the economy that promotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/conspiracy-theories-themselves-are-big-business-of-course-selling/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [The risk that people pose to wolfdogs is far greater, statistically, than the risk that wolfdogs pose to people. Many are bred in miserable,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-risk-that-people-pose-to-wolfdogs-is-far-greater-statistically/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Wolves are afraid of humans, whereas dogs are not. Wolves hunt game, whereas dogs scavenge human leftovers or eat what their human companions put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/wolves-are-afraid-of-humans-whereas-dogs-are-not-wolves-hunt-game/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [The workforce is getting Uberized. The gig economy is taking over the world. Independent-contractor jobs are the new normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-workforce-is-getting-uberized-the-gig-economy-is-taking-over-the/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [For animals, for humans, for the planet: It makes sense to curb meat consumption, and that is something vegans and omnivores agree on. Roughly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/for-animals-for-humans-for-the-planet-it-makes-sense-to-curb-meat/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [The rise of populist movements and the shrinking of the middle class - with all the economic pain and political turbulence that comes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-rise-of-populist-movements-and-the-shrinking-of-the-middle-class/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [The student-loan crisis has an underappreciated emotional valence too: The debt makes people miserable. In one survey, more than half of borrowers said that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/the-student-loan-crisis-has-an-underappreciated-emotional-valence-too/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Aided by the Great Society and the New Deal, the middle class grew, everywhere from Winnetka to Orlando to Humboldt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/aided-by-the-great-society-and-the-new-deal-the-middle-class-grew/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Student loans are delaying retirements. They're suppressing the housing market. They're suffocating new business formation. They're even leading young people to delay getting married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/student-loans-are-delaying-retirements-they-re-suppressing-the/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) > [Economic anxiety might not have won Donald Trump the White House, but much of his strongest support came from more sclerotic rural and industrial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lowrey/economic-anxiety-might-not-have-won-donald-trump-the-white-house-but/) [Annie Lowrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) [Explore all 93 Annie Lowrey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lowrey/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Talking with economists, climate scientists, and psychologists convinced me that depersonalizing climate change, such that the only answers are systemic, is a mistake of its own. 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