Climate change has gone from being a future threat to a daily reality. Our world is rapidly changing due to increased average temperature, changes in weather patterns, reduction in biodiversity, and loss of freshwater resources. Whether or not we have the capability to adapt to the rapidly changing environment will not be determined until we choose to resist it or embrace it. While becoming part of the solution does not require people to take drastic measures, awareness, a commitment to an ethical way of living, and steps toward a more sustainable way of life must be made by individuals, communities, and industries.
This piece of writing will provide information on the changing environment; answer the question of why the way we respond to the change is important; and discuss what kinds of actions we can all take now to help drive positive change.
The Changing Environment
1.Increased Average Temperature and Extreme Weather Patterns
Since the late 1800s, the average global temperature has increased over 1.1 degrees Celsius; as a result of rising average temperatures, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and storms are occurring more frequently than in previous years. The scientific community predicts that unless very large reductions of greenhouse gas emissions are achieved, the average global temperature will reach two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century; damage that is irreversible.
2.Loss Of Biological Diversity
The United Nations has projected that 1 million living species may become extinct due to habitat destruction, pollution, and over-exploitation. These human activities harm the ecosystems that provide humans with food, medicine, and clean air; destroying those ecosystems will further heighten the risk of extinction for those living species.
3.Degradation Of The Ocean Environment
About 25% of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and 90% of the additional heat from the Earth’s atmosphere due to human activity, has been absorbed by the oceans. These impacts have caused an increasing acidification of the ocean, as well as increased coral bleaching, and a disruption in the life-sustaining functions provided by marine organisms. Coastal communities are extremely vulnerable to higher ocean levels and increasingly severe storms.
Why Adapt And Adapt Quickly
Every sector of the economy is impacted by environmental change.
- Health: Increased number of cases of respiratory illness, heat-related deaths, and the spread of vector-borne disease.
- Food Security: Crop losses due to droughts and floods.
- Economics: Climate-related disasters have resulted in billions of dollars of losses each year.
- Infrastructure: Cities cannot cope with increasing levels of ocean water and increasing air temperatures.
Both adaptation and mitigation are equally important. While mitigation reduces the amount of future damage from greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to the environmental changes that we are currently experiencing is required to allow us to live sustainably and safely in our changing world.
Things You Can Do Right Now to Help the Environment
1.Decrease Your Carbon Footprint
Making small changes in your everyday life can have a big impact when many people make similar lifestyle choices.
- Energy-efficient lighting, smart thermostats and energy-efficient appliances will all help you to save energy.
- Renewable sources of energy, such as solar panels, will allow you to take advantage of renewable energy options, such as participating in a renewable energy program.
- Transportation options include using public transportation, carpooling, biking, or driving an electric or hybrid vehicle.
For example:
Copenhagen has over 62 per cent of its population commuting by bicycle. Not only does this significantly reduce pollution, but it also reduces traffic congestion and improves public health.
2.Make Sustainable Consumption a Way of Life
What you buy impacts how companies produce their goods and services on a worldwide basis.
- Buy products that use little or no packaging.
- Purchase from eco-friendly companies that use recyclable materials.
- Eat plant-based foods that have a smaller carbon footprint than industrial livestock production.
For instance:
Eating one less beef meal per week will cut your carbon footprint by several hundred pounds per year.
3.Save Water & Protect Freshwater Sources and Local Biodiversity
By simply changing some of your daily behaviors, you can help save and preserve water resources and the biodiversity that is critical to the health and survival of many different species.
- Fix leaking faucets and toilets, and install water-efficient fixtures.
- Plant native plants that require less water, need less maintenance, and support pollinators.
- Do not use harmful pesticides, and use natural pest control methods whenever possible.
4.Support policies and businesses that place a major emphasis on sustainability
Voting with our voice and wallet has become a very important method for demonstrating our priorities.
- Support for clean energy, conservation, and emission standards are a regulatory vote of confidence.
- Buy from companies that practice sustainability and provide transparent information about their sustainable activities.
- Join local environmental organizations or participate in local community clean-up activities.
Environmental economists believe transitioning to a circular economy will help reduce global carbon emissions by as much as 39% by 2032 and create millions of new green jobs.
5.Take full advantage of the latest technology and innovation
The latest technology allows us to adapt to and adjust to new conditions quicker, smarter, and more intelligently.
- Using smart irrigation systems can greatly reduce the amount of water wasted in agriculture.
- With artificial intelligence, we can be more effective in making sure that we use the least possible amount of energy to run our buildings.
- Designing buildings with green features (i.e. living walls and cool roofs) provide significant benefits for urban areas to combat urban heat islands.
As a result of the “green building” initiative in Singapore, energy efficiency in building design increased which has generated a cost savings of over $150 million annually in thousands of buildings.
Conclusion: The Time To Change is NOW
The urgency of the environment is at a pace we can no longer ignore but rather than seeing this urgent situation as an obstacle we need to overcome, we should view it as an opportunity; using our collective ability to adapt and act is equally powerful. Every small change that we make today, adds to the momentum of the larger movement.
Your CALL TO ACTION:
Make a commitment to adopt at least one new sustainable habit this week.
