The Medicine for Climate Change
- Srilakshmi Varma
- Aug 5, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 7, 2020
Whenever people have come forward to solve a problem together, they have been able to achieve great things and spark change. This is yet another time when people are facing a demanding issue that will determine the future: climate change. Here in California, we have already experienced the seriousness of this crisis in the form of raging wildfires and without drastic action to minimize our impact on the planet, the future will not look pretty. So, what is the BEST way an individual can help combat climate change?
This question is not an easy one to answer, as there are so many different approaches. For the most part, climate action can be organized into two main categories - personal action and community action. Personal actions are changes that an individual can make to reduce their own carbon footprint. This can include choosing to recycle, walking instead of driving, etc. On the other hand, community actions are large movements, such as climate strikes, that demand local governments to take impactful climate action.
Personal and community actions are both important, but scientific research shows that there is only one decade left to stop the destructive effects of climate change. Society must undergo rapid, large scale changes to combat climate change; community action is the only way to achieve a change of this magnitude. Taking measures as a community demands those in power to create greener guidelines for people and businesses. In turn, this makes it easier for all people to live a greener life and implements advances to minimize the carbon footprint of entire cities.
Johnny Cruzen is a local Environmental Scientist and substitute teacher for Fremont Unified School District who strongly believes in community action. In an interview, Mr. Cruzen explained, “Trying to stop climate change by personal action is like trying to stop a heart attack with a proper diet – it’s too late for that. We face system-wide social problems dealing with anthropogenic climate change, and our social leadership will define us.”
Back to the original question about the best way to tackle climate change – community action is the way to go! Here are some ways to take community action from the comfort of your home, during these unprecedented times:
Sign petitions for climate action
Vote for leaders who will take climate action (for more information on California’s leaders, go to www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA )
Participate in community discussions (e.g. school district board meetings, city council meetings)
Make climate change a dinner-table topic
Contact local leaders about what climate action you want to see
Join a local climate change organization (e.g. Coalition For Clean Air, The Climate Reality Project- Bay Area chapter, FIERCE- student-led organization in Fremont CA)
Initiate small changes at work, school or home and gain support from others in those places
Attend virtual climate strikes
Donate to environmental conservation and climate change organizations (if able)
Create a virtual event for climate action, if there are not any in your city
Ultimately, make sure to step up and take action. Some of the ideas listed above take only a few minutes but make a massive difference. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, and now more than ever for the future of our planet, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Originally published at Tri-City Voice on July 21, 2020. Title originally "Climate change- what can you do".
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