Climate change is not only hitting close to home – it’s knocking on our front door and demanding to come in. But we’re not going to let that happen.
When we talk about who climate change affects, we’re guessing your first thought isn’t me. Or your friends and family today.
You’re not alone. If you’re like most people, you maybe imagine your grandchildren or even great-grandchildren having to deal with record heatwaves. Or people far away struggling in the face of rising seas.
But the truth is that the climate crisis is already affecting most of us right here and right now. From the second we wake up in the morning, to the minute we doze off at night. And we have to do something about it.
We all know that global temperatures are rising – and we know why.
For centuries, humans have been burning fossil fuels to power their lives. This process releases additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping heat that would escape into space otherwise.
We’re already seeing the first impacts of this crisis. But here’s the good news – we still have time to turn things around.
We are in a special moment, to say the least. Climate change is both a crisis and an opportunity. There are many ways we can collectively and individually take action. Here are some basic ways;
1) Plant a tree. We’ve been saying it since at least the ‘70s, and the message is equally urgent now. Trees provide not just beauty but shade, clean air, and to an extent, climate justice.
2) Get e–commerce savvy. Are Amazon boxes piling up around you? Take advantage of delivery days, and only order what you need to help reduce the burden of e-commerce on the environment. This not only helps reduce emissions but also lowers pollution in the neighborhoods .
3) Gardening also can sequester carbon, help you reconnect with the earth and its natural processes, and it can do wonders for your mental health.
4) Eat a “balanced” diet. The meat vs. no-meat argument can run hot and heavy, but balance is a great goal for body and environment.