Ask Eartha: What can I do to advocate for more environmental change?

Dear Eartha, I am concerned about climate change and would like to see more action at all levels, from the local to federal. How can I advocate for greater change and greater impact?

Im worried, too. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC for short, is a mouthful. The United Nations group of nerdy, important experts responsible for publishing global climate research in collaboration. The end of February saw the release of the following: It released a report outlining the latest risks and impacts of climate changes.The results were pretty damn discouraging. It turned out that The global community isn’t doing enough to mitigate the worst effects of climate changes.

It’s still bad, and its still us

Since the IPCCs 2014 last major report, extreme events have increased in frequency and severity. These impacts include the regular cast members of climate change: supercharged thunderstorms, heat waves and drought, as well as fire and sea-level rise. As warmer temperatures allow mosquitos and ticks to expand their range, the incidence of disease is on the rise.Scientists are discovering that Climate change impacts are more severe than previously thought.It is already affecting billions of people around the world and it is worse than we expected.

Almost half of the world’s population lives in areas that are highly vulnerable to climate change. While communities and countries of lower income are more vulnerable because they lack the resources to adapt, we all face the same climate crisis. Let’s not forget the terrible fires. Boulder County saw nearly 1,000 buildings destroyedDecember This week, Lake Powell’s water levels have reached a record low. This is threatening both water supply as well as electricity production.

In response to climate change concerns, there were more people concerned last year. Many countries around the globe have pledged to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.We, that is, humanity, must drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reach net-zero by 2020. Despite this commitment, most countries aren’t doing enough. According to U.N Secretary-General Antnio Guerres, there has been no meaningful progress towards achieving this collective emission reduction goal. This is a shocking indictment of climate leadership failures.

Rise to the Challenge

It’s easy to get sucked into existential dread while contemplating a future filled with wildfires, heatwaves, and far less water. This is exactly what we Americans of the West face. We can’t stay in despair forever if we want change the current trajectory for carbon emissions.

Summit County adopted an adoption plan in 2018. A Climate Action Plan with goals to reduce local carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2050.This plan was developed over a yearlong stakeholder process and outlines a variety of strategies to achieve these goals. Even though these strategies aren’t enough to get us there, we still need to do more to stay on the right track.

To make an actual impact, we need to implement transformational change, as the IPCC report said. This means we must rethink the way we design and construct our communities and how we transport ourselves and the goods that we buy. These are all topics that local councils can influence, and there is an election next month.

Consider being a good planet citizen by paying close attention to the statements of candidates about climate change and the environment, and taking that information into account when you vote. Are you curious about the environmental policies of your local candidates? You can check out the Q&A created by the High Country Conservation Center.Once the election is over you should attend meetings to urge your council members to keep working towards its goals. You can combat climate change by holding those in power accountable. This is one of the most effective and efficient ways to do so.

You know the saying, Nero fiddled with Rome as it burned? We need to stop pretending that the world isn’t burning. The IPCC’s report shows that there is still time to act even though the window of opportunity is closing rapidly. We must be bold and dream big if we are to be successful.