Reflections on Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. It is a day dedicated to celebrating the hard-won progress and continued efforts of the environmental movement. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently published its?latest report?on the mitigation of climate change. It painted a picture of urgency:?emissions must peak by 2025?to give humanity the chance of limiting future heating to the ever-critical 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. If we continue on our current trajectory, temperatures will rise by 3C, resulting in ruinous consequences.

While it is difficult to overstate the importance of action on behalf of Earth’s environment, doomsday scenarios accomplish little;?fear is a dangerous means of inciting action. Indeed, rather than such scenarios convincing people of the urgency of the problem, they often convince them of the inevitability of the outcome.?Combating climate change is a grand task, though not a Sisyphean one.?It is clear - and has been for some time - that the cycles of bloviation and pontification that have dominated and stymied climate change mitigation efforts for decades must cease and be replaced by resolute and intentional action. Action that sufficiently reflects the severity of the crisis we face.?It is in this action that we must find optimism.

Let this day be defined by just that: optimistic action. Steps taken with intention and with the knowledge that, if we follow through, we may all be shepherds of a more verdant future. Now, of course, one must admit that individuals are only one facet of the problem - corporations and governments are the others - and they often seem far more intractable. However,?governments and corporations are not societally disembedded. That is, they do not exist outside of us in their own hermetically sealed realm.?We have power. We must dare to exercise it by making more sustainable choices where we can and punishing those businesses that fail to offer such choices by changing purchasing and investing habits. We must go to the ballots with an eye on environmental stewardship and sustainability. In short,?we must demand of our corporations and leaders that which we demand of ourselves.

Here are some ways to get started:

1.) Attend an Earth Day event.?EarthDay.org has curated a list of events happening in over 190 countries that one can attend to learn, act, or support environmental conservation.

2.) Donate to a meaningful environmental cause.?There are myriad organizations doing phenomenal work for the planet’s health.?The National Forest Foundation,?Environmental Defense Fund,?The National Resources Defense Council,?Sierra Club,?As You Sow, and?The Climate Reality Project?are all fantastic. Many more can be found (along with their actual impact) at CharityNavigator.org

3.) Understand and reduce your carbon footprint.?Carbon footprint calculators are imperfect. Providing one’s precise carbon footprint using only a 15 minute quiz is a big ask. However, as far as calculators go,?the EPA’s?is as solid as they get. Its questions, and the undergirding population data, help make guesses more accurate. Suggestions on how to reduce your footprint (and your bills!) are embedded into the calculator, empowering you to make hypothetical consumption decisions to see how your footprint is affected.

4.) Read.?The IPCC’s latest report?(don’t worry, there is a chapter breakdown, overview, and excellent summaries scattered throughout) is a great place to start. Education is fundamental to addressing the climate crisis. It helps us make more responsible investment, consumption, and political decisions. Miseducation, as we all recognize, is one of humanity’s greatest encumbrances towards progress.?