V5 (5 Things 1 Topic)

We (humans) have been talking about the impact of climate change for decades.  It’s been nearly 20 years since ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ was released.  In that time, the environmental impact from humans has gotten worse.  It is absolutely insane that we have understood the effects of burning fossil fuels to power our lifestyle for so long, yet matters have not improved in the slightest, in fact, things have gotten worse.  It is true that we use more energy alternatives than ever before, but it’s also true that we are using more energy than ever before.

The earth is currently at 1.2 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial average temperature, the generally accepted tipping point is 1.5 degrees.  We are already at the point where we’re spending more than ever on natural disaster recovery efforts.  The number and intensity of storms rampaging is at an all-time high.  We’ve seen record-setting heat for the last 3-straight years.  Yet, almost no one seems to care that these will be among the coldest years that anyone one of us ever sees again.

Sometimes a problem seems too big or too far away for us to take seriously, and while this problem may turn out to be too big, it is not too far away.  We can see it all around us right now.  Look at hurricane that rampaged Tampa Bay, the situation in Asheville, North Carolina, the wildfires in California, the hurricane damage in Houston, the droughts in the Great Plains.  To make it more personal, compare your AC bills over the last ten years.  It’s October and here in Houston we are still hitting triple digits on a regular basis.  This is just a short list of very recent events in the US, when you expand the details to include the heartbreaking effects of global warming worldwide, it becomes a pitiful joke.

At 1.5 degrees warmer, we will be much worse off than we are today, with unpredictable harsh weather, fires, and draughts.  Death induced heatwaves will be the norm, and many coastal shorelines and islands will be underwater, displacing millions.  And yet, that is the best we can hope for.  If we continue the trend we are on right now, a trend which remains very much unchanged since the release of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, we are headed for an increase of 3-4 degrees of warming.  At that level, not a single one of us will be living a life remotely close to the life we are living now (if we are living at all).  We are sprinting toward that end, and yet…. Almost no one seems to care or is willing to do anything about it.

The important question we need to be asking is ‘what can we do?’

The truth is that one of us by ourselves can do very little.  Sure, recycling helps, and using less energy helps, but one person alone cannot even make a dent in the system of degeneration that we are currently swirling around in.  There are however several things we can all do in order to make a difference.  Here are five things!

1. Vote!  The most important thing is that we elect officials that act in accord with our desires.  The biggest companies with the most amount of money have the most to lose in terms of shareholder’s interests.  These companies invest billions to maintain the status quo.  If big corporations are not held in check, it’s lights out.  Voting for politicians that care about climate and the environment or at least care about getting re-elected by people who care about the environment can make a huge difference.  Placing taxes and restrictions on corporations will be the largest mitigating factor in terms of global warming.  Climate Cabinet is the best place to find out which politicians are willing to support climate action.  From national to local elections, you can see just how good or bad a politician is.  For example, Mark Baisley of Colorado Senate District 4 has an F- grade when it comes to climate.  It’s people like Mark who will be blameworthy when matters get worse, but it will also be us voters who continue to put people like Mark Baisley in positions of power.
2. Vote! Just want to iterate the importance of this!!!  
3. Talk!  Talking about climate is important.  It’s not the easiest conversation to have, but if it’s constantly put on the back burner, then before we know it, we’ll be cooked!  Starting a conversation by simply stating how hot it is, or try asking your friends if they know ways to help.  Even if they don’t, it may get them thinking about it.  You don’t have to throw stats in someone’s face in order to keep the conversation going, and it’s unlikely that would help anyway.  But, if you mention that you are still paying $200 on electricity because the AC is still running in November, it may inspire others pay attention as well.
4. Plant Trees!  Even if you don’t have the resources to plant trees, maybe you can ask your local politicians to plant trees, maybe hit up the local schools, or libraries.  Perhaps you’re a renegade, in that case do you think your neighbor will object to the new tree that appeared in their front yard overnight.  Will the park staff even notice a few dozen new saplings?  No way!  Those guys just want to cut the grass and go home.  But if you have no resources, you can always support Bills like The TREES Act, which moves to get the Department of Energy to plant 300,000 trees annually.  You can help get that Act passed here, just by signing your support!
5. Support companies that are trying to make the world a better place.  There are plenty of climbing companies who are trying to achieve carbon neutrality.  For example, Edelrid is one of the most progressive companies when it comes to being GREEN.  There are companies in every area that are trying a little harder than everyone else.  So, if you can afford to support the efforts of businesses that are doing their best, then companies that are doing their worst may realize that if they don’t get their shit together, then the shortcuts that they are taking today, will cost them in the future.

There are a million things that we can do to try and make the world less bad, these are just five!

V5 5 Things 1 Topic