How our choices today shape tomorrow’s planet
“We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it.”
— Barack Obama
Why did I decide to write on climate change?
Why did I choose this topic? Why not write something related to technology, self-help, or tips on how to gain more views on Medium?
I am from Kotdwara, a small town in northern India that is located on the foothills of the Himalayas. It is proudly known as Devbhumi, which means “abode of the Gods.” Approximately 50% of this hill state’s total area is covered by forests.
During my last home visit, I was shocked to learn about the forest fire that engulfed a large area, causing significant issues for wildlife and residents. According to a report, Uttarakhand experienced widespread forest fires, with more than 10,000 incidents reported from almost all districts from November 2023 to June 2024.
This incident triggered something inside me, and I decided to write about the broader subject because forest fires are a by-product of ongoing climate change.
The more I explored the subject (climate change or global warming), the more passionate I became about writing about it. Before my research, I was like many other readers; I had heard much about climate change but had yet to consider its implications seriously.
To me, addressing the issue was primarily the responsibility of governments and large organizations, and the average person could only contribute a little.
But I was wrong.
Shocking data about climate change:
- According to the IPCC report, the Earth is 1.5 °C hotter than pre-industrial levels and is expected to be even hotter by 2100.
- In 2016, thirty-six gigatons of carbon dioxide were emitted globally, equivalent to 400,000 times the area of an Olympic swimming pool. Source — Drawdown (book).
- Canada’s 2023 wildfires emitted more carbon than most countries. Only China, the US, and India produced more carbon emissions than the 2023 Canadian fires.
- Climate change has affected the average sea level, which has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimetres) since 1880.
- Oceans absorb 90% of the heat caused by global warming, leading to marine heat waves that devastate coral reefs and aquatic life. I was unaware of the dead zones until I read about them, and the study shook me to the core.
- According to an OXFAM report, developed nations cause more emissions than developing ones and are usually on the receiving end.
In a report published in 2020, the California Institute of Technology stated that the COVID-19 pandemic, along with global restrictions on travel and various economic sectors, resulted in a significant decrease in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions within just a few weeks. The report suggests that human activity primarily generates carbon emissions and is reversible.
The above stats are an eye-opener.
I wondered, “What will our planet look like in 50 years if we don’t act now? How will our grandchildren survive in such a hostile environment?”
Climate change: The buzz world:
So, what is climate change, and why is everyone concerned and talking about it? Let’s explore it further.
According to the United Nations:
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These could be caused by natural factors (like earthquakes) or human activities, such as burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases (Carbon dioxide and Methane) emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures (global warming).
Post-industrialisation, energy sources were needed to run factories, transportation, lighting houses, etc., and coal was the cheapest to generate energy in bulk. Today, in the twenty-first century, we still depend on fossil fuels to meet our energy needs, which releases harmful greenhouse gases.
👉 Fossil fuels — Fossil fuels are obtained from decomposing organisms and plants that lived millions of years ago. These fuels include oil, coal, and natural gas.
Primary sources of Greenhouse emissions:
The following are the main contributors to the Greenhouse emissions:
- Burning of fossil fuels — 75% (Transportation, Industries, Electricity, Residential)
- Livestock production — 15% (Cows, agricultural soils, and rice production)
- Others — 10% (Fertilisers containing nitrogen and fluorinated gases)
👉 Each year, a cow will emit about 220 pounds of methane. Methane from cattle is shorter-lived than carbon dioxide but 28 times more potent in warming the atmosphere.
Potential action plan (At each level):
So, what needs to be done, and by whom?
Are we so selfish that we only care about ourselves? How about the coming generations? What kind of Earth are we going to give them?
— My inner core
Let me propose a few solutions that exist at various levels.
It isn’t easy to discuss them in detail as part of this story. Hence, I have linked the online resources towards the end under the Suggestive Reading section.
➢ Individual actions:
Sometimes, we are unaware of the actions that can contribute to reducing emissions and, hence, environmental sustainability. Here is the list of actions (in no particular order) that one can take as individuals:
- Fly only if necessary, shift to virtual meetings, or take trains to nearby destinations. Planes cause 3% of the total emissions in a year. You must have heard that The Spanish government plans to ban short-haul domestic air travel.
- Save water, electricity, and gas at home. No brainer.
- Educate others, vote for the party supporting green initiatives, and participate in green community initiatives (mentioned in the next section below).
- Plant more trees as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and spend time gardening at home. According to EcoTree, a tree absorbs approximately 25 kg of carbon dioxide annually.
- Donate to charities working towards climate sustainability. I regularly donate to Launchpad, the British Heart Foundation, and the Climate Coalition.
- Reduce meat and dairy consumption; plant-based diets have a lower carbon footprint. One vegan day per week (52 days a year) can save nearly 143 kgs of carbon dioxide annually.
