Pausing to think

Those gaps do not have to do only with refrigerants. It is sad to say, but we are faced with gaping holes in almost every identified action point, be it relating to energy efficiency, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) or food security – inadequate cold chain-related food losses in the post-harvest stage and the consequential emission of methane from landfills. We are confronted with idiosyncrasies and numerous instances of numbing complacency, dithering, indecisiveness, being in denial, working at cross purposes, refusing to factor in indispensable interventions at the time of budgeting, wallowing in myths and jettisoning facts for sheer convenience – even when they are staring us in the face.

It is not just poor technician behaviour, but also poor leadership behaviour. Pulling out of multilateral agreements is just one example of leadership deficit. Failure to tighten codes that need urgent updating, failure in enforcement, failure in surveillance and showing a willingness to prioritise the superficial over the profound are all examples of a collective leadership failure and an unfortunate short-term mindset.

I could be inaccurate, but about the only area that draws a certain urgency is the data centre sector. There, we get to see intensity of thought and action and a greater political will and response, simply because that is where the money is. Indeed, a strong commercial interest and the knowledge that data centre equipment will carry out the threat of failing, if not treated properly, and taking down with them data worth millions, causes the most unflappable of leaders to break into cold sweat. And that’s because the stakes are too high – any disruption and its consequences will attract lawsuits and repercussion, with no escape door for accountability.

So, it is all about a real and perceived danger with an unambiguous, direct cause-and-effect equation that goads leaders into action. Which means, there has been a collective communication failure in firmly establishing this cause and effect in the realms of energy efficiency, IAQ and other equally mission-critical aspects. You may choose to argue otherwise – and you are entitled to your opinion – but temporary patching up won’t do. We need to see single-minded focus and a certain ruthlessness to pull society away from the abyss.