# Putting the You in Community Resilience to Climate Change  | Ned Gatenby | TEDxTeesside

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qImW2B84Hbs
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/qImW2B84Hbs
Generated: 2025-11-24T19:04:54.587+00:00

---
## Quick Overview

Ned Gatenby argues that community resilience, built from the ground up through local participation in climate action, is the essential tool for navigating the severe economic and environmental challenges posed by the climate crisis, directly countering the top-down, often ineffective strategies of national governments and industry.

**Key Points:**
- The speaker asserts that the failure to address climate change effectively stems from a lack of community resilience, which is currently disproportionately affected by negative impacts.
- In the UK, over two-thirds of voters say climate and environment policy influences their vote, yet 1 in 10 households suffer respiratory disease made worse by air pollution from traffic.
- The speaker cites research showing that over 6 million people in the UK, and 194 governments globally, have signed the Paris Agreement, yet this top-down approach often fails to connect locally.
- The speaker advocates for grassroots resilience, noting that local community organizations working on projects like community gardens provide practical benefits like lower energy bills and improved physical/mental well-being.
- Volunteering for local climate action is shown to be good for individual health, and local groups build cohesion that national policies often miss.
- The speaker concludes that true resilience comes from collective strength, where local actions, driven by community participation, prepare people for future shocks better than distant policy-making.
- The speaker, Ned Gatenby (he/they), delivered this TEDxTeesside talk in October 2025.

![Screenshot at 00:06: Ned Gatenby, dressed in vintage attire \(white shirt, suspenders, cravat\), stands on stage introducing the central question of what defines normalcy.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-00-06.png)

**Context:** This TEDx talk by Ned Gatenby explores the concept of community resilience in the face of the growing climate crisis. Gatenby contrasts the top-down, often abstract nature of international agreements and national policies with the tangible, localized benefits derived from community-led climate action. The speaker shares personal experiences of feeling different while growing up and how accessing the internet helped him connect with queer communities, drawing a parallel to how local networks can foster essential resilience against global challenges like extreme weather and rising energy costs.

## Detailed Analysis

Ned Gatenby delivers a talk arguing that true climate resilience must be built from the ground up, focusing on local community participation rather than relying solely on large-scale political or industrial agreements. Gatenby begins by questioning what makes someone 'normal,' noting that his own upbringing, shaped by cultural heritage, religious beliefs, and institutional exposure, made him feel different, a feeling he later understood was connected to his queer identity and later, his experience with anxiety and ADHD. He notes that the internet provided a crucial window to connect with other queer people globally, which helped him understand his experience. Gatenby then pivots to the climate crisis, pointing out the disconnect between global policy efforts (like the Paris Agreement signed by 194 governments) and local realities. He highlights concerning statistics: 1 in 10 UK households suffer respiratory disease due to traffic pollution, and over 6 million people in the UK struggle with energy insecurity. He argues that while politicians often focus on worst-case scenarios, the real solution lies in local action. Citing the example of a volunteer-run community garden project, Gatenby explains that these local efforts provide immediate, concrete benefits—like reduced energy bills and improved well-being—and build social cohesion. He argues that this localized resilience is what allows communities to withstand shocks, unlike relying solely on distant policies or industries. The core message is that the collective strength derived from local participation is the most effective path forward against climate disruption.

### Childhood Feelings of Difference

- Growing up feeling different due to upbringing, cultural heritage, religious beliefs, and public institution exposure
- Realizing this difference was linked to being queer and experiencing anxiety/ADHD later on
- Finding connection and understanding through the internet's queer networks

### The Climate Crisis Disconnect

- Citing the Paris Agreement signed by 194 governments, yet noting that many communities feel left behind by politics and industry
- Highlighting UK statistics: 1 in 10 households suffer respiratory disease due to traffic pollution, and 2/3 of voters are influenced by climate policy.

### The Power of Local Resilience

- Presenting local community efforts, like a volunteer-run community garden project, as the source of true resilience
- These projects provide tangible benefits like lower energy bills and better physical/mental well-being for all ages
- Local engagement builds cohesion that national policy often overlooks.

### Call to Action

- Emphasizing that change does not have to be globally big; local action creates a ripple effect
- Encouraging participation in local community organizations, which builds collective strength to withstand climate shocks and endure long-term.

![Screenshot at 00:01: TEDxTeesside branding and the tagline "Dream. Dare. Do." displayed on the screen.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-00-01.png)
![Screenshot at 00:05: Speaker Ned Gatenby appears on stage dressed in a vintage style, including a white shirt, suspenders, and a light blue neckerchief.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-00-05.png)
![Screenshot at 01:17: A full stage view showing the large red TEDx letters and the speaker addressing the seated audience.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-01-17.png)
![Screenshot at 01:18: The presentation screen displays the speaker's name, Ned Gatenby, pronouns \(he/they\), and LinkedIn handle.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-01-18.png)
![Screenshot at 10:16: A wide shot showing the speaker on stage with the large TEDx letters and the audience seated in the auditorium.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/qImW2B84Hbs/00-10-16.png)