Climate change poses grave threats for our planet. The long-term rise in the earth’s average temperature threatens to alter our planet. Despite contributing greatly in affecting climate change, humans have done little to thwart this threat. Unless timely action is taken, it would be too late to reverse the damage.
With rising surface temperature, rising sea levels, increasing precipitation, melting glaciers, and shrinking permafrost, our natural habit is at stake. This could lead to many issues such as increased floods, which can not only bring life to a standstill but also lead to the internal displacement of people.
Similarly, with rising temperatures and the increase in floods, we are also faced with an agricultural crisis threat, which could aggravate world hunger. Similarly, it can damage the ecosystem in ways that will make it uninhabitable for humans. All of this is unfolding right in front of our eyes.
However, in a world where people deny climate change, taking mitigating measures can get a little difficult. But with growing environmental consciousness, there is still a possibility of stopping or slowing down the damaging processes and coming up with innovative solutions to tackle the threats.
Given the threats of floods, and other climate change-induced threats that face us, there will be high demand for emergency responders in the future. Those who credentialed in an emergency management masters know the risks well that climate disasters can have for our planet.
Moreover, predictive models show that the world is likely to experience an average increase of 9°F (5°C) in temperature, relative to the pre-industrial levels, by the end of this century.
While we are facing a scary and uncertain future, there are many climate change mitigation strategies that could be adopted at the state and individual levels. Here is a list of a few of those strategies:
1) Plant Trees:
This cannot be stressed enough. The planet is slowly turning into a concrete jungle, and the exploitative nature of our developmental work is damaging the ecosystem. In the midst of this, the pace of plantation comes nowhere close to the pace of environmental degradation.
The least a person can do is plant trees in an effort to counter the effects of climate change. While collective efforts are needed at a large scale to mitigate emerging threats effectively, any individual effort would not go to waste.
You can start planting trees in your backyard, your lawn, your neighborhood, or volunteer in a local plantation drive as well.
Trees are effective at reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, thus, planting one will contribute to the efforts of curbing the main contributor in global warming. Every single tree you plant will have an impact, therefore, be generous with your time and efforts.
2) Recycle:
This is often overlooked. As humans, we have a tendency to use and throw things away. Oftentimes we do not even consider where we dispose of our garbage, especially plastic items.
The responsibility for this is solely on us, and no matter how effective a country’s waste management system is, one must step up and do their share to tackle the problem.
Not everything decomposes in a natural manner. Certain materials, especially those that are not organic, take countless years to decompose, which not only damages the environment but also leads to a build-up that would ultimately have to be cleaned manually.
When it comes to these items, it is your responsibility to see if they can be recycled. Find multiple usages for things before you consider throwing them in the trash bin.
This way you would be contributing to preserve the environment, and prevent unnecessary plastic waste from releasing greenhouse gas as it gradually decomposes.
3) Adopt Environment-Friendly Habits:
If you care about the environment, show it through your lifestyle. Oftentimes we make choices heedless of the environmental impacts. As humans, it is our responsibility to ensure that every action we take has a net positive effect on the earth, and does not contribute in damaging it. You do not want to leave this earth in a bad shape for future generations, do you?
Start making small adjustments in your lifestyle. Instead of taking the car to the nearby convenience store, walk. Not only will this cut down on emissions, but it would also help you stay healthy. There are countless articles on the benefits of walking, so you can read them if you lack the motivation.
Similarly, instead of using plastic bags to carry your clothes or grocery, opt for reusable items. A cloth bag can be handy. You can keep it in your car and your home, and take it with you to the store.
In many parts of the world, plastic bags are banned, but certain stores still flout this restriction. Therefore, even if you are offered a plastic bag, make the right decision, and use your cloth bag.
4) Cutting Down Industrial Emissions:
Industrial emissions are among the top contributors to climate change. Many countries have industries operating without any restrictions, and their air quality is nothing but terrible. At a time when industries in multiple countries continue to operate without any checks and balances, there is a dire need for collective action.
Cutting down on industrial emissions can have instant benefits. During the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown, many parts of the world reported an improved air quality as industries had to be shut down in line with restrictions. This shows how quickly things can change and the environment can heal if certain actions are taken.
Therefore, to mitigate climate change, states need to come up with innovative solutions, including subsidizing the switch to alternative energy sources. This can help cut down emissions and give us more time to plant trees and look into other solutions to reverse the effects of climate change.
Final thoughts:
While this list does not mention all the strategies in countering climate change, it lays down the core approaches for states and individuals to follow. These will enable the world to move closer to countering climate-related threats. Many countries across the world do not contribute much in terms of emissions, but given their geography, they are the most vulnerable to the impacts. Therefore, as members of a global society, it is our collective responsibility to play our part in thwarting climate threats in order to protect the planet.