- Walking is good for health and helps reduce carbon emissions. I am 45 years old and have lived in the UK for two years; I still do not own a car. I prefer walking or using public transport. According to Statista, As of 2022, it was estimated that there were approximately 23.9 million bicycles in the Netherlands, with an average of 1.4 bikes per person in the country.
- Use energy-efficient appliances, LED lighting, and unplug electronics when not in use.
➢ Community actions:
According to the dictionary.com:
Like-minded people can work towards climate sustainability.
The list is not exhaustive but includes actions that aid in climate protection. Community actions are necessary because they sit somewhere between individuals and the government.
- Like individuals, communities can conduct a mass tree plantation drive.
- Promote organic food products at the local shopping marts or markets.
- Educate the broader community not to use single-use plastic, which is not decomposable.
- As part of the awareness programme, they can organise fairs, seminars, and workshops and make individuals aware of the ill effects of climate change. They can get help from the local council or schools.
- Install systems in public buildings and homes to collect and reuse rainwater.
- Communities can encourage their members to install and use solar panels.
- Communities can clean local streets, rivers, and beaches on weekends.
- They can encourage a system like a carpool where more than one person can share the transport to the office, school, or market.
- Communities can work closely with the council to develop footpaths and bicycle tracks so that more residents can use the infrastructure.
➢ Government actions:
While individuals and communities can contribute to climate sustainability, the government has a more prominent role.
- Invest in clean energy: The government should advocate for clean energy sources as alternatives to fossil fuels. While we already have some capacity for wind and solar power, there is a pressing need for increased investment in these technologies. Denmark is at the forefront of clean energy initiatives, generating 40% of its energy from wind power.
According to World Power and Energy statistics, the share of wind and solar power in power generation rose by 1.5 per cent globally in 2023 to nearly 14 per cent.
Several developed countries are exploring nuclear energy, replacing traditional energy sources. However, key concerns include the cost of production, transportation, and the mass generation of power.
The question remains: Can we produce wind, solar, and nuclear energy at a lower cost for the broader population?
- Invest in Carbon capture technology: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) prevents climate-warming carbon emissions at their source from polluting the atmosphere. The carbon is then stored underground, under either land or sea, in empty oil and gas wells or other geological formations.
A government-backed, affordable Carbon capture system should not be seen as an excuse for the continued use of fossil fuels. Instead, it should be regarded as a temporary solution until we discover other cheaper and cleaner energy sources.
- Promote the manufacturing and sale of Electric vehicles: The government can consider financial incentives such as tax credits, rebates, and reduced registration fees.
- Work towards the Paris Accord:
According to the United Nations Climate Change Committee (UNFCC):
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, France, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
Substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to hold global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.
According to the IPCC, the UN’s climate body, CO2 emissions must be reduced by almost half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
According to a UN report, the six largest greenhouse gas emitters (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) accounted for 63% of global emissions in 2023.
Why aren’t governments pushing towards the end goal?
The answer is not straightforward. While the Paris Agreement establishes guidelines, emission monitoring, and reporting requirements, it doesn’t force governments to reduce emissions.
We can further examine the issue from different perspectives. Some countries need more funds to invest in cleaner energy solutions. In contrast, others are hindered by powerful oil mafias and influencers who can negatively influence government policies regarding green energy production.
The UK’s Committee on Climate Change has rightly pointed out that while individual actions can make a difference, they can only do so to a limited extent. It is mainly the responsibility of policymakers, particularly the government, to implement significant measures to meet the net zero goals by 2050.
As a society, we must urge our politicians to take the necessary steps to address the climate crisis.
What positive things are happening around us?
It’s not all doom. There are examples of individuals, communities, and governments doing great work towards climate sustainability.
Here are some of the examples:
💛Since I belong to the hills of India, I want to share a personal account about the Chipko movement, a forest conservation movement initiated by the villagers in India. The main idea was to save trees from cutting, so they hugged the trees.
💛In 2009, the Empire State Building underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade to save energy and meet carbon reduction goals. As a result, they managed to save 40% of their energy consumption.
💛Before the US presidential elections, Joe Biden sanctioned billions for green energy initiatives. The US is the second most polluting country on Earth, behind China. So, Biden wants to establish a legacy for climate action, which includes locking in a trajectory for reducing the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
💛 There are a few more conservation success stories for protecting nature.
Many ongoing initiatives worldwide are genuinely inspiring, often driven by individuals like you and me. We can start small: planting even more trees, installing solar panels, avoiding plastic bags, and wasting water and electricity at home. Together, we can slow the crisis and save the Earth.
From my scratch pad:
Organizing and coherently expressing my thoughts on such a vast subject was difficult. Here is a snapshot of my initial preparation from my notebook.
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