While the world leaders dither on, grassroots enterprises are showing the way to a more sustainable order, and as for the rest of us, signing petitions won’t do it

We can only speculate whether the climate summit, COP26, held in Glasgow earlier this month will significantly brake global warming. There is no international enforcement mechanism to guarantee that the agreed-to targets will be reached: each country is left to its own devices to meet its pledged reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Further, wrangling over wording aimed to hedge the commitments of the countries most responsible for GHGs suggests that leaders have yet to grasp the urgency: Unless appropriate action, which boils down to economic realignment, begins now, the consequences will be devastating.