--- title: A Global Challenge Solvable by Local Leadership description: Inspired by Project Drawdown, Drawdown Georgia is a multi-stakeholder collaborative working to scale climate solutions in the state of Georgia. image: https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Drawdown%20Georgia-%20Farm%20Image%20.jpg --- [![Drawdown Georgia](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/drawdown-ga-big-small-color.svg "Drawdown Georgia")](https://www.drawdownga.org/) [![Drawdown Georgia](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/drawndown-ga-logo-bg.svg "Drawdown Georgia")](https://www.drawdownga.org/) ![search_icon](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/search.svg "search_icon") ![Accessibility](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/helper-logo.png) X Font Resize A- A+ Reset font size Contrast Choose color black white green blue red orange yellow navi Highlight Links Reset - Solutions - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/) - [Electricity](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/electricity/) - [Buildings & Materials](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/buildings-materials/) - [Food & Agriculture](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/food-agriculture/) - [Land Sinks](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/land-sinks/) - [Transportation](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/transportation/) - Beyond Carbon - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/) - [Economy](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/economy/) - [Equity](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/equity/) - [Public Health](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/public-health/) - [Environment](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/environment/) - Resources - [Trackers + Tools](https://www.drawdownga.org/climate-solutions-trackers-and-tools/) - [Research](https://www.drawdownga.org/drawdown-georgia-research/) - [Grants](https://www.drawdownga.org/grants/?page=1&category=58) - [Videos](https://www.drawdownga.org/videos/) - [Drawdown Georgia Card Game](https://info.drawdownga.org/download-solved-game) - [Blog](https://blog.drawdownga.org) - Join Us - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-to-the-drawdown-georgia-climate-digest) - [Subscribe to Emissions Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-quarterly-county-stats) - [Subscribe to GA Electricity Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-electricity-updates) - [Attend Events](https://www.drawdownga.org/events/) - [Donate](https://www.drawdownga.org/donate/) - [About Us](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Research Team](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/team/) - [Leadership Council](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/leadership/) - [Press](https://info.drawdownga.org) - [Partner Initiatives](https://www.drawdownga.org/initiatives/) - [Contact Us](https://info.drawdownga.org/contact-us) - [FAQs](https://www.drawdownga.org/faq/?page=1&category=15) [![facebook](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/drawdownGA/) [![linkedin](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/drawdown-georgia) [![instagram](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/drawdownga/) [![youtube](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/youtube-1.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxwg0_Sb26UBN5CWRSZcCg) Filter by Category [show all](https://blog.drawdownga.org) [Buildings & Materials](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/buildings-materials) [Electricity](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/electricity) [Food & Agriculture](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/food-agriculture) [Land Sinks](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/land-sinks) [Transportation](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/transportation) [Beyond Carbon](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/beyond-carbon) [Research](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/research) [People](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/people) Filter by Category - [Show All](https://blog.drawdownga.org) - [Buildings & Materials](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/buildings-materials) - [Electricity](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/electricity) - [Food & Agriculture](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/food-agriculture) - [Land Sinks](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/land-sinks) - [Transportation](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/transportation) - [Beyond Carbon](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/beyond-carbon) - [Research](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/research) - [People](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/people) ### Posts by Topic - [Beyond Carbon (68)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/beyond-carbon) - [Food & Agriculture (49)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/food-agriculture) - [Electricity (43)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/electricity) - [People (43)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/people) - [Buildings & Materials (37)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/buildings-materials) - [Research (34)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/research) - [Transportation (33)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/transportation) - [Land Sinks (14)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/land-sinks) - [DDGA News (2)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/ddga-news) - [In the News (1)](https://blog.drawdownga.org/tag/in-the-news) # A Global Challenge Solvable by Local Leadership *![author](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/Author_Green.png)* [John Lanier](https://blog.drawdownga.org/author/john-lanier) Oct 16, 2020 ![A Global Challenge Solvable by Local Leadership](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Drawdown%20Georgia-%20Farm%20Image%20.jpg) I read Paul Hawken’s 2007 book [Blessed