Rising to the Occasion & Tackling Climate Change

A morbid reality is no reason for surrender

Perhaps I am a victim of sampling bias, or people indeed are turning to hysteria. Close friends have started to ask the point of pursuing ambitious careers or starting a family. Daily released articles, that read like Kurt Vonnegut books, warn of a cynical tumultuous future with dark humorous undertones. Individuals on internet forums have begun using militant language when discussing climate change action. Even I have been guilty of stories that induce anxiety over the future.

I want to take an opportunity to dissuade people from the simple solution. It’s easy to panic. To surrender and believe that the future is hopeless, is effortless. Panic is a response to a lack of ideas and creativity. I do not mean to fill the audience with a false sense of security. Life in the coming decades may become more difficult. Yet, as a species we have a knack for adaptation. There is still action that can be taken by individuals today that will assuage future catastrophe.

One of the characteristics of climate change that causes terror, is its magnitude. Climate change is presented as this unstoppable oncoming black hole that will annihilate all of existence. When you consider the problem under this light, sure the future appears grim. But this perspective is inaccurate and counterproductive. What I have learned from my line of work, is when presented with an intimidating problem it is best to break it down into manageable components. This is why I emphasize the individual. While it will be an arduous task, the individual can lend their expertise to propel their communities in the correct direction.

T o promote climate change action in the short term, all members of society must adopt conservationist habits. This includes all the typical details that have been pointed out by supporters and researchers in the past. One should monitor energy spending, limiting power usage whenever optional. The majority of power grids continue to be run on fossil fuels. For the majority of communities, any sort of electrical use will contribute to the problem.

Reducing individual carbon emission is vital as well. Limit driving and traveling habits. Maximize carpooling and public transportation opportunities. This is a taxing demand, especially considering that suburban America is built off of the automobile. The infrastructure of suburbia is based around the car. Unfortunately, sacrifices will have to be made eventually.

This sort of shift in personal life style is respectable. Two decades ago, converting to a plastic bag free lifestyle and abandoning meat to reduce agricultural greenhouse gases had weight to it. Realistically, however, such actions now have little contribution in preventing further climate change calamity. Participating in a environmentally conscious life style is the equivalent of carrying a sign at a protest. While awareness is spread and allegiance to a cause is demonstrated, one has little affect on legislation and influencing those in authority.

I choose to stay optimistic. The individual can still impact climate change action in the medium term. To do so is not even challenging, but there is a requirement to break away from the complacent and placid life.

Photo by Mike Theiler/Reuters

Medium term actions are the contributions a person can make that go beyond their personal living habits. Such actions may involve one’s personal career or the use of their free time. Many local grass root groups focus on the protection of their community’s environment, and are excited to gain new members. I myself began exploring such groups, through websites such as meetup.com. In such organizations you can familiarize yourself with local politicians. Learn which respect environmental protection and promote their campaigns and laws.

As an employee in a company, while it may be intimidating, one can use their voice as well. Most companies have internal employee organizations. These can be company sponsored clubs or management groups. Such assemblages are ideal for raising concerns. Identify wasteful practices in your office or workplace. Perhaps the business leaves unnecessary advertising lights on overnight. Some office environments poorly regulate heat and other energy uses.

As a local political figure or a corporate leader, the individual has the ability to take action faster. Political figures should be keen to implement alternative energies to infrastructure projects when applicable. Newly constructed homes in suburban regions need to come with solar panels, and not an afterthought. Instead of expanding highways and roadways, isolate high traffic regions and develop public transportation options.

If infrastructure is not an item of concern in the community, consider how environment investments can be used to subsidize companies or volunteer groups exploring environmental and conservation research. The majority of large companies, today, consider their impact on the local habitat when developing. Unfortunately, there is little monetary incentive to do so in most cases. For smaller businesses, investing in renewable options is taxing and risky.

Aforementioned infrastructure goals apply to corporate personnel as well. I’m of the opinion that companies can go even farther. Large companies need to cap carbon emission that relate to travel expenses, in addition to manufacturing and energy usage. Limiting driving related emissions can be promoted by organizing company buses that pick up employees. The necessity of sending employees on flights to different locations needs to be examined as well. Can a video conference or telephone call suffice? Top executives make strategical decisions on where to be present and when, although mostly for the sake of time and business. Why not be as thoughtful with employees.

Looking towards the horizon, the committed individual can shape their career and passion to bettering the environment. For professions that are not directly involved in environmental action, applying your career to the cause will require some creativity.

The engineer or computer scientist can pursue jobs in renewable energy and smart energy grid systems. The medical practitioner can support programs such as Doctors Without Borders or medical institutions in developing nations. Having a healthy population allows communities to tackle other problems as well as promote the higher education of their people. Those in health can be a useful asset in environmental policy making, as they potentially have expert knowledge in how pollutants affect the common man. The lawyer can transition to environmental law. A business person or economist can study renewable infrastructure planning. How can governments fund cleaner projects? How can alternative energies be accessed by developing nations? Critics of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal, lambaste the resolution for not describing forms of implementation. Instead of the harsh rebuke’s, such critics can begin to consider how extreme measures can realistically be promulgated.

The point is not to throw a tantrum and rally violently in the streets over apprehension. Nor should we turn to complacency and live the rest of our days out like a terminally ill patient. Now is the time for people to become active in a positive and constructive manner. Working hand in hand, legislation after legislation, there is still potential to ease the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Susan Clayton, a psychology and environmental studies professor, in The New Yorker compared climate change action to a “civil-rights movement”. For this apt analogy to be true, like in all civil-right movements, people will need to stay persistent, vigilant, and healthily optimistic. We can no longer stay shy about our concerns over the planets dynamic ecosystem. As to ignore a civil-right is irresponsible and cruel.

A.P.

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“Don’t panic!” — Douglas Adams

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