There’s a big difference between ‘what should I do’ and ‘what shall I do’. The first seeks out options while the second moves towards a decision. We found The Conversation provoking when it challenged us this way. “Climate change: seeing the planet break down is depressing,” it said “but we know that”. When it added “Here’s how to turn your pain into action” it suddenly made it my climate change.
Making Climate Change Personal
We can’t just keep beefing on about climate change as if it is someone else’s problem to fix. Human activity is causing global warming and therefore only human activity can stop it.
It follows global warming is not only the government’s problem. It’s our problem as well and we have to start speaking of “my climate change”, not somebody else’s. Once we accept responsibility for something, we can start being creative about it. The Conservation says our consumer behaviour is the problem. We think they are right. Let’s unpick the logic and see if it stands up to scrutiny.
Consumerism is Depleting Nature’s Resources
The Conversation is spot on about that. If we stopped burning gasoline in our autos we would have a major impact. Moreover, if we all went green energy at home, the utilities would have to start closing coal and gas stations.
Surely, it makes sense not to wait for permission to take action. But let’s be honest, we are wavering because consumerism is such a comfortable thing to do. That’s because depleting nature’s resources and producing unimaginable amounts of waste has become normal. And normal is a tough thing to change.
We don’t have an easy answer for the challenge, although we do accept it’s my climate change and not somebody else’s. But we have the power to protest global warming when we vote, when we eat, and when we travel to work. We just need to give ourselves permission to do so, and then get on with it before it is too late. Let’s start by making climate change personal.
Related
World Faces Catastrophic Disaster (UN Chief)
Soil Damage Cycling Back into Climate Change
Preview Image: Time for Action
