I am going to violate my very good rule to avoid sports metaphors with one that probably leaves you cold, unless you live north of the 45th parallel. "Skate to the Puck" (credit: Wayne Gretsky). It is an exception to the usual sport trope as it conveys a subtle and poignant life message. In a hockey game "skate to the puck" says that to be successful, you must not focus on where the puck is but where it will be as the play develops. It argues against passivity. Anticipate and act, take some risks. Don't "let the game come to you".
To belabor the metaphor, the ice we skate on is rapidly disappearing from the planet. If we continue on our do nothing course, the puck will be underwater. We are running out of time to address effects of climate change.
I have preached on climate change often in this forum and it remains for me the most pressing issue or our time and the current passivity in our nation portends dire consequences for the planet and the next generation - my grandchildren. 99.9% of scientific studies agree that humans have caused climate change and yet Senator Manchin sits on his pot of coal and urges that we "go slow" on transitioning from fossil fuel. 50 Republican members of Congress are so afraid of being primary'd and McConnell'd, they will sit obediently quiet while the world burns. I have had it up to my gills with dithering politicians.
I imagine every generation feels theirs faces the greatest challenges and greatest hardships. And it is hard to argue that my parents, with the Depression & WWII, dealt with much greater personal travail than my privileged life. But climate change is an existential problem, a problem without easy answers. Sitting back and hoping for someone(s) to solve this is not working. We are reaching a tipping point and the world requires some bold action.
It is frustrating to watch the lack of urgency. To use another sports analogy, it's like running a quarterback sneak during the 2 minute drill when you're down 2 touchdowns. (Sorry). The temptation is to collapse into helplessness and despair in the face of it. What impact can one average citizen have? Well, we can do a lot if enough of us do a little.
1. Call/Write/Email Congress https://www.congressionalinstitute.org/contact-congress/ Do this repeatedly. Be a pest.
2. Add your voice and donations to a grassroots organization. Citizens' Climate Lobby is a good one
3. It should not surprise you that in 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels usage with the biggest culprit being coal burning production of electricity. Lobbying for a carbon tax or other means to rein in the big polluters is perhaps the most important thing you can do. Draft your friends and neighbors. The policy makers need to hear this message from a broad audience.
4. Of course, we can all reduce our carbon footprint. Every bit helps. From simple things like keeping your tire pressure up, replacing your lightbulbs with LED's - to more dramatic (expensive) things like replacing your furnace with a heat pump or installing solar panels or driving a hybrid. There are plenty of 'what you can do' guides out there. e.g. .https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming
5. Obviously, climate change is a global issue. China, US & Russia are the top 3 carbon emitters. However, there are 20 international corporations responsible for 50% of carbon emissions. Support global efforts: The Paris Accord, Glasgow Climate Summit. Demand global cooperation in the fight.
6. Listen to Greta. “The change is going to come when people are demanding change. So we can't expect everything to happen at these conferences". (The Kyoto Protocol dates from 1997) https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59022846
Further reading. Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/
ReplyDeleteYes, it does feel hopeless. The amount of misinformation is appalling: social media pushes it, and a certain channel is not fair and balanced. Besides, this issue does not have two sides. That atmospheric CO2 has increased by about 30% in my lifetime is a fact, not an opinion. If only our leaders would pick up on all the new jobs and wealth that would be created by a massive decarbonization effort.
ReplyDeleteCOP26. Major failure. I weep. A betrayal of my grandchildren.
ReplyDelete1. One little word. "China and India proposed a last-minute change to crucial text around moving away from coal, saying they would agree only to “phase-down unabated coal,” rather than “phase out.”
2.It “requests” that leaders revisit their national climate goals
3."... a parade of empty promises"
Senator No strikes again
ReplyDeleteJane Fonda with Greenpeace has a weekly program on Facebook. It is Fire Drill Fridays. It is a great way to learn about what we can do about climate change.
ReplyDelete