As we prepare for yet another international conference on climate change – the 21st UN organized COP – this time in Paris, many people ask themselves what, if anything, is different this time around. While the climate is on a consistent and scary path to a +2 degree warmer state, for years there has been an incredible apathy among policy makers, international leaders, corporate decision makers as well as "normal people". Whether one does not recognize scientific evidence, or is a firm believer in shifting to a green and low carbon society – little change has happened and the world has still not seen the stringent, international, overriding agreements needed to curb the global greenhouse gas emissions.

Some people believe time is running out, and that our future looks bleak. Time is short, but I still believe there are genuine reasons for hope.

Looking back 15-20 years – environmental issues primarily received attention when they had local impact. Emissions to the air and to the water that were visible and somehow threatened our everyday lives, became part of the daily political agenda. Many environmental challenges were solved – with active involvement from local societies, companies and politicians.

But when the discussions moved from local rivers, city smog or threatened wildlife to the global challenge of climate change, much of the stage was vacated. Left standing to sort out the "real serious stuff" where national leaders – spurred on by the UN, climate scientists and a selection of environmental NGOs with hugely differing priorities. "Normal people" were hardly visible, and seemed to entrust their leaders with the task of finding common ground with the rest of the global community. When numerous COPs came and went without any signs of identifying solutions, or global agreements materializing – many felt climate change was not as serious as communicated. Others just felt such a distance to the problems – and were pacified to a state of inaction. The corporate world was at best inactive, and played a very limited role in identifying effective solutions. More often than not, corporate leaders would rather oppose climate action, and attempt to limit national targets and ambitions.

There are still vocal climate deniers around and a desperate fossil industry clinging to old arguments. But something is stirring. Something BIG is about to change.

1. Leading CO₂-emitting nations are competing to be frontrunners before COP21.
In 2015 the US, China, India, Brasil and a list of other countries have all committed to more ambitious CO₂ targets than ever before. The EU provided their INDC, a "target to beat" in March 2015, pushing to reduce domestic EU greenhouse gas emissions by "at least 40%" by 2030, against a 1990 baseline. Although there are nations consistently taking a more defensive stand – like Australia and Canada – there are yet numerous examples of countries pushing hard for tougher emission targets and binding agreements.