We have the choice to choose a better future for not only ourselves but also for the generations to come.
If we choose to ignore the blatant problem of climate change, discomfort will take over our lives.
I don’t know about you, but I like to think I can join together and make a difference. I believe 2021 is the year to stand up and make significant changes.
We have all suffered this past year.
We have lived through a global pandemic, seen death at a faster rate than any of us anticipated, and experienced life in a way we could never have imagined just a couple of years ago.
Yet, I believe we have mustered up a resilience like no other, and we should use it to fight the good fight of combating climate change.
A good place to begin is with a very basic question: Is the climate change issue getting any better? Are we making a difference?
How serious is climate change?
There is no disputing the science. The world is warming at unprecedented rates, and humans are the cause of it.
The climate crisis is no longer some idea that can be passed to the next generations because we do not see the effects.
No, we no longer have the excuse to pass it on because we see the effects every day now.
- Wildfires are raging across our lands, destroying beautiful forests and animal habitats.
- Vast amounts of coral reefs, including the Great Barrier Reef, are declared dead due to bleaching.
- Ice sheets are starting to melt worldwide.
- The deserts of the world are growing larger and larger.
- Sea levels are rising.
- Storms are growing increasingly more violent.
The list goes on and on. To ignore it would promote a form of blissful ignorance.
So many of us think along the lines of what I don’t know can’t hurt us.
This is dangerous thinking because not knowing about climate change, and its effects will not stop the increasing storms that pummel your house or the wildfires that burn down your land.
How serious is climate change? Very. Very serious.
Is the Climate issue Getting Better?
This question can be answered in so many ways ranging from:
- The optimistic stance of yes, we are making an effort now that we see the effects we are having on the environment
To:
- The pessimistic stance of no, there are still millions of people who think the climate crisis is a hoax and will not support dialing back the use of fossil fuels or other harmful business practices.
Given that I am a naturally optimistic person, I will go with the stance that, yes, we are putting in the effort to do better. The climate issue is slowly yet surely getting better. Here are three reasons why I think climate change is getting better:
- Renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, hydrogen and biomass are becoming much more affordable and advanced as more research is put into the renewable energy field. If the trend continues and governments make an effort to support the renewable energy industry, there could be massive improvements for knocking out the fossil fuel industry.
- Businesses are finally stepping up and attempting to go green. Because renewable energy costs are falling and consumers are putting pressure on companies, businesses are changing their attitudes about the climate crisis.
- Numerous countries are agreeing to cut carbon emissions by an exponential amount over specific periods of time. More than 100 countries have set their sights on becoming carbon-free by the year 2050. The fact that large countries are already saying they plan to commit to cutting carbon emissions is significant in putting a stop to the climate crisis.
As I said, this is the optimistic viewpoint of whether or not the climate issue is getting better.
However, to be realistic and take off the rose-colored glasses I wear, I must address the fact that there is a long way to go.
These changes are only a minuscule start to what we need to do to really make an impact on taking back the future of our beautiful environment.
We are finally taking steps in the right direction.
What can we do to stop climate change?
- Promote renewable energy – go out and research renewable energies you can use in your own home. Not only that, support the rise of renewable energy being implemented throughout your state and nation.
- Be mindful about what you eat – look into where your food is coming from. Make a conscious effort to buy more locally grown vegetables or even go out and grow your own!
- Change up your commute – find ways in which you are not driving by yourself in your car to work every day. Ride your bike. Carpool. Take public transit. There are numerous ways to reduce your carbon footprint by changing up your commute to be more mindful of the effect it has on the environment.
- Consume less so you can waste less – We all are consumed by the overwhelming amount of stuff we have. The material things in life are not always bad, but having too much of them is. Take time to consolidate your belongings to only what you need, plus a couple of sentimental items. Remember that the people and moments in life are what truly bring happiness and spark into your life.
- Use energy wisely – Whenever you leave a room, double-check you turned off the light and unplugged items you are not using. These little habits save the planet as well as save you money. Who doesn’t want that?
Will climate change ever get better?
Humans have caused irreversible damage to the environment, and significant climate changes have gone into motion already.
A sad but realistic reality is that it will take a long time for the planet to catch up and normalize again, even if we cut out all carbon emissions at this very moment.
That being said, it is not too late. It is proven we can prevent a lot of the effects of climate change and mitigate the rest.
But, that is only if we take action right now.
According to the Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius approved by governments, “Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.”
Conclusion
Climate change is already here. We must choose to fight off the worst of it while we can.
We can not let the pressure and fear of climate change win the battle while we throw our hands up, admitting defeat because we think it is too late.
No, we must be optimistic and find unique and innovative ways to prevent climate change from continuing.