Unrest](https://www.amazon.com/Blessed-Unrest-Largest-Movement-Restoring/dp/0143113658) more than six years ago, but it is one of those books that often echoes in my thoughts. As Hawken usually does, he saw something before others noticed and then wrote a book about it. In *Blessed Unrest*, the something he saw was a growing worldwide movement around social and environmental justice and activism.![Drawdown Georgia- Farm Image ](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Drawdown%20Georgia-%20Farm%20Image%20.jpg?width=1920&name=Drawdown%20Georgia-%20Farm%20Image%20.jpg) What I found most interesting about Hawken’s observation was how this movement was simultaneously local and global. The vast majority of organizations and initiatives that were arising to address social and environmental challenges were doing so with a community-scale focus. The result was that most work was being done in local contexts. Yet when viewed with the perspective that *Blessed Unrest* offers, you cannot help but see how a leaderless global movement has formed, with many commonalities shared across geographies and issue types. The movement has become a compelling mosaic. This observation is what echoes in my mind when I reflect on the challenge of climate change. The connective tissue between the global and the local is of critical importance to this particular challenge. We see it in the problem itself – excessive greenhouse gases are being emitted in specific places all around the globe, and the result is a distortion in the climate that we all share. Flipping that coin over, the solutions exist at the same intersection between global and local. Climate solutions only scale where they are, but if they scale far enough, fast enough, and widely enough, our planet’s climate will stabilize. Few issues represent what *Blessed Unrest* described as well as this one. It is in this context that I am proud to be a part of the creation of [Drawdown Georgia](http://www.drawdownga.org), a multi-stakeholder collaborative working to scale climate solutions in the state of Georgia. Inspired by [Project Drawdown’s](http://www.drawdown.org) efforts to research and advocate for global climate solutions (another Paul Hawken echo, as he founded Project Drawdown), we wanted to create a similar effort, but at the scale of Georgia. Our foundational question was simple – what climate solutions have the greatest potential to reverse global warming right here in our state? That question has now been answered by a team of researchers from some of Georgia’s most esteemed universities. The research is just a starting point though. I believe that Drawdown Georgia is the lens through which climate action will happen in our state, portraying our own mosaic of climate champions from tree farmers to business executives to equity advocates. Georgia can become carbon neutral, but it will take all of us working to scale solutions far enough, fast enough, and wide enough. In doing so, we can advance equity, capitalize on inclusive economic development opportunities, heal our local environments, and improve human health. Georgians cannot solve climate change by ourselves, but we can absolutely do our part. As Ray C. Anderson was fond of saying, “Brighten the corner where you are.” Georgia is our corner, our home, and it is a good one. We will brighten it by making Georgia one of the leading states for climate solutions, and we will do so because it is good for Georgians! Hopefully, it will inspire other states to join in, with all of us collaboratively competing to reach carbon neutrality first. And it will be local leadership like this that is necessary to solve a global challenge as daunting as climate change. [![Subscribe to the Drawdown Georgia Blog](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8152495/4db4c73c-afda-46f2-954b-4492d0cfb387.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8152495/4db4c73c-afda-46f2-954b-4492d0cfb387) *![article topic](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/orange-tag.png)* [People](https://blog.drawdownga.org/topic/people) [A Church Powered by Faith and Solar Energy in Decatur, Georgia](https://blog.drawdownga.org/a-church-powered-by-faith-and-solar-energy-in-decatur-georgia) [The Plant-Forward Diet of An Aspiring Climatarian](https://blog.drawdownga.org/an-aspiring-climatarian) ### About Author ![John Lanier](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/John%20Lanier%20copy.jpg) John Lanier John A. Lanier joined the Ray C. Anderson Foundation as Executive Director in May 2013. He serves on the Board of Directors for Southface, the southeast's nonprofit leader in research, design, and implementation of a regenerative economy. Related Posts [![How Georgia Businesses Can Tackle Scope 3 Emissions and Strengthen Their Supply Chains](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Jacob%20Yarbrough%20interview%20screenshot.jpg) How Georgia Businesses Can Tackle Scope 3 Emissions and Strengthen Their Supply Chains](https://blog.drawdownga.org/how-georgia-businesses-can-tackle-scope-3-emissions-and-strengthen-their-supply-chains) [![How Georgia Can Plan for What’s Ahead: Insights from Dr. Marshall Shepherd on Georgia’s Climate Outlook and Resilience](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Screenshot%20of%20Eriqah%20interviewing%20Marshall%20Shepherd.jpg) How Georgia Can Plan for What’s Ahead: Insights from Dr. Marshall Shepherd on Georgia’s Climate Outlook and Resilience](https://blog.drawdownga.org/how-georgia-can-plan-for-whats-ahead-insights-from-dr.