Katy Perry’s space trip – within the hype hope can be a powerful climate tool!

World Earth Day – 22 April

Although many critics call Katy Perry’s 11-minute space trip “planet destroying” and the headlines scream catastrophe - from record heatwaves to collapsing ecosystems—scientists and climate leaders are quietly championing something unexpected: optimism.

Jako Volschenk, Associate Professor in Strategy and Sustainability at Stellenbosch Business School, says the optimism stems not from the feel-good kind, but rather radical, data-backed hope that could reshape how we respond to the environmental crisis.

“This may sound counterintuitive in a world where the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) reports a 69% drop in wildlife populations over the past 50 years. Or where, in 2024—the hottest year ever recorded—we witnessed global temperatures soar to new extremes, placing Earth’s delicate systems dangerously close to irreversible tipping points.”

“But here’s the twist: hope isn’t the opposite of realism. It might just be our survival strategy. Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring the data. It means using it to drive urgent action and knowing that it can work.”

South Africa is no stranger to climate-related challenges. From water scarcity to energy insecurity but it’s also uniquely positioned to be part of the solution.

“Thanks to plummeting renewable energy costs, solar and wind are now more affordable than new coal plants in the country. According to the International Energy Agency, solar PV alone is projected to triple globally by 2030 and South Africa’s abundant sunshine makes it ripe for investment and innovation.”

There’s also a local cultural resonance to resilience. "South Africans understand what it means to confront adversity and innovate through pressure.” Prof Volschenk. “That same mindset is critical in responding to the climate crisis."

Despite the enormity of the challenges, key victories around the globe prove that collective action can and does work:

• The Ozone comeback: Once a poster child for environmental catastrophe, the ozone layer is healing. Thanks to decades of coordinated policy like the Montreal Protocol, full recovery could be achieved by 2040 across much of the planet.

• Clean energy surge: In 2023, the world added 510 gigawatts of renewable energy—more than a 50% leap from the previous year. China alone installed more solar than the entire world did in 2020.

• EV revolution: Electric vehicles made up 18% of global car sales in 2023 and in countries like Norway and China, they’re already the default.

• Turning the tide on deforestation: Brazil halved Amazon deforestation in 2023—proof that political will matters and that reversals are possible.

• Global conservation goals: Over 130 countries have committed to protecting 30% of their land and seas by 2030, a plan known as “30x30.” If successful, it could prevent mass extinctions and secure a third of the emissions cuts needed to avoid the worst of climate change.

Prof Volschenk says South Africa stands to gain significantly from global climate wins.

“Conservation-led ecotourism, renewable energy jobs, and regenerative agriculture all present real economic opportunities. The country’s unique biodiversity also makes it a high-stakes player in the global conservation movement—many of its species exist nowhere else.”

But, he says, it’s not just about the environment, it’s about mindsets.

“To avoid climate burnout, we need more than doomscrolling. We need stories of progress, stories of potential.”

“Research shows that a positive mindset boosts individual and collective resilience, critical when tackling complex, long-term challenges. While doom might grab headlines, hope is what mobilises action.”

While some activists have resorted to splashy, disruptive protests like throwing paint on buildings, others are finding quieter, more inclusive ways to effect change. Art, education, innovation hubs and policy work are all creating space for a broader climate movement that welcomes problem-solvers, not just protestors.

He says that this shift matters, “because when people believe that change is possible, they’re more likely to participate in it.”

“The idea of ‘radical optimism’ isn’t naive—it's backed by science, supported by policy, and grounded in real-world progress. It’s the lens that allows us to see both the threat and the opportunity.”

“Yes, 2024 was the hottest year in recorded history. But it could also be the year we finally realised: saving the planet requires urgency, courage and just enough hope to keep going.”