Tower and Town, November 2019

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Climate Change And What We Can Do To Stop It

Climate change is an irrefutable reality; it’s happening now, we’re causing it and we are going to be the ones affected by it. Since the 19th century scientists have known about the devastating effects of greenhouse gases and for decades climate activists have warned us about the effects our lifestyles are having on the planet: but mostly in vain. Apathy and hypocrisy have stood in the way of action when urgent action is just what we need.

Last year we managed to dump 37 gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, a 2.7% increase on the year before, with CO2 levels reaching an unparalleled 45% over pre-industrial levels. This is catastrophic; with the Paris agreement and the UN setting further climate change goals one would have hoped for the exact opposite. But no. The human race has yet again surpassed all expectations and managed to stubbornly resist the truth that has been exposed to us for nearly a century. But that’s not all, it gets worse. Nine of the 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in sub-Saharan Africa. That’s right; the world's poorest countries and the nations least responsible for climate change are going to be the ones who will inevitably suffer due to our reckless, indifferent western lifestyles. This is not right and it’s not fair. We need to act; we need to change.

Fortunately, it’s possible. We can change, but it will take an unprecedented effort and a huge shift in the way we go about our lives. It will take generations of committed hard work to slowly reduce the impact we are having on the earth and hopefully one day reverse the damage we have already done. But it will soon be too late, there will come a day when we have damaged the earth so much and pumped out so much CO2 into the atmosphere the damage will become irreversible: runaway climate change. If this were to happen, we will have raised the amount of greenhouse gases so much that the positive feedback loops spurring on climate change will become unstoppable. An example: global warming leads to melting permafrost in the northern hemisphere thus letting more methane (a greenhouse gas 30 times more potent than CO2) enter the atmosphere. The extra methane will consequently exacerbate global warming leading to even more permafrost melting and more methane being released. Hopefully you can realise how urgent it is that we start curbing our emissions, not in a few years' time, but now.

So how do we start to tackle climate change? What do we need to do as individuals to help stop the climate emergency? It will take a momentous effort from everyone to successfully reduce our emissions enough to halt climate change. But it can be done.

Firstly, switch to a plant-based diet. Switching to a plant-based diet can cut the carbon footprint of your food by more than 90%. If that seems too much, at least try and avoid beef, tropical fruits imported by air and cheese.

Secondly, try to decrease your car journeys. Car sharing, using trains and ultimately walking and using a bike can dramatically reduce the greenhouse gases released. But at all costs avoid planes, a return economy flight from London to Majorca – about two hours of flight time – emits the equivalent of 490 kilograms of carbon dioxide, about as much as you would save in a year of going vegetarian or driving 2500 kilometers less.

Thirdly, try being more energy efficient at home. Using more efficient home appliances, having a lower-flow shower head and not leaving home appliances on standby can have a small, but significant effect on the emissions released.

Halting climate change will be difficult, but it can be done and it must be done if we want to preserve the world we live in today. If we want to protect the fragile but beautiful world we live in, then we all have to radically change the way we lead our lives, not in a few years’ time, but now. Will you help to combat the ever-increasing problem of climate change? Will you be remembered as a person who gave their all to stop global warming, or will you be known as a stubborn hypocrite who helped fuel the demise of our planet?

The choice is yours.

Noah Piercy