-marshall-shepherd-on-georgias-climate-outlook-and-resilience) [![How Spelman College Turned Food Waste into a Campus-Wide Climate Solution](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Compost%20Bin%20at%20Spelman%20College.jpg) How Spelman College Turned Food Waste into a Campus-Wide Climate Solution](https://blog.drawdownga.org/how-spelman-college-turned-food-waste-into-a-campus-wide-climate-solution) - - - ## Subscribe to the Drawdown Georgia Climate Digest [![Drawdown Georgia](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/drawdown-ga-big.svg "Drawdown Georgia")](https://www.drawdownga.org/) - Solutions - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/) - [Electricity](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/electricity/) - [Buildings & Materials](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/buildings-materials/) - [Food & Agriculture](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/food-agriculture/) - [Land Sinks](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/land-sinks/) - [Transportation](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/transportation/) - Beyond Carbon - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/) - [Economy](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/economy/) - [Equity](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/equity/) - [Public Health](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/public-health/) - [Environment](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/environment/) - Resources - [Trackers + Tools](https://www.drawdownga.org/climate-solutions-trackers-and-tools/) - [Research](https://www.drawdownga.org/drawdown-georgia-research/) - [Grants](https://www.drawdownga.org/grants/?page=1&category=58) - [Videos](https://www.drawdownga.org/videos/) - [Drawdown Georgia Card Game](https://info.drawdownga.org/download-solved-game) - [Blog](https://blog.drawdownga.org) - Join Us - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-to-the-drawdown-georgia-climate-digest) - [Subscribe to Emissions Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-quarterly-county-stats) - [Subscribe to GA Electricity Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-electricity-updates) - [Attend Events](https://www.drawdownga.org/events/) - [Donate](https://www.drawdownga.org/donate/) - [About Us](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Research Team](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/team/) - [Leadership Council](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/leadership/) - [Press](https://info.drawdownga.org) - [Partner Initiatives](https://www.drawdownga.org/initiatives/) - [Contact Us](https://info.drawdownga.org/contact-us) - [FAQs](https://www.drawdownga.org/faq/?page=1&category=15) - Solutions - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/) - [Electricity](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/electricity/) - [Buildings & Materials](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/buildings-materials/) - [Food & Agriculture](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/food-agriculture/) - [Land Sinks](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/land-sinks/) - [Transportation](https://www.drawdownga.org/solutions/transportation/) - Beyond Carbon - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/) - [Economy](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/economy/) - [Equity](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/equity/) - [Public Health](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/public-health/) - [Environment](https://www.drawdownga.org/beyond-carbon/environment/) - Resources - [Trackers + Tools](https://www.drawdownga.org/climate-solutions-trackers-and-tools/) - [Research](https://www.drawdownga.org/drawdown-georgia-research/) - [Grants](https://www.drawdownga.org/grants/?page=1&category=58) - [Videos](https://www.drawdownga.org/videos/) - [Drawdown Georgia Card Game](https://info.drawdownga.org/download-solved-game) - [Blog](https://blog.drawdownga.org) - Join Us - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-to-the-drawdown-georgia-climate-digest) - [Subscribe to Emissions Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-quarterly-county-stats) - [Subscribe to GA Electricity Data](https://info.drawdownga.org/subscribe-electricity-updates) - [Attend Events](https://www.drawdownga.org/events/) - [Donate](https://www.drawdownga.org/donate/) - [About Us](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Overview](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/) - [Research Team](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/team/) - [Leadership Council](https://www.drawdownga.org/about-us/leadership/) - [Press](https://info.drawdownga.org) - [Partner Initiatives](https://www.drawdownga.org/initiatives/) - [Contact Us](https://info.drawdownga.org/contact-us) - [FAQs](https://www.drawdownga.org/faq/?page=1&category=15) - [FAQs](https://www.drawdownga.org/faq) - [Resources](https://www.drawdownga.org/resource-groups/research) - [Stories](https://blog.drawdownga.org/) - [Press](https://info.drawdownga.org/) - [Contact](https://www.drawdownga.org/resource-groups/research/#contact) [![facebook1](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/facebook1.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/drawdownGA/) [![linkedin1](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/linkedin1.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/drawdown-georgia) [![instgram1](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/instgram1.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/drawdownga/) [![youtube](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxwg0_Sb26UBN5CWRSZcCg) [![Drawdown Georgia](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DD_Oct20/drawdown-ga-big.svg "Drawdown Georgia")](https://www.drawdownga.org/) --- © 2026 Ray C. Anderson Foundation - [Privacy Policy](https://www.drawdownga.org/privacy-policy/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.drawdownga.org/terms-of-use/) [![The Ray C. Anderson Foundation](https://blog.drawdownga.org/hs-fs/hubfs/DD_Oct20/ray.png?width=141&name=ray.png "The Ray C. Anderson Foundation")](https://www.raycandersonfoundation.org) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "John Lanier", "url" : "https://blog.drawdownga.org/author/john-lanier" }, "dateModified" : "2022-03-16T22:13:11.045Z", "datePublished" : "2020-10-16T18:53:22.000Z", "headline" : "A Global Challenge Solvable by Local Leadership", "image" : [ "https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/Drawdown%20Georgia-%20Farm%20Image%20.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.drawdownga.org/a-global-challenge-solvable-by-local-leadership", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.drawdownga.org/hubfs/DDGA-Logo-1.png" }, "name" : "Ray C. Anderson Foundation for Drawdown Georgia" } } ```