Climate Coaching: Shaping Tomorrow’s Political Leaders for a Sustainable Future
Have you ever wondered why, despite overwhelming evidence and public concern about climate change, political action often falls short? A playbook recently published by the Climate Coaching Alliance (CCA) might hold some answers – and solutions.
As a cognitive behavioural coach specialising in complex leadership challenges, I’ve observed how the intersection of politics and climate action creates unique pressures for leaders. The newly released “Shaping Tomorrow: A Playbook for Coaching Leaders in Sustainable Decision-Making and Policy” offers fresh insights into this challenge. My own journey from executive coach to climate-conscious political candidate is featured in the playbook as a case study, giving me unique insights into its practical applications.
Three Key Insights from the Playbook
1. The Inner Game of Climate Leadership
The playbook reveals how successful climate action isn’t just about external policies – it starts with internal transformation. Politicians and policymakers often grapple with competing demands, short electoral cycles, and vested interests. But beneath these external challenges lie deeper psychological barriers: fear of failure, cognitive dissonance, and the weight of making decisions that affect the population.
2. Beyond Traditional Political Coaching
Traditional political coaching often focuses on communication skills and policy expertise. However, the playbook suggests a more holistic approach. It emphasises developing what they call the “capacity to adapt” – the ability to manage thoughts and emotions while considering diverse perspectives. This aligns perfectly with the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), embodied leadership, and complex adaptive leadership.
3. The Power of Systemic Change
Perhaps most intriguingly, the playbook introduces the concept of “quantum social change.” This approach suggests that climate action can accelerate when driven by collective purpose and shared values. It’s not just about individual politicians making better decisions – it’s about creating ripple effects throughout the entire political system.
Understanding Your Climate Leadership Journey: The Eco-Phase Cycle
The playbook introduces a powerful framework called the Eco-Phase Cycle that maps out how leaders typically progress in their climate action journey. This was originally presented in the CCA book Ecological and Climate-Conscious Coaching (Eds Hawkins, McLean, Turner
& Whybrow, 2023). Think of it as a developmental pathway that helps identify where you are and what support you need.
Are you in the Curious phase, just beginning to explore climate issues? Or perhaps you’re already Informed, diving deep into the science and evidence? Maybe you’ve moved to being Aware, and are processing the emotional impact of climate realities. Some leaders reach the Engaged phase, actively developing skills to address climate challenges in their role. The most advanced reach the Active phase, creating systemic change through their wider influence.
Understanding where you are in this cycle isn’t about judgment – it’s about recognising your current position to better target your development. As your coach, I can help you navigate these phases effectively, ensuring you build the capabilities needed for each stage of your climate leadership journey.
Six Steps to Effective Climate Coaching
The playbook outlines six interconnected steps in coaching for sustainable climate action policy.
Here’s how they can support your political journey:
1. Coaches as Catalysts
This foundational step helps you manage inner drivers and biases while building psychological resources for climate leadership. What unconscious assumptions might be limiting your effectiveness as a climate leader?
2. Grasping Climate Politics
Understanding the complex landscape of climate governance, from local to international levels. How well do you grasp the power dynamics and systemic barriers to climate action in your context?
3. Climate Science in Action
Building your capacity to understand and communicate climate science effectively. Can you translate complex climate data into compelling narratives that drive action?
4. Holistic Transformation
Developing the mindset and connections needed for transformative leadership. Are you ready to embrace the personal growth required for effective climate leadership?
5. Amplifying Action
Learning to create ripple effects and scale up climate initiatives effectively. How can you multiply your impact beyond immediate political boundaries?
6. Power of Storytelling
Mastering the art of climate narrative to inspire action and drive policy change. Have you found your authentic voice in communicating climate urgency and hope?
Each step builds upon the previous ones, creating a comprehensive development pathway. Through coaching, we can work together to strengthen your capabilities in each area, helping you become a more effective climate leader.
Why This Matters Now
Recent research published in Nature shows that 86% of people across 125 countries endorse pro-climate social norms, and 89% demand stronger political action. Yet there’s often a disconnect between public sentiment and political response. The playbook offers a framework for bridging this gap.
The Role of Coaching in Political Climate Action
As someone who works with embodied leadership principles and adult development theories, I find the playbook’s emphasis on holistic transformation particularly relevant. It suggests that effective climate leadership requires these five capacities:
Psychological flexibility is essential when navigating the complex landscape of climate politics. It’s about holding multiple perspectives simultaneously and adapting your approach as new information emerges. When faced with conflicting demands from constituents, industry lobbyists, and environmental scientists, how do you maintain your integrity while finding workable solutions? Coaching can help you develop the mental agility to hold these tensions productively rather than becoming paralysed by them.
Embodied awareness might sound abstract, but it’s surprisingly practical in political leadership. Your body’s signals often alert you to stress, conflict, or misalignment before your conscious mind catches up. When you’re standing at the podium about to announce a controversial climate policy, can you maintain your centre and speak with authentic conviction? Through coaching, you can develop the somatic awareness to stay grounded and present, even in high-pressure situations.
Complex thinking skills go beyond simple cause-and-effect reasoning. Climate challenges are interconnected with economic, social, and cultural systems. When constituents demand immediate solutions to climate issues, how do you help them understand the intricate web of consequences that each action creates? Coaching can enhance your ability to see patterns, understand systemic relationships, and communicate these complexities in ways that inspire action rather than overwhelm.
Strong collaborative abilities are crucial because no single person or party can solve climate challenges alone. This requires building bridges across political divides and finding common ground with unlikely allies. When you’re faced with stakeholders who seem fundamentally opposed to your climate initiatives, how do you create dialogue that leads to meaningful cooperation? Through coaching, you can develop the skills to build trust, facilitate difficult conversations, and forge effective coalitions.
Resilience is perhaps the most fundamental quality for climate leadership. The path to meaningful climate action is filled with setbacks, criticism, and moments of doubt. When media scrutiny intensifies, and progress seems painfully slow, how do you maintain your commitment without burning out? Coaching provides a confidential space to process challenges, rebuild energy, and strengthen your capacity to persist in the face of obstacles while maintaining your wellbeing.
Making It Work in New Zealand
In our New Zealand context, with our Zero Carbon Act setting ambitious goals for 2050, we need political leaders who can turn vision into reality. The playbook’s principles can help aspiring politicians and current leaders navigate the complex landscape of climate policy while maintaining a connection with their constituents.
A Path Forward
If you’re considering entering politics or policy development with a focus on climate action, you’re stepping into one of the most important roles of our time. The journey requires more than just good intentions – it needs structured support, evidence-based approaches, and a deep understanding of both human behaviour and systems change.
Ready to Make a Difference?
As a coach working at the intersection of leadership development and climate action, I help aspiring political leaders develop the capabilities outlined in this groundbreaking playbook. If you’re passionate about driving meaningful climate action through political engagement, let’s connect. Whether you’re considering running for local government or developing climate policy, coaching can help you build the resilience, skills, and strategies needed for effective climate leadership.
Contact me to discuss how political coaching can support your journey in creating positive climate action. Together, we can work on transforming climate change politics with meaningful, sustainable solutions for New Zealand’s future.
You can download the Shaping Futures playbook form the link on my political coaching webpage.
