Climate change is a huge issue that every person on the planet can relate to because it affects us all in numerous ways. However, there is so much controversy about how to deal with it that nothing is being done to help prevent or work through the numerous issues. Many of the issues blocking actual change come from the lack of trust in governments, negative impacts of climate policies, and the rejection of this by policy makers.
In many European countries there have been a number of positive steps taken to combat climate change as well as deal with the social repercussions of possible changes. For example, in Spain, when they shut down 28 coal mines there was compensation given to those who lost their jobs. This is the start of what policy makers need to do in order to work with the people that are directly affected by climate policy. Having the people involved and as the solution makes it a more viable and equitable situation.
Those who work to promote a push to prevent climate change will avoid this topic and focus more on the greenhouse gases or emissions and unfortunately the average person that may get their living from the factory is left out. The UN outlines sustainable development goals and one such focuses on climate change. They want to act now and make sure emissions are lowered. This push is huge and so beneficial for everyone, but will it actually work out in the long run? Will these lowered emissions be enough to slow the negative effects of climate change?
In the debate for climate change the average person is often left out and anything that they do seems to be so small and insignificant. However, doing one thing and working with the one thing that cannot be taken away, one’s voice; it is more powerful than we know. When government officials look toward the people for what they should do there is more success in arguments about climate change. But the battle is not solely fought with the government; there are many ways that people can help combat climate change on their own, in at least a small way. Perhaps a person puts pressure on their elected officials or a union shares their fears about losing their jobs.
The balance between what is right for the world and what is right for the individual is a difficult line to break. The government must look to both sides in order to make everyone happy, which usually ends in nothing getting done.
It feels like the USA is falling behind European countries in terms of climate change. It is important we show our politicians that is extremely important to us too. Doing this through protest such as the climate rally we had last year at WMU.
ReplyDeleteIt's essential for any and all policy changes developed for climate change to be done in an equitable way, just like your example with the Spanish coal miners.
ReplyDeleteAs for doing what we can about the problem, there are things that almost any average person should do to reduce their own carbon footprint, but in my opinion it's the large private entities that are mostly responsible for the problem who should be held accountable for the damages they cause.
Well written! I feel as if it is hard as just one person to make a difference, but almost everyone feels that way and together we can make a difference if we try. I think it is so challenging to come to a consensus on what to do because one solution is not going to work for every person. It is always nice to see some encouraging news when things seem so upsetting so thank you for including that.
ReplyDeleteHey Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how hopeful your post seemed, I think it's very important to try and stay positive in times like these to avoid burnout. I am very curious about how other countries are navigating climate change and find it very interesting how careful and equitable Spain handled the coal mine situation you mentioned. I find that often, especially in countries where citizens harbor distrust for the government and have been lied to, misinformation and fake news can very easily manipulate people into resenting policies instated to protect the environment. I think that a continuation and implementation of mindful/contextual approach's by the government could help rebuild some of that trust here in the U.S. so that individuals are less susceptible into being tricked that climate change is a "hoax" and remind people that environmentally conscious policy does indeed benefit everyone.
I agree that different contexts in different countries impact activism. The scary thing is that our country is one of those with lots of fake news.
DeleteIt becomes really disheartening to watch the US government fall behind and put forth inadequate steps to combat climate change across multiple administrations. At times, it feels as though some of Congress and even some presidents have begun to value the input of their billionaire donors more than the input of their constituents. Because unfortunately, money is progress' number one enemy at times.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do have some amount of hope left, because I figure if- like you said in your post- enough of us take action, they'll have to listen to us. If we can educate folks about the climate crisis more objectively and in a context folks care about, I think we can get the ball rolling on meaningful action. Good post!
I appreciate how you mention that the average person is often left out in the larger debate on climate change. Average people are often placed majorly at fault for pollution and climate change for actions like not recycling enough or using single-used plastics while the major companies that are largely responsible for the majority of climate pollution make little to no changes.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read about one of the ways that Spain was able to make a change - hopefully more countries and companies can learn from and utilize a similar strategy.
You raise a great issue regarding the significance of ensuring that the voices of ordinary people are heard and incorporating them in climate action. People whose livelihoods are affected may find the story surrounding climate change to be detached and unimportant since it often focuses on high-level policies and scientific data. You remind us that significant change necessitates cooperation between governments, communities, and individuals by highlighting the role of the average person and the strength of group action.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, Olivia! The example from Spain shows how supporting people impacted by climate policies can make a big difference. It’s interesting to think how other countries could follow this approach to balance action and fairness. Well done!
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