Take Climate Action
Did you read the latest IPCC report? Has it left you feeling utterly shit about essentially everything? Well, it *is* extremely shit, so we hear you. However . . .
While it is perfectly normal to feel incredibly debilitated with regard to climate — especially after this latest report — there are still many things we can do and must do. But in order to do so, we also have to come to terms with the present and the certainties of our future, in order to be able to create viable solutions.
Entire populations are already suffering the extreme effects of climate change, with vulnerable people being disproportionately affected. Yet unfortunately once again, so many privileged people – many supposed allies – are yet again out to brunch. Yes I mean you, Janice.
Remember in 2018, when thousands of Central American migrants marched across Mexico towards the U.S. border? Many of these migrants travelled from the ‘Dry Corridor’ of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador – which is one of the most susceptible areas in the world to both climate change and climate variability. This region suffered a five-year-long drought that destroyed 281,000 hectares of crops and affected the food security of more than two million people. These folks were quite literally forced to migrate. What other options did these people have?
Let’s be clear: these two million people are not an anomaly. Climate change is responsible for unparalleled disruption to where people can live, work, grow food, build cities, and rely on functioning infrastructure. In fact, according to the UN, the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events – weirdly heavy rainfall, extended droughts, sea-level rise, etc. – is causing more than 20 million people to leave their homes, memories and livelihoods each year.
This means that right now, somewhere in this world, countless human beings just became climate refugees – or Internally Displaced People (IDP) – and are being forced to leave their homes. Can you imagine? Displacement from one’s homeland and heritage is a devastating tragedy and these climate refugees need our support, empathy and inclusion immediately.
Image by @markusspiske
So what can we do?
Well, a lot actually! We have votes and we have voices, and when we use them wisely we hold all the power. However, we have to be prepared to keep using these voices, votes and privileges, over and over again. We need to push our elected officials to do more — and we need to do it regularly.
When you email elected officials you will usually always receive a response – yet be prepared for that response to be a politicians’ answer, i.e. be prepared to be gaslit. They will likely tell you these issues are already being addressed and/or that things are not economically possible. But Earth to everyone: this is bullshit. The developed* world’s attachment to fossil fuels is so engrained in our lives that to change them requires a massive cultural and economic overhaul — yet our western economists and politicians argue that to do so could create severe “economic dislocation”. Theories of recessions and depressions will go viral in an hour — whereas the real crisis of real-life human beings being displaced in real-time, will barely muster a Facebook share.
But you know what I think? “Economic dislocation” can go get f_cked. It is the arrogant, continual use of fossil fuels, and the western linear approach to economics, that has resulted in the “dislocation” of our climate and 20 million people each year. We must act now.
The climate emergency is the most ubiquitous thriller of our time. Yet by transitioning to renewable energy and earnestly, compassionately preparing for climate refugees, we can help prevent further unnecessary environmental degradation and social inequality.
“When the people lead, the leaders will follow.” So let’s f_cking do this.
Take action now:
1) Renewable energy
Developed* countries produce the majority of emissions with developing* countries disproportionately suffering.
ACTION: Email your elected officials to insist they commit to the immediate planning and introduction of an equitable and just transition to renewable energy. USE OUR TEMPLATE.
2) Climate refugee/IDP policies
Our governments need to implement permanent and compassionate policies to accept climate refugees/IPD as needed. These policies must include expediting infrastructure and the integration of our neighbours safely into society.
ACTION: Email your elected officials to insist they commit to the immediate planning and introduction of robust and humane climate refugee policies and infrastructure. USE OUR TEMPLATE.
* Developing countries and developed countries – many activists don’t use these terms and use the terms ‘Global North’ and ‘Global South’. While I endorse and understand the use of the terms, Global North and Global South, for the purposes of being as clear as possible in this instance, I have chosen to use the terms ‘developing countries’ and ‘developed countries’, as these terms are more familiar for non-activist readers.
If you would like to read more about how the United Nations defines developed economies, economies in transition and developing economies, then head to page 165 of this World Economic Situation and Prospects report.
