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The alarm has been sounded. Humans are to blame for the current climate situation spinning out of control and we need to drastically change our actions now before we destroy the planet. This was the message issued by the U.N climate report that was published by scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) today. The report outlined the current climate situations happening around the globe along with projections of what is to come if we fail at reducing our emissions.
To date, the pledges made to reduce emissions by governments and companies aren’t enough, the report states. Drastic actions need to be taken by governments and corporations in order to see cooler temperatures happen around the middle of the century. Otherwise, the planet will continue to warm by 4 degrees by the end of the century bringing more climate disasters with it. With this rallying cry for those in power to take action, the big question remains- what can those of us who are not CEOs of corporations or part of legislative bodies do about it?
“It is indisputable that human activities are causing climate change. “Each of the last four decades has been the warmest on record since preindustrial times.”
~ Ko Barrett, Vie Chair of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Human Actions Are To Blame
Over the years there has been some confusion over who is to blame for the effects of climate change or whether or not it exists at all. Yet, the U.N climate report was able to draw together 14,000 scientific studies to asses the world’s changing climate to better understand the world’s weather. Sea levels have risen on an average of 8 inches between 1901 and 2018. The world hasn’t been this warm since nearly 3 million years ago. And, if we continue with our current habits it’s projected that we’ll cross the 2.7 degrees Farenheit warming threshold within 20 years. This is generally believed to be the most that humanity can cope with. Already, global warming has rained upon us record smashing weather- hurricanes, forest fires, droughts and more- that have seen a rise in climate refugees as entire communities are displaced. Failing to act soon enough has already made some effects irreversible. But, if we make drastic changes now, we can at least slow down or avoid worse effects that are to come if we fail to decrease cool the planet.
Each of the last four decades has been successively warmer than any decade that preceded it since 1850.
Government Action Is Needed
It’s no surprise that scientists are calling on governments to take stronger actions to reduce climate change. The fashion industry has already sounded a similar call to action. This U.N climate report issues a code red and a last call for humanity to finally change. And, some of those actions needed can only happen with swift legislative change. Societies need to move from fossil fuels to electricity to cut back carbon emissions and pollution from transportation and production industries. In order for there to be clear changes, cleaner energy programs must be adopted by countries and their economies.
Achieving global net zero CO2 emissions is a requirement for stabilizing CO2-induced global surface temperature increase.
What Can You Do?
The U.N climate report is a 42- page ‘Summary for Policymakers’. Yet, whether or not our policymakers will make these changes quickly and not merely tweet about their enthusiasm to tackle climate change (as some have done in response to the report), will also depend on their citizens’ enthusiasm to see this change as well. So, as citizens we can make our voices heard by calling, writing and emailing them demanding that our policy makers act on taking steps to reduce climate change.
Organizations like the Natural Resource Defense Council offer templates that you can use demanding policy makers to take stronger actions on diverting climate change and cleaning up our water systems. The Citizen’s Climate also has a template pushing Congress to implement the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. There are also ways to reach out to the leaders of industries by asking them to adopt better sustainable policies. There are templates available on this website asking brands to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and to become more transparent about their supply chain.
While the U.N climate report was mostly sad news, it did highlight the need for change and how if we are willing to take drastic change, we can make a positive change in our future on this planet.
