I have been working on this post for a couple weeks now and I decided that I should just post it. I apologize if it is a little choppy or disorganized. I am so passionate about this subject and have had so many different things come to my mind. I hope you enjoy.
The Cold Hard Truth
The facts of the matter are that Earth's climate is changing, and that change is causing a shift in ecosystems which results in death of species who live in those ecosystems. It is also a fact that human activity is what is causing the majority of this climate change. None of these things bode well for us or the diversity of life as we know it.
There is a vast consensus among climate scientists (who I tend to side with when discussing climate) that we have until about 2030 to amend our actions before our effects on the climate become permanent and irreversible.
My Personal Convictions
Now, to be honest, my emotions on climate change are conflicted. I know that Earth will continue spinning regardless of how many pollutants we spill into the atmosphere or how much plastic we dump into the ocean. Earth has been around for 4 1/2 billion years and as Ian Malcolm says in Jurassic Park, "Life, uh, finds a way." That is the amazing beauty of ecosystems and evolution. Once one species steps out of its ecological niche, another adapts to take its place. The immensely improbable happenstance of life has persisted through the eons, and I doubt it will stop persisting because of our reckless actions. This video might add some perspective on the adaptability and resilience of life on Earth.
On the other hand though, I am saddened by the way we live our lives in reckless abandon. Humans cause an immense amount of strain on Earth. We dirty its atmosphere, we use its resources like there are more when there aren't, and we create so much waste that its forming a new pacific island that is bigger than Texas. Life is dying. It is estimated that one million species will go extinct because of human actions. That amount of loss hurts me. The world is becoming less diverse and less beautiful and we suffer because of it.
Many of my viewpoints on climate change are shaped by my religion. My favorite pieces of religious music ("For the Beauty of the Earth" and "How Great thou Art") have strong connections to the divinity of nature and Earth. Essentially, I strongly believe that God wants us to care for the Earth and to find Him in it. If you would like to hear more of my perspectives on environmentalism and religion, I would love to discuss them with you.
The Good News
There are many things we can do to reduce our personal carbon footprint. Before I list a few ideas, I would like to point out that corporations are the biggest culprit in climate change. Irresponsible and unchecked companies deforest parts of the world, use unsustainable transportation practices, and prefer quick and wasteful production to sustainable and efficient practices. Even though personal lifestyle changes are a drop in the bucket when it comes to carbon footprints and reducing climate change, they are still important. We can harness the power of capitalism (yeah we can use it even if I don't like it) to demand responsible practices from companies to which we are consumers. If the companies don't become more responsible, we don't buy their products. We live in a wonderful time when there are many companies to chose from that utilize sustainable practices (here are some lists of some companies). Another result of personal lifestyle changes is a change of attitude. When we make steps in our life to show that we are conscience of the environment, we show that it is a priority, and policy changes will follow.
Now some ideas that can help reduce your negative impact on the environment:
Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transit (where available).
Use a reusable water bottle. Like one of these. This is something that is really simple to do and helps keep plastic out of our landfills and oceans and may help you be healthier too!
Eat less meat. This one is difficult, especially for me. Meat is cheap, easy to make, and it tastes amazing. But even lowering your meat consumption will have great effects for the environment and for your health. Something I've been wanting to try is the impossible burger, which is a completely plant-based burger that still tastes like the real deal (here is a fun podcast about it if you are interested).
Plant trees, flowers, or a garden. Not only will your yard be beautified, but you will be planting some of the most effective carbon traps our planet has to offer. A single tree can absorb 48 pounds of CO2 a year! This is a good thing because CO2 levels have recently risen to higher than ever before in human history.
Reduce your waste.
Reuse everything you can.
Recycle everything you can.
Thanks for reading.
Additional sources for the truthfulness of climate change: the UN website, and NASA
“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.” -Lady Bird Johnson