Do Nothing on Climate Change? Exploring the Controversial Idea

The Paradox of Productivity and the Power of Stillness

In the context of pressing global issues like climate change, the title “How to Do Nothing” might initially appear counterintuitive, even irresponsible. This sentiment is particularly strong given widespread pandemic fatigue and a longing for restored social engagement.

However, Jenny Odell’s work deliberately challenges conventional understandings of action and contemplation, presenting a seemingly paradoxical approach that ultimately serves as a potent call to action.

Odell's Artistic Focus on Attention

Odell is a prominent artist based in the Bay Area, having held residencies at institutions like the Internet Archive and Recology, San Francisco’s waste management company.

Her art centers on the practice of attention – a focused observation of the details surrounding us and the insights they offer. This pursuit leads her to activities such as birdwatching and exploring Oakland’s parks, including the Morcom Rose Garden.

The book, formally subtitled “Resisting the Attention Economy,” reflects Odell’s commitment to helping individuals and society lessen their dependence on the constant negativity generated by social media.

Her ambition extends to redefining value beyond mere productivity, asserting that action isn’t the sole measure of worth. She advocates for redirecting our focus toward more meaningful pursuits.

Image Credits: Melville House/Penguin Random House

Sustained Attention and the Climate Crisis

“I fully understand where a life of sustained attention leads. In short, it leads to awareness,” Odell asserts. The emphasis on ‘sustained’ attention is crucial, and directly relates to the concept of sustainability and broader environmental concerns.

We are not lacking in information, data, or opinions; rather, we are inundated with superficial content. Studies indicate that modern professionals process more words daily than ever before, yet much of this reading consists of fleeting social media updates, emails, and instant messages – all eroding our capacity for deep thought.

Consequently, many find themselves with diminished cognitive resources. The world feels increasingly chaotic, but this has come at the cost of a profound understanding of ourselves and our place within it, replaced by a constant stream of media. Odell proposes rebalancing this dynamic.

For Odell, cultivating sustained attention is key. This skill, often underdeveloped and even unrecognized, may require deliberately disengaging from the surrounding world – a practice she views as beneficial. “At their loftiest, such refusals can signify the individual capacity for self-directed action against the abiding flow; at the very least, they interrupt the monotony of the everyday.”

Collective Awareness and Environmental Observation

Directing and controlling our attention, filtering out contemporary distractions, doesn’t lead to isolation, but rather fosters a stronger sense of collective being. “When the pattern of your attention has changed, you render your reality differently. You begin to move and act in a different kind of world,” she explains.

Suddenly, natural elements previously overlooked become recognized as complex and vibrant entities. Relationships with friends and colleagues deepen beyond superficial digital interactions. This fosters collaboration and problem-solving potential.

Sustained attention also enables us to perceive subtle environmental changes indicative of a warming planet. “Things like the American obsession with individualism, customized filter bubbles, and personal branding — anything that insists on atomized, competing individuals striving in parallel, never touching— does the same violence to human society as a dam does to a watershed.” We cannot address problems we fail to observe, and fragmented attention hinders our ability to see.

The Tech Industry and the Value of Focused Attention

Ironically, while technology often diminishes attention, its creation demands significant focus. While some entrepreneurs experience serendipitous success, most dedicate years to deeply understanding a market or customer before identifying unmet needs.

A founder recently shared that they spent over a decade engaging with customers before recognizing a gap in the market that existing solutions failed to address.

Currently, the tech and startup world often fails to connect this user empathy and product-market fit with the broader need for focused attention in all aspects of life. Odell views this disconnect more critically, suggesting that these skills already exist but are not applied universally to enrich our relationships, communities, and understanding of the planet.

“Doing nothing” allows us to discern what truly matters. When tackling complex challenges, particularly those as significant as climate change, it is precisely through moments of stillness that we can identify the most effective path forward.

How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell
Melville House, 2019, 256 pages