Are we just going to give in? – let our children’s futures go to hell? – do nothing to save our wonderful wildlife? – let dictators take over our world for the sake of their private gain? – abandon minorities? – create misery for billions of people? – let our major cities flood?
Or are we going to wake up and act?
This article by The World Economic Forum states that “The idea that it is too late to halt the climate crisis has been gaining ground recently.” It shows that there are many people who see that as a fact, and although they theoretically want to help, they are incapable of doing so. They feel overwhelmed by the challenge.
The Forum affirms clearly that while the situation is very bad, myths like these are holding us back from affecting the outcome.
Clearly there is much to be done.
Antonio Gutteres (Secretary General of the UN) says in a speech that “ – – – – our world needs climate action on all fronts — everything, everywhere, all at once.” In other words there is a need for everybody to act. Somewhere in each of us is the courage and compassion to make a difference.
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)
There are many wonderful activists, scientists, business leaders and ordinary individuals out there doing their bit. However at the end of the day it is going to be up to millions/probably billions of us to get our governments moving. They are letting us down very badly with their short-termism, their corruption and their commitment to retain their own little bit of power.
The US Capitol
To name but a few governments:
America
The recent American elections have brought to power a President who cares only for himself and nothing for the future of life on Earth. He is ably supported by a bunch of self-seeking cronies holding on desperately and dishonestly to their little bit of dominance. Humanity and their struggles to give their children a better life mean nothing to them.
(The positive side of all this is the US States who are battling in their own way to fight the chaos we are facing. The Governors, Lawyers, Mayors, Business Leaders etc who are doing their damnedest to ensure America does its bit for the world.)
See this recent article in the Guardian by Senator Bernie Saunders of Vermont.
But there is no doubt the government’s destructive programme of cutbacks will negatively affect climate change. It will also affect climate justice and the ability of poorer countries to deal with the climate, and have the knock-on effect of provoking a wave of climate refugees.
Britain
The current UK government which was elected last year, with a huge fanfare about its climate credentials, has been a disgrace.
The Guardian newspaper quotes Ed Miliband (then the shadow energy security secretary) as saying “Labour will take a global lead on climate action.” He further remarked that Britain was “off track” for meeting its climate targets. The article also stated that Labour had cut back its green investment plans by cutting in half its target of £28 billion to equip the economy to meet its climate targets.
Another article quotes Sir Keir Starmer saying that “he will not block the Rosebank oilfield going ahead” after a court ruled its approval “unlawful”. That and the recent support of the British Chancellor to a third runway at Heathrow has left me with my head in my hands in sheer disbelief. I seem, surprisingly to have run out of words!
Flag of the European Union
The European Union and its New Green Deal
According to this report “The EGD is the Flagship Initiative of the current European Commission. It comprises a number of initiatives, strategies and legislative acts that, together, are intended to enable a just, sustainable and inclusive transformation of European society and economy.”
The report shows the apparent importance of this Green Deal to Europeans.
The European Green Deal is the EU’s new growth strategy, which “aims to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with […] a competitive economy”. It is also a crucial part of the EU’s plan to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, it promises to protect citizens from environmental harms and impacts, and to be just and inclusive. Wellbeing is to be put at the centre of economic policy.
This wonderful new deal intended to bring Europe towards carbon neutral by 2050 is now under attack. An article in Le Monde shows that under pressure from the right and far right the EU has abandoned plans to reduce pesticide use and watered down plans to better protect nature and fight climate change after farmer protests. The Biodiversity Bill for the restoration of nature was only passed due to the courage of the Austrian Climate Minister
To me this gives a flavour of our governments’ lack of commitment and courage in the fight against Climate Change. The move to the right of many voters is also a threat that needs to be considered.
If They Won’t Fight We Must
It seems to me that we have little choice. Things are NOT going back to normal. As a recent Substack article by Max Wilbert said, “We are living the spiralling endgame of industrial civilisation: a senescent empire crumbling under the weight of its own moral corruption and foolish quest for eternal growth as the ecological foundations of life itself teeter on the brink.” So we are not going back.
Therefore we must go forward.
If we don’t act or plan for that new future, what our children get will be truly frightful.
But we can still act. But it must be all of us, so gird your loins and let’s get on with it.
What can you do?
- Vote for a party that cares about the Environment.
- Write to your Political Representative (even better, write with a group of others). Say you are unhappy with what they are doing and you want them to think about the climate. Also let them know what you want and what your community needs. You can’t assume they know. Congratulate them if they have done something useful.
- Find out what your local Mayor is doing and if it is good, support him in some way. If it is not, let him/her know what you think.
- Talk to your neighbours about the Climate Chaos. Tell them what you are doing to help.
- Get involved. Join a group that is doing something about the Climate or Biodiversity.
- Be kind and compassionate. The world needs more kindness and less hate.
- Help fund a Climate Change charity
- Fund an organisation like WWF and adopt a tiger or an elephant or whatever you love. These charities do amazing work in the Environment.
- Do all the other things you need to do to help the Climate: Recycle, Resuse, Repair (but it needs much more than that!) Eat less meat. Support your local farmers if they are into Regenerative Farming. Buy a vegetable box. Make your own compost. Stop flying and travel by train or bus. Buy an electric car. See my other Blogs for ideas.
- Get active. If you don’t like marching, fund those that do. Stand in your town centre and talk to others about the Climate.
- Be vocal. Don’t agree with Climate deniers to be polite. Don’t waste your time on them either as they probably won’t change.
- If you feel overwhelmed (and you probably will) join a group where you can share your feelings.
- ActiveHope are running a training course (details here) that may help you to remain positive.
Please act now. If you want your family to have any hope of a decent life where the temperature is bearable, there are still birds to sing and there is food to eat then YOU must do your bit. The problems won’t go away unless we fight for a different future.
Thank you.
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Photos by Bayarkhuu Battulga, Samuel Schroth and Christian Lue on Unsplash