The quotation that makes the greatest impact on me is the African proverb, ‘If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’.

I like this quotation for its combination of apparent simplicity and wisdom. The language is simple and can be easily understood at face value by a very broad audience. This gives it a universal and timeless appeal. The image of people travelling together is a very human and evocative one.

I also think it has excellent application to Gore’s message. Going quickly and alone represents the past and the errors that societies have made in the name of progress. It has contributed to many of the problems that we now face across the globe. Super-powers like China and the USA (the two largest CO2 emitters) have measured progress by speed and competitiveness, while ignoring their destructive and long-term impact on the environment. This approach must end.

Going together, on the other hand, represents the solution to our ‘planetary emergency’ as a massive global effort is vital if the human species is to survive and overcome this crisis. Nations will need to work together as an alliance to lead the way for a brighter, more hopeful future. Collaboration between super-powers will be necessary as the crisis of climate change and pollution is occurring on such a massive, global scale and cannot be tackled by any country or continent in isolation.

In summary, the African proverb makes sense and offers hope for the